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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Happy People / U Saved Me
by R. Kelly


9.0

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The R&B singer's latest is a double album, confining the two sides of his personality to separate discs: the radio- and club-friendly 'Happy People' is backed by the religious-themed 'U Saved Me.'

LABEL:	Jive
RELEASE DATE:	24 August 2004
DISCS:	2 discs
GENRE(S):	R&B, Pop

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Los Angeles Times

Charming, unpretentious and effortless, the singer presides over a party whose pace never flags and whose soul is fun-loving and wholesome. [22 Aug 2004]

All Music Guide

A definitive work of sorts since he's at the top of his game as both a craftsman and conman.

Uncut

[Happy People] is a cunning, crackling, can't-keep-still classic. [Nov 2004, p.120]

Entertainment Weekly

The problem separating sinner and salvation seeker into two albums becomes apparent as U Saved Me gets bogged down in one indistinct, syrup-doused ballad after another. [20/27 Aug 2004] [avg. of B+ for Happy People, B- for U Saved Me]

Stylus Magazine

The mood for both is, in a word, joyous.

Billboard

Kelly has an uncanny ability to mix retro sounds with tasty dollops of contemporary seasoning.

Village Voice

Happy People is, if this is possible, the smoothest and frothiest album of the year. U Saved Me is chicken soup for the soul man. Its born-again ballads are fundamentally frothy, in their heavy-handed, gospel-tinged way.

E! Online

U Saved Me's songs of praise like "Leap of Faith" and "Prayer Change" can be taken in two ways: attempts at redemption for what you've just heard or hollow attempts at album sales.

PopMatters

The first disc finds Kelly honing his already well developed skills at creating effortless dance hooks, but on the second disc Kelly seems to be trapped in staid evangelical idioms and drowning in itchy church choir robes.

The Guardian

The Happy People side, inspired by the Chicago steppin' scene, shows why [Kelly] is still a contender.

Rolling Stone

Where Happy People only exercises Kelly's technique, U Saved Me adds some heart.

Blender

These records are too dramatic, too personal and, well, too much. [Oct 2004, p.110]

The New York Times

There's something rather unambitious about this set.

Launch.com

Happy People [is] a featherweight collection of midtempo, Marvin Gaye-influenced tunes... The sacred material on U Saved Me, by contrast, is more exciting--and troubling.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

An album that makes Up With People sound like Joy Division, Happy People embraces an ecstatic brand of cheerfulness so far removed from the realities of everyday life that it creates a kind of altered state.

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

His productivity isn't exuberance, it's greed; his PG rating isn't scruples, it's cowardice.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Abel M gave it a 10:
R. Kelly is the Master. This is the best offering so far. As for Walker Texas Ranger, you who would not know it if music hit you in the face(even country music).

s s gave it a 10:
out of this world.its wrong 4 one man to have so much talent

Crystalin G gave it a 10:
I love this Cd why Disc 1 is wonderdful and positive and Disc 2 has really has open my eyes cetains things he saids in his songs made me think about my own life what i have been through all my 25yrs of my life.

Shermone F gave it a 10:
I bought 3 copies...need I say more. Only God could bless someone with this type of talent. I pray Kelly keeps this joyous, happy, feel good type of music coming!

Vishal D gave it a 10:
Fantastic album. R.Kelly proves that he is probably the most talented r and b artist out there. He can create club jams, and joyous music. This is definitely a feel good album.

Walker Texas Ranger gave it a 0:
It's rubbish. R. Kelly should stay at home and eat mash rather than write "music". Word. Bust it.

Happy People / U Saved Me by R. Kelly

Happy People / U Saved Me
by R. Kelly