Album review: Robin Thicke's 'Sex Therapy: The Session'

For the boys at least, increasingly absurdist boasts regarding one's prowess between the sheets defined R&B in 2009. Jeremih swears that his touch is the ideal birthday present. Trey Songz claims you'll believe he invented the act itself. Even 50 Cent used the prospect of his future child-support checks as a pickup line.

Until "Sex Therapy," his latest album, Robin Thicke hadn't really played that game. But as he puts it in the liner notes, "my guilty pleasures have been outweighing my good health." This is his baby-making album, and though Thicke's freak flag is PG-13, his new randiness adds zip to an always-perfect falsetto.

On the crackling soul jam "Mrs. Sexy," he's promising to "buy you a ring and make you Mrs. Sexy," presumably because his bachelorhood as Mr. Sexy was unfulfilling. "Make U Love Me" makes fine use of Neptunes-ish brittle synths and a ping-ponging bass line, and his moaning-Brigitte-Bardot sample on "Meiple" is so over the top it could make Serge Gainsbourg feel outdone.

Thicke fares less well competing with radio's harder fare: the club banger "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" is déclassé by his standards, and his Ne-Yo leaning disco number "Rollacoasta" is a touch decarbonated. But when he says "I'm like Bigfoot, the man your momma said don't exist," you may crack up, but you'll still get in the cab with him at the end of the night.

-- August Brown

Robin Thicke
"Sex Therapy: The Session"
(Star Trak/Interscope) 
Two and a half stars (Out of four)

Comments

[Bryanna]

This cd is outstanding. Did i crack up and gasp at some points yes. maybe its because im a die hard Thicke girl but the man has done it again. I'm completely in love with this album. he lets his freak flag fly and I'm not mad at it at all. I was at the concert last night in NYC where he performed alot of the new material and i must say seeing him live makes all the difference.Last night was my 5th or 6th robin concert and i will say i feel this was his best. For anyone like me and my best friend who has seen him grow as an artist will know exactly what im talking about when they listen to the cd. I will suggest this cd to anyone who is an R&B fan. Is it better than Evolution of Robin Thicke? I dont know, time will tell. But its def worth the 13.99 or whatever.

[Tony]

ive listened to the cd like 5 times now and tracks 1-16 are good im just not a big fan of diamonds feat game, i would give the cd a solid 3 stars outta 4 better than evolution? no way that is the ultimate if i had to put them in order its 1 evolution 2 sex therapy 3 a beautiful world 4 something else. i put beautiful world at three cuz i think people are overlooking the chill aspect of that album the tracks on there will zone you out. sex therapy is well worth every penny your gonna spend on it. go get it! now! do it now! you should already have it you shoulda pre ordered it, just for that go buy two spread the world. CAUTION THIS CD WILL PUT SOME SWAG IN YOUR STEP.

[Margarita Rodriguez]

i just bought this CD today, my local Record Store had a deal, where if you buy the CD today you get to go to the meet and greet with Robin Thicke himself this Saturday, and i was planning on purchasing the CD regardless and meeting him would be an amazing bonus. so far i LOVE the CD its just the right amount of soultry-ness, and aggressiveness. and isn't that what all woman want? the right balance of sweetness, and aggressiveness? On first listen my favortie song is "It's In The Mornin" with Snoop Dogg.

[Hanisha]

I like the cd, it is much better than his last cd. The cd is full of sexy tones that makes me want to reply it again and again. Robin is amazing, he can sing to me anytime.