Smith gets serious, but still shows fun side
Darryl Sterdan, Special to The Free Press 2005-04-09 02:55:01
LOST AND FOUND
WILL SMITH INTERSCOPE/UNIVERSAL
Will Smith albums are a lot like Will Smith movies: Most of the time they're enjoyable and entertaining, if a tad safe and predictable. Every now and then, though, Smith seems to make a concerted effort to earn some respect with a flick such as Ali. Or a CD such as Lost and Found. Smith's fourth solo disc is his most revealing and serious release, with personal tracks tackling everything from religious intolerance and past lovers to 9/11 and the evils of modern society. Not that's Big Willie's suddenly turned into Chuck D or anything; Mr. Smith still gets jiggy wit it on lightweight cuts such as Here He Comes (based on samples from TV's Spider-Man theme) and If U Can't Dance (which seems inspired by Hitch). And he pokes fun at his squeaky-clean image on tracks such as Mr. Niceguy and I Wish I Made That, which finds him wondering what he has to do to get some street cred. Whether Lost and Found will bring him any is doubtful. But it might just earn him a little more respect.
London Free Press