Love vs. Money

iTunes Review

With his sophomore album, Terius Youngdell Nash, a.k.a. The-Dream, bridges the futuristic sound designs of Kanye West with the slow-jam balladry of his childhood heroes, Keith Sweat and R. Kelly. Like West, his most comparable contemporary, and his idol, Michael Jackson, The-Dream is a musical triple-threat: a singer, songwriter, and producer all rolled into his one. “Rockin’ That Sh**,” “Love Vs. Money,” and “Right Side of My Brain” meld the grandiose synthesizers of Kanye’s “Good Life” to the intricate sonic textures of Timbaland, and as with Timbaland’s best work, multiple listens reveal layers of subtle ornamentation, including bizarre sound effects and stuttering vocal samples. “Put It Down,” “Sweat It Out,” and “Mr. Fancy” update R. Kelly’s method of making lustful-yet-playful slow jams, while “Kelly’s 12 Play” is a more direct tribute to Kelly’s recipe. Of course, The-Dream’s taste for experimentation wouldn’t mean a thing if he didn’t have the knack for catchy melodies, as displayed in “Walkin’ On the Moon,” “My Love,” and “Take U Home 2 My Mama.” He has yet to reach the heights of Thriller, but Love Vs. Money confirms The-Dream’s reputation as one of modern pop’s masterminds.