But if the Isleys aren't who they used to be, the surprisingly sharp Body Kiss suggests that they can be whomever they want. Written, arranged and produced almost in its entirety by beleaguered R&B kingpin R. Kelly, the CD is a master class in svelte loverman etiquette. While his peers Timbaland and the Neptunes disrupt even their most streamlined productions with little sonic burrs, Kelly maintains an admirable commitment to smooveness, and Ronald takes full advantage: In opener "Superstar," he dictates a personal ad to his diary over a reserved wah-wah groove, and near the end of "Lucky Charm" he finally dispenses with metaphor and informs his lady friend that she's "magically delicious" -- arguably a first for a 62-year-old man.
A few times Ronald works his bad-guy Mr. Biggs persona against the music. "Busted" is a thrilling remake of Kelly and Sparkle's "Be Careful" with JS (whoever the hell she is) in which Ronald interrogates a lover he suspects has been stepping out and then kicks her to the curb. And when Ernie drops a sweetly coruscating guitar solo into "Take a Ride," it's proof that svelte loverman etiquette needn't adhere to type.
