Keyshia Cole has built a career on writing about emotional pain inflicted by her lovers. She takes it to her most explicit level yet on
Point of No Return. The dark tone of her sixth album is set immediately with an EKG-like effect in the intro, which leads to "Heat of Passion," a sprawling ballad where
Cole details her man's tryst and spits, "All that over some funk-ass pussy." She defiantly offers "I ain't catchin' no cases," only to later threaten, "Somebody better call the paramedic." There are points where it sounds like
Cole is shaking. The song is so intense that background vocalist
Faith Evans' support seems like it could be emotional as much as it is musical. Later in the album,
Cole shows more of her combative side by comparing herself to
Rick James and, perhaps unknowingly, through a reference to
James' "Cold Blooded," Linda Blair. For all her vulnerability,
Cole also reminds listeners that she's a boss who will tolerate only so much, and she continues to project defiant resilience. It's the kind of album -- released past the peak of popularity, specific in lyrical detail, with nothing remotely near a crossover bid like "Let It Go" or "Heaven Sent" -- that seems destined to become a fan favorite. ~ Andy Kellman