3.5 out of 5 stars

Robin Thicke continues in the vein of 2006’s “The Evolution of Robin Thicke,” taking his inspiration from the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Through a breathy and impressive falsetto, great base lines and very polished, produced sounds, Robin Thicke’s newest album will delight club-goers, R&B lovers and easy listeners alike.  

Where Robin Thicke really shines is through his ballads, which are mostly swoon-worthy love songs. He channels the sexual energy of his soulful predecessors through songs like “You’re My Baby” and “The Sweetest Love.” He transitions from gravelly tenor to whispery falsetto with effortlessness and ease.  

In a divergence from the usual love songs (10 out of 12 tracks on this album could be classified as such), Robin Thicke tries his hand at tackling social issues in songs like “Dreamworld” and “Tie My Hands.” In “Dreamworld,” he croons about the idyllic world that he longs for. In “Tie My Hands,” he is joined by Lil Wayne, and the song is unexpectedly moving.

He also capitalizes on some club-thumping beats in sure-to-be-hit songs like “Magic” and the disco-influenced title track, “Something Else.” It’s clear that while Robin Thicke has a great voice, his real talent lies with production and mixing. The songs are incredibly polished.

While he draws on the great soul singers that came before him, and many of the songs will, at the least, get your hips swaying, Robin Thicke’s newest album still leaves something to be desired. The album is more of a nod to the greats than something new and innovative.  

That said, he tries to bring more to the album than just a penchant for 70’s soul. He mixes acoustic guitar and bongo drums in the catchy “Ms. Harmony” and punctuates with Big Band-style horns. 

Ultimately, the CD is worth checking out, if for no other reason than to get a glimpse of Robin Thicke’s smooth bedside manner.