Review Summary: Dirty, dirty space sex. Lots.
It would certainly seem like love battles cash on The-Dream's sophomore album, but don't be misled- it's the out-of-control sex that runs rampant. Seems like the guy brought to fame for penning the smash "Umbrella" had just one thing on his mind the whole time. And while his first album was all about making babies as well, this time things are taken to infinity and beyond: almost every song is packed with space-synth and echoing drums.
Dream isn't the most diverse singer in the world, but he's definitely one of the more unique, and outside of that, his musicality is excellent. A large part of the album is filled with slow jams about one thing. Some work: "Put It Down" and "Sweat It Out" are both solid tracks that (ahem) satisfy you, and "Kelly's 12 Play" is a great play off of a classic R&B album. But the formula gets old, fast: While "Right Side Of My Brain" and "Take You Home 2 My Mama" are passable, "Mr. Yeah" is readily forgettable, and "Fancy" drags in the worst way.
There's some standout tracks, though: with songs like "Rockin' That ***" and "Walkin' On The Moon" he knows just how to show off an incredible production as well as solid vocals: both feature little to no singing on the chorus and yet still work, with Kanye contributing on the latter. "My Love" is formulaic but will win you over, thanks to Mariah Carey. The one-two title track "Love Vs. Money" is the home run here though; he loses his girl to a guy who doesn't just spend cash on her, and he's pissed about it: the space-beat is on edge, the drums hit like machine guns and where part of it drowns in misery ("he took my heart from me / he took my soul"), the other part is madman status, the chorus filled with strange cackling ("ah-hey-yeah, hey-yeah!"). "Let Me See The Booty" ends the album right, with a dirty space crunk feel to it, and for once Lil' Jon isn't
too intrusive.
There may not be enough diversity here: there's not too much to dance to, and it's not the fair battle the title would lead you to believe. Arguably, an album with the large majority of tracks about the same thing is questionable- but as far as baby-making music goes, Dream succeeds in cutting right to the chase.
