Macy Gray - The Sellout [Reviews]

After a shaky stint on Dancing with the Stars and a foray into DJing, Macy Gray is back to doing what she does best on her latest disc, The Sellout. Since it had been a while since her raspy soul had been sung out on hits such as “I Try” and “Sexual Revolution,” what would a musically missing Macy give to fans who have been longing for her return?

Well, there are some gems. “Pick your diamond, pick your pearl” is a lyric that could be referring to “Beauty in the World.” The lead single sets the tone of the album’s upbeat tracks with its feel-good reminiscing of tunes from the ’60s and ’70s. Conversely, the title track offers vocal variety and Macy’s trademark rasp that is complimented by a feeling of giving up, as the singer repeatedly proclaims “This is my gimmick, and I wanna win it, I’m selling out, I won’t fight you no more.”

“Kissed It” finds Gray teaming up with rock supergroup Velvet Revolver for a whimsical hand-clapper. Here, Macy’s strong determination to move on from an unappreciative lover is constantly pacified by a simple kiss — wherever on the body it may be.

“That Man” is heavily influenced by ’60s girl groups, complete with backup singers. As Macy croons about her ideal man, we learn that he’s a complex creature who blends hip-hop swag, sophistication, the experience of being racially profiled and Savior-like qualities.

Gray’s colorful language sprinkles “Stalker,” a raucous serenade that’s a stark contrast to the back-and-forth of her duet with Bobby Brown, “Real Love.” The snappy tune showcases Brown’s vocals at their best, which is far better than one would ever realize based on some of his earlier solo hits.

Though some of Macy’s career moves were questionable to fans, The Sellout proves that she never sold out on her ability to craft a song and authentically sing it, or avoid taking her music in a trendy direction based on what’s hot on the radio. By injecting each song with passion, playfulness and ‘The Rasp,’ Gray re-establishes her status as a neo-soul songstress with pop sensibilities — qualities that will lead to sold-out shows in the near future.

That’s My Jam’s Rating:
5. Get It Now
4. Get It On Sale
3. Get It As a Gift
2. Get It To a CD Exchange Store
1. Don’t Get It At All

Track List:
1. “The Sellout”
2. “Lately”
3. “Kissed It” feat. Velvet Revolver
4. “Still Hurts” feat. Romika
5. “Beauty in the World”
6. “Help Me”
7. “Let You Win”
8. “That Man”
9. “Stalker”
10. “Real Love” feat. Bobby Brown
11. “On & On”
12. “The Comeback”