Today, saw the release of The-Dream’s anticipated fourth studio album IV Play. In connection with the release the platinum hitmaker shot a three-part documentary about his life and career. The first part (watch here) was a look at Terius Nash ‘the man,’ from his early childhood and upbringing, to current family life and fatherhood.
In the new clip, the visual focuses solely on the music, from his stance on being an artist/songwriter, helping other artists find who they are through song, and being creative on other levels like his unique album packaging. Check it out above.
Let me start by saying I am a major Dream fan; however, this album was so disappointing that I no longer know where The- Dream is musically. I really want to forget about this album. The most Ironic thing about this album is that The-Dream titles it IV Play, but he could give a fuck about the foreplay. In the entire album he actual never really deals with having foreplay because he is too in a rush to get straight to it.
This album contains way too much auto-tune. The-Dream does auto tune in all of his albums, but this was an overdose. The-Dreams songs sound stronger without auto-tune; simply, because it is the intensive beat production coupled with his melodic use of harmonized layered vocals that propels his music to perfection. I actually do not care for auto-tune, but The- Dream insists on having it in his music, so I accept it. I have heard such tracks as Sex Intelligent and Right Side of My Brain without auto-tune, and they sound better.
Furthermore, IV Play has too many guest appearances, and I am used to The-dream having only one or two features on an album, which is what I prefer. Aside from Kelly Rowland on Where Have you been, The-Dream could have saved all the other features. Stand out tracks include: Michael, Where Have You Been, IV Play, Slow It down, and Holy Love. Michael, an ode to Michael Jackson, has very little to do with Michael Jackson, and more about how much more The-Dream would like to fuck (and not make love) to a girl rather than some other guy. Michael is very reminiscing of Veteran from the Love King Deluxe addition, but better. It is better mostly because of his hook on the song, which starts she got me singing like. On the song Where Have You Been, The-Dream teams up with Kelly Rowland to deliver a rather good song. However, Kellys half of the song overshadows the Dreams, which makes Kelly standout on the song. It actually should be one of Kellys songs featuring The-Dream, as by the end he seems to fade into the background vocals of the song. In IV Play The-Dream chants I can give a fuck about the foreplay I want it now, forsaking the title of the album. The song is very good, but the breakdown of the song, as with many of The-Dreams songs, is better. The breakdown of IV Play makes one wonder what new idea will sprout from the breakdown. Hopefully, whatever it is brings a hit like the breakdown of Ghetto from 1977 did when it gave birth to Beyonces Dance for you. Slow It Down has become The-Dreams self- proclaimed statement asking DJs and radio stations to slow down the music. Holy Love takes a more dark approach and starts off much like his productions on Love Without Tragedy for Rihanna. It seems as if The-Dream metaphorically substitutes his song writing and producing career for a woman deeming her the Holy Love.
More importantly, I am highly disappointed that Body Work/ Fuck My Brains Out, Roc, and Dope Bitch did not even make it to the deluxe addition of IV Play, as each one of these songs were damn near better than all of the songs on the album. With the exception of Dope Bitch( which can be argued for), the songs fit in perfectly with the theme of the album. Roc is actually about foreplay, because in the song The-Dream alludes to having sex that he has not had. It really complements the idea of foreplay. Body Work/ Fuck My Brains Out actually works to melodically tell a story about a girl who The- Dream hopes is right for him and his ex who thought she was a super freak. Not to mention, storytelling and conceptualization are two of the elements IV Play as an album is missing. Personally, I think Body Work/ Fuck My Brains Out sounds better when it is sped up. When sped up, the production on Body Work plays a thumping beat with piano rifts that complement, and Fuck My Brains Out strums an up-tempo Rick James/ Prince sounding guitar and drum tune. Dope Bitch, while blunt, is really just a great song that is album worthy.
Dreams most powerful album by far was the Love King Deluxe addition. The additional songs make the album overpower his other albums (that are just as spectacular in their own right). His most conceptual and deepest album was Love vs. Money, and Love/Hate was a great introductory album. While IV Play has some good songs, this is the first album of The-Dreams I can honestly say I would give a bad rating.