Ms. Kelly - Diva Deluxe

iTunes Review

Ms. Kelly - Diva Deluxe is the third incarnation of an album that Kelly Rowland has been revamping and reordering since 2004. The first version was shelved for having “too many midtempos and ballads.” A satisfactory Ms. Kelly was released to the public in 2006, but following its lackluster reception, Rowland returned to the studio to revise the tracklist and record several new songs. This seven-track digital album contains her favorite songs from the recent sessions, and even in seven songs it becomes clear that Rowland is trying hard to please a diverse audience. “Comeback” and “Like This” are given heavy club remixes that erase most of what was distinctive about the 2006 originals, although they do satisfy Rowland’s need to get the crowd moving. On the other hand, “Broken” is a piano ballad that recalls Rowland’s hero Whitney Houston, while “Unity” could almost pass for the Nashville drama of Trisha Yearwood. “Try Again” and “No Man No Cry” stand out — Rowland’s voice is at its strongest on these yearning breakup songs.