the dream

In Love vs. Money, R&B singer The Dream (Terius Nash) attempts to follow up the success of his 2007 release, Love Hate. Already a proven musical presence, the Dream co-penned Rihanna's smash-hit "Umbrella" and produced Beyonce's "Single Ladies." Love vs. Money serves as The Dream's best opportunity to become a more recognizable solo act.

Unfortunately, for much of the album the singer goes green, recycling the same beat over and over again (an inconvenient truth indeed). His lyrics are highly repetitive, with the Rockingham, N.C., native continuously boasting about how he spends more time between the sheets than a composer and has made more girls cry than Bambi's mother (see such tracks as "Mr. Yeah" and "Put it Down" for proof). In short, the main thrust of Love is that The Dream's forays into the bedroom might as well be called Jesus Christ, considering all of the second coming going on.

On "Fancy," Dream slows things down by introducing a piano, but the singer resembles a failed cocaine dealer-unable to push those white keys. Similarly, the monotonous "Right Side of My Brain" works much like a donkey anesthesiologist. Both will put your ass to sleep.

Of course, like a stripper's hair, Love vs. Money has some highlights. On latest single "Walkin' On The Moon," Dream effectively teams with Kanye West. West's verse is pleasant but predictable, detailing more unnecessary spending than the stimulus package. "Rockin' That Sh**," the album's first single, is another nice cut, but seems a lot like Benjamin Button's skin right before he died-smooth, but by no means new.

In general, Love vs. Money runs like the Duke bus system: on some very corny material. His album is an attempt at following in the footsteps of R. Kelly, but rather than "flying," all the listener gets is the urine.