Kelly Rowland Album Leaks, Singer Upstaged By Snoop?

What’s new on the file-sharing networks this week.

Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly
Official release date: July 3

The Internet loves it!: “Kelly Rowland the solo star has arrived … The album’s shortcomings are few and far between … A collection of great songs … Sexy, sassy and confident.� [That Grape Juice]

The Internet hates it!: “To be honest, I just didn’t enjoy alot of the songs … I’m a fan of more upbeat songs and if it’s a ballad, then it’s gotta be catchy and sung well … the ballads are quite boring and there’s only a few good songs.� [Love for Music]

We think: The former member of Destiny’s Child reportedly spent almost four years on the follow-up to 2002’s Simply Deep, not that you’d know it. Once intended for release last summer, her second solo album was pushed back because an earlier version was “too full of midtempos and ballads.� It still is, but now it’s padded with hookless, phoned-in club tracks. Even Rowland seems to have her doubts about these songs: On “Ghetto,� the chronically aloof Snoop Dogg sounds more animated than she does. Only the fidgety, Scott Storch–produced “Work (Put It In)� stands a chance of being remembered after it’s over. Otherwise, Ms. Kelly probably isn’t worth your bandwidth. —Lane Brown