The Finer Things May Need A Little More Refining

This album will take you back to a more pleasant time in hip hop, but don’t get too comfy because there are moments that will definitely catch you off guard. KB Jones’ debut album Finer Things is a throwback to the early days of hip hop, focusing more on story telling than bragging. It’s pop-fueled hooks flavored with dance floor beats that take you back to summer time cook outs that the Fresh Prince use to rhyme about.

This album isn’t perfect (in fact it’s far from it), but there are moments where you overlook the childishness of songs such as “Age of Consent” in which KB sings a cautionary tale about avoiding having sex with underage girls, because the next song is as refreshing as a glass of homemade ice tea. But on the song “Finer Things” you might make a double take because it sounds as if a Kid Rock song accidently got included on the cd: The song isn’t terrible, but the blues rockiness of it feels lost and out of place compared with the more radio friendly pop songs that define the majority of the album.

There are moments on this album were a different side of KB Jones peeks out through the hip hop pop and makes you wonder. On the interlude “Tequila and Cigarettes” crunchy, distorted guitars are churning out power chords over KB’s singing that he “wants his mother fucking tequila and cigarettes,” then following that up with a bong hit.
“Pull Up A Chair” is another interesting track that ends the album. The beat is based around an acoustic guitar riff and KB raps about fallen friends, musicians, comedians, and actors that have passed away that he will meet in Heaven. The hook and guitar solo that follow are reminiscent of later Lenny Kravitz songs.  Thirty seconds after the final note of “Pull Up A Chair” Jones breaks into a full on acoustic jam session that makes you wonder if maybe he went in the wrong direction with this album, and that deep down he is a folk balladeer.

Finer Things is a decent debut album from an artist who hasn’t truly figured out what kind of music he wants to make. Minus the blues-rock/rap tunes and you have a good pop album. Minus the pop/rap tunes and it makes one wonder what direction KB Jones has yet to explore.