second studio album recording artist released september rca_records attaining commercial standing debut album want wanted play larger creative role music principally produced wrote recorded album platinum sound recording studios new_york_city studios los_angeles worked producers jerry music draws pop funk rock soul styles elements electronic psychedelic music album producers incorporated dense bass lines synthesizers sounds songs deal sex romance ideas titled metaphor life wanted songs reflect lifestyle personality dream released previewed songs series free promoted singles including biggest hit date touring north_america europe album debuted number billboard week sales copies june sold copies received rave reviews critics praised eccentric style singing songwriting background shelved years released debut album want november sold poorly amid label dissolution singles attained radio airplay toured promotion album sleeper hit helped garner audience commercial standing garnered following concert performances shut absorbed rca_records acquired new marketing team develop typical urban artist having felt marketed said experience balancing creativity business sense album confident approach sought album inspired alternative musical influences wanted change sound expectations songs urban radio explained album title metaphor life life project life conscious decision feelings said album represents fantasies conveyed dreams felt form fantasy freedom experience totally totally creative writing recording worked album approximately months sought play larger creative role want produced wrote wrote song album recorded album platinum sound recording studios new_york_city studios los_angeles songs gravity recorded los_angeles spent years new_york_city felt let explore edgy life consequently approach saying interview village_voice club pop bottles kind guy lifestyle like party darker looking secret door recorded bedroom los_angeles apartment makeshift studio time parts album edited engineers wanted album pure honest projection lifestyle dream music pace sound represent lifestyle lyrics represent personality sustain creative approach avoided media outlets usually visited music including radio internet drew musical influences early life including classic rock country rock funk incorporate rock album incorporated music distinct feel enlisted orchestra incorporated string arrangements drum loop album title track felt defined moods personality worked previous collaborators producers recording artist sang background vocals song fun forever wrote use brook played keyboards candles sun apart sexual themes wrote topics writing drew sexual behavior single man moments power vulnerability sexually woman originally wrote fun forever album girl fire recording studio jamaica conceived song spending time keys roof studio recounted interview mtv_news amazing blanket stars sky sound waves distance great vibe trying creative live forever accomplished amazing things come far come theories built amazing amazing architectural beautiful things lazy album title track written working want reaction request conventional songs composed song unusual lyrics hook chorus form music lyrics according widely considered leading example alternative described avant soul opinion npr record combined pop funk rock soul genres music features sparse production eccentric details thick bass lines synthesizers sounds allmusic andy_kellman found album want observed atmosphere intensified unexpected touches said sounds title suggest album said genre conventions influence hip hop believed drew heavily psychedelic rock psychedelic pop music writers compared album style prince guardian aesthetic want faded intimate experiments purple rain esque rock writing record claimed contemporary said definitely think record people listeners expect certain things current following formula live music psychedelic rock funk genres stem soul music hip hop rock important true soulful album lyrics generally deal themes adult love meaningful sex romance pitchfork_media interprets overarching theme highly seen lens eager innocent lyrics express vulnerability humor songwriting tony observes little richard level absurd style music journalist views man admit question worthy love dream explores anxiety nature sex consequence sound views employs approach similar writing worries prayers cat calls light love rocks glasses rainy blood shot eyes digital analog lyrics featuring affection promises female subject don look features bass drums metallic synths mtv_news writes song represents morning reality previous night efforts closing interlude lyrics zombies song time season sentimental synths psychedelic music use features hollow electronic sounds heavily vocals rhythms mix guitar percussion lyrics expressions sexual nerves gentle dominance narrator instructs lover toy atmospheric pop rock song portrays mixes come drug imagery psychedelic title track incorporates synthesizer minor chords guitar bassline got sample groove played different tempo instruments song song lyrics feature imagery taste infinite colors narrator kissing subject eye thrill sparse bass groove layered keyboards lyrics imagery drinks lyrics rap verse user fun forever features atmospheric drums bass cappella bridge rolling dynamics measures advance argument song celebrates youthful bliss philosophy transitions rock song sexually charged ballet metaphors bare power pop elements features high vocal range rudimentary chord progression played electric guitar stripped demo quality song sexual jealousy man plea casual relationship sexually explicit lyrics masculine hip hop feelings song background studio candles sun slow burning political soul song touches killings drug infested communities questions existence god motives governments fact writes candles sun album tribute going promotion pitching strategy marketed volume series entitled released free downloads february april previewed songs album released dream water preview july september digital retailers interview village_voice said strategy allowed listeners absorb songs desired pace called great way peers people hang shows listen music read magazines released lead single august sleeper hit urban radio second number single highest charting single billboard hot number september single sold copies according npr broke national audience second single released september reached number album final single drinks released march support embarked short promotional tour united_states september promoted record television performances park late david_letterman subsequently toured support album months north_america europe including concert dates supporting act chapter world tour november february headlining tour ireland january opened set world fire tour march april shows routinely rehearsed dance studio practiced singing mirror concert performed dramatic leaps moves fashioned little richard started shirt performances inspired concerts release reception released vinyl format september effort deadline grammy awards eligibility period charting prematurely lower sales following week debuted number billboard selling copies album released united_kingdom spent weeks country chart peaking number february record charted weeks billboard sold copies according nielsen_soundscan album certified gold recording_industry_association_of_america riaa june copies sold point received widespread acclaim critics metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream publications album received average score based reviews allmusic andy_kellman hailed pop album greg_kot said creates fluid environment eras feel telling detail wrote guardian occasional appeal indie balanced genuinely thoughtful songwriting use commercial breakthrough radically change course popmatters wrote channel orange showed innovative genre mainstream music los_angeles_times critic said offers evidence genre pitchfork media hailed rare vocalist makes feel singing lyrics transparent appreciated ability articulate love man boston_globe critical finding songs remote true soul singer new_york_times critic said sounds inconsistent little washed blend prince grooves complained lyrics occasionally close teenage erotic poetry end appeared critics lists year best records named best album ranked number robert_christgau number guardian number chicago_tribune number slate number los_angeles_times number allmusic spin number entertainment_weekly number billboard new_york number idolator metacritic named 12th best reviewed album album voted fifth best album annual poll american critics nationwide published village_voice nominated grammy award best urban contemporary album nominated song year winning category track listing notes don look contains portion time season written dream contains sample got written performed drinks contains sample begun written performed personnel credits adapted album liner notes charts weekly charts year end charts certifications release 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Kaleidoscope Dream