By Dane Anderson

Released July 12th, 2013 - Universal

As Pharrell sings 'Everybody Get Up' on first song and title track from Robin Thicke's new album Blurred Lines, it's hard not to want to get up and dance! Or at least shuffle your feet to the song that also features Atlanta rapper T.I and that has become a worldwide No.1 phenomenon. It oozes in rhythm, soul, inventiveness, and is so addictive it may be your feel good song to get you through winter.

Sadly though, ‘Blurred Lines' (the song) has set such a high standard that it makes it hard for the rest of the album to keep up.

‘Take It Easy On Me' sounds like something Timbaland and Justin Timberlake would put together but not quite to the same level. The disco-like ‘Feel Good' starts off slow with Thicke's vocals and a piano before incorporating a heavy bass beat which could be seen as a future club song with some remix.

Fans of Thicke's previous work might enjoy the soulful ‘4 The Rest Of My Life', which is one of the slower songs on the album and reminiscent to ‘Lost Without You.'

While ‘Get In My Way' has a nice lighter disco feel, the more pop infused ‘Ooo La La' sees Thicke singing in a smooth falsetto, and ‘Give It 2 U' sees Kendrick Lamar guest feature on a song guest written by Will.I.Am.

There's plenty to like about Blurred Lines - the sixth studio album for Canadian-American Robin Thicke, who once made it to Oprah's ‘Favourite Summer Things' list and previously wrote hits for Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, and Usher, and it certainly showcases his diversity between R&B, soul, pop, dance, and even Motown to a certain degree as he tries to emulate his idol Marvin Gaye.

But, with the exception of the first single Blurred Lines, nothing is new about any of the songs throughout Blurred Lines. While other R&B contemporaries like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars are pushing the musical boundaries, Robin Thicke has made a fairly safe album.  It's not bad by any means, it just won't set the world on fire and doesn't live up to the standards of the first single.

3 / 5