SweetSexySavage (+ 2 Bonus Tracks) (2017)

“Kehlani’s career may have begun on “America’s Got Talent”, but the tattooed, gamine Californian is more intriguing than your average R&B wannabe. If her name has resonated for all the wrong reasons – last year’s hospitalisation after her love life got complicated – the singer’s debut album proper proves she has the tunes and personality to back up the notoriety. A generous helping of (Sensation Seeking Scale) has been out already, with the video for the nagging “Distraction” amply fulfilling the “sexy” third of the album title triptych. Tracks like the even-more-nagging “CRZY”, meanwhile, tout attitude. As well as modern R&B postures, the musicality of Kehlani’s vocal melodies hark back to previous eras – “Keep On” is a particularly sweet bagatelle.” (The Guardian)