Album review: Marques Houston, Famous

Marques Houston

Famous (to be released August 27, 2013)

Last week, when it was announced that Ben Affleck will throw on a cape and play Batman in an upcoming summer flick, the Internet went completely ballistic.

I wonder what the backlash would have been if Marques Houston pursued the role? He’s the original R&B caped crusader, after all.

Yeah, you probably have to be in your mid-30s to get that reference.

We all know MH’s resume: actor, lead star of the early 90s boy band Immature/IMx (back when Houston was performing under the name “Batman”) and later solo R&B star.

Houston practically grew up before our eyes and is a long removed from the kid that wore Batman Underoos. I hope so, anyway.

Famous, Houston’s sixth solo release, aims for a more mature sound. His fans are adults and so is he – it’s a natural progression.

I don’t have a problem with the intent. It’s the execution that drives me crazy.

Famous aims to present a smoky, sultry bedroom vibe. You know, that “Grown N’ Sexy” atmosphere. It’s mostly fueled by Houston’s falsetto. And that’s the problem – his voice sounds uncharacteristically strained and weak, making songs like “Only You” sound like they’re going to collapse under their own weight. And it doesn’t help that the track borrows so heavily from Marvin Gaye’s classic “Let’s Get It Own.” That’s the last song you wanna mess up.

Speaking of R&B veterans, the majority of the album sounds like a feeble attempt to mimic D’Angelo. “The Way Love Is” clones D’Angelo’s style, all the way down to the ad-libs. It’s one thing to pay homage, it’s another to straight swipe someone’s style. The arrangements on “See You” and “Speechless” make things a bit more interesting but it’s all for naught when MH’s voice sounds like it’s on the verge of crumbling.

“Lifetime” and “Fly Away” fare a bit better. Houston sounds less like D and more like Justin Timberlake circa Justified. It’s a bit easier to swallow. Maybe throwback JT should have been MH’s blueprint.

The one track that isn’t a casualty of MH’s reinvention is “Make It Last Forever” (and before you ask, this isn’t Keith Sweat’s “Make It Last Forever.” My heart wouldn’t be able to take that remake). It’s gentle and sensual without sounding forced. It comes off way better than the title track, where Houston brags about his world-famous lovemaking skills. Oh word? I missed that memo.

I’m all for reinvention. Some of the best artists in the game have seen the genre pass them by simply because they were afraid to change. But sometimes, change isn’t good. It’s no surprise that by far the best track here is “Give Your Love A Try,” which sounds like a traditional energetic Marques Houston track. He can knock out songs like this in his sleep.

Sadly, the rest of Famous is like a kid wearing his dad’s clothes. It just doesn’t fit.

Best tracks: “Give Your Love A Try,” “Make It Last Forever”

2.5 stars out of 5