Author Malcom Gladwell devoted a chapter to Kenna in his book Blink, titled, "The Kenna Dilemma." Kenna's 2003 debut New Sacred Cow was ruined by one suit's second-guessing based on focus groups, which delayed the album for over a year until it was rushed out after an Internet leak. Gladwell concluded that focus groups shoved into a room to evaluate 30-second clips can't properly absorb the scope of the music. This says far more about the state of modern music than could fit here, but in Kenna's case, Gladwell is dead on. If you listen to Kenna in 30-second bursts, he's disposable dance pop.
The title of his sophomore effort, Make Sure They See My Face must have been a plea to record execs. Just put me in the game, coach and let me show you what I can do. But then this album got pushed back, and he toured in support of Nelly Furtado, pushing an album that didn't exist.
It's enough to make someone give up music, but someone with as much potential as Kenna shouldn't go away just yet. He's so close to having a great album that it would be a crime for him to give up.
The album is produced by both of the Neptunes seperately, Chad Hugo on most tracks, Pharrell on others, and both propel and bury him. The new wave dance tracks hit most of their marks with all of the Neptunes' signature flourishes in the production, but springboard off of proven successful musical sweeps and vault Kenna right out of his comfort zone.
Not following? Just listen to the music.
"Sun Red, Sky Blue," is Maroon 5 mixed with Justin Timberlake and a dash of Rob Thomas. "Be Still" is Depeche Mode mashed up with The Postal Service. "Loose Wires" sounds like the love child of The Killers and something off Thriller. When Kenna says "Maybe I've been a little schizophrenic," on "Blink Radio," the answer is a resounding, "Duh."
