Jan 30, 2002 03:45 PM
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(Updated Jan 30, 2002 03:45 PM)
Keoki remains somewhat of an enigmatic figure in American dance music history. With his second record, Jealousy, the ''Superstar DJ'' attempts to diversify his music by incorporating a wealth of varied styles. The title track approaches trance, mixing atmospherics with slick vocals that range from whispers to rhymes to digitally enhanced choruses. ''Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'' unfolds into an upbeat, house-like track that's only brought down by Keoki's misguided, rather annoying rapping. ''Pass It On'' has that classic, progressive house vibe, and ''Veronica'' delves into a cool electro workout. His weak vocals truly diffuse the energy on some potentially powerful tracks, including ''Rush'' and the excitingly diverse ''Real World.'' There's a good reason why dance music's top producers employ guest vocalists: They can't sing. ''Relax'' closes this set, and the track's four minutes and 31 seconds encapsulate all the problems with this record. Keoki's ''Relax'' suffers from a lack of originality in production values. Despite his ''Superstar'' status, Keoki might be better off nailing his own business down before trampling an '80s classic.
