Intuition [PA] (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Jamie Foxx (vocals, background vocals); Rico Love (vocals); Salaam Remi (Fender Rhodes piano, drums); Sean K. (programming); Christopher "Deep" Henderson (drum programming, background vocals); Kuk Harrell, Jim Beanz, Noel Gourdin (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Chris Godbey; Kevin "KD" Davis; Dave Pensado.

Recording information: Baseline Recording Studios II, New York, NY; Butter Beats Studio, Union City, NJ; Deep Recording House, Mabelton, GA; FoxxHole Studios, Tarzana, CA; Instrument Zoo, Miami, FL; Larrabee North, North Hollywood, CA; Nightbird Recording Studio, West Hollywood, CA; SouthSide Studios, Atlanta, GA; Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV; Studio On The Shore, Malibu, CA; The Carrington House, Atlanta, GA; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Triangle Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA; Westlake Audio, Hollywood, CA.

Photographer: Eric Ogden.

Though his singing career has largely taken a back seat to his hugely successful run at the box office (starring in Oscar-winning roles such as 2004's RAY), Jamie Foxx has had his feet planted in both artistic camps since his seldom-heard 1994 debut, PEEP THIS. Continuing his breakout 2005 album UNPREDICTABLE's seductive blend of romantic R&B-balladry and smooth bedroom jams, INTUITION finds Foxx upping the tempos and electronic treatments, with the intent of translating his hit-making formula for club audiences. Enlisting a Grammy-pedigreed cast of producers and guest artists, including T.I., Lil Wayne, and T-Pain, the album benefits from its star-studded rotation of guest spots--serving as able hype-men or nimble rhymesmiths on material that could, otherwise, have been fairly middling relationship fodder. On the lead single, "Just Like Me," Foxx's smooth, synthetic croon rides confidently over an appealingly bouncy melodic hook while T.I.'s roughneck swagger provides gritty contrast. While INTUITION lacks some of the immediate pleasures of Foxx's Kanye West-produced collaboration with Twista, "Slow Jamz," it still packs enough surprises and twists to keep it in good stead with 2008's other big album by a fellow R&B singer-turned-actor, Beyonce.

Intuition is as star-studded as Unpredictable, its collection of collaborators and producers -- including Lil Wayne, T.I., the-Dream, T-Pain, and Ne-Yo -- making it appear more like a release from a singer in his twenties rather than early forties. That's the way most of the album plays out, with a pronounced slant toward upbeat material made for the clubs: bumping beats and Auto-Tune, shorties and Patrón, the works. Since Foxx is a chameleon, he can work the angle without sounding out of place or hopelessly desperate for a big pop hit, yet the effect of the material tends to be fleeting, with punch lines like "I don't rain, girl, I hurricane" and "Let me introduce you to my Grammy family, like Uncle Oscar, Aunt Emmy" far more memorable than the beats. As on Unpredictable, the relatively relaxed and humble songs, from midtempo cuts to ballads, shine brighter. The bittersweet "I Don't Know" tastefully and movingly references Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" within a stripped-down arrangement anchored by kick drums and panning breaths. "Freak'in Me," where Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius provides the album's most valuable guest appearance, should be a late-night radio staple. If not quite as enjoyable as Unpredictable, Foxx's ability and personality make it easy to ride out the sags. ~ Andy Kellman minimize