Robin Thicke had been active in California for several years as a songwriter for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Brandy and Jordan Knight, before he had the opportunity to make his own CD. The result was initially released under the title Cherry Blue Skies, but was quickly renamed A Beautiful World. With his long blonde hair and flax mustache, Thicke is a striking appearance in
… the American music scene, where he alternately presents himself as a well-dressed dandy and scruffy bicycle courier. In the latter disguise he can be admired in the clip of his first big hit When I Get You Alone, which is based on the old disco hit by Walter Murphy (A Fifth Of Beethoven). On his debut he shows a fresh nu-soul sound with rock and pop influences, firmly anchored in the past, without being directly traceable to examples. Thicke also works well within the Latin American genre, as evidenced by the swinging salsa performer Vengas Conmigo. Highly recommended for fans of both Jamiroquai and The New Radicals. (MS)more
