David Guetta, ‘One Love’ *** (out of 4)
Though he has logged plenty of time on European pop charts over the last few years, this French electro-house maven hasn’t really established an American fan base beyond the confines of the club. That could change this year: Two advance singles from “One Love” (Astralwerks), Guetta’s fourth studio album, have already broken onto Billboard’s Hot 100, while “I Gotta Feeling,” the Black Eyed Peas track he produced, just scored its eighth consecutive week atop that tally.
“One Love” certainly comes stocked with a roster ripe for a mainstream crossover: Akon, Ne-Yo, Kid Cudi and Kelly Rowland all turn in guest appearances, as do will.i.am and apl.de.ap of the Peas, who return Guetta’s favor in “On the Dancefloor,” a pulsating disco-rap jam replete with space-station keyboard squiggles. Estelle crops up, too, in a dramatic title track that recalls the early-’90s work of the late, great Deee-Lite.
Guetta is at his best (and his most commercial) when he’s equipped with a melody as chewy as his beats are; “When Loves Takes Over,” with Rowland, works beautifully as a cheesy synth-pop makeover of Coldplay’s “Clocks.”
Unfortunately, he whiffs on a perfect opportunity for a tuneful techno-soul bomb in “Choose,” his strangely flat Ne-Yo collaboration.
For the most part, though, Guetta knows what he’s doing here. Bring America to the club? Nah. He’ll bring the club to America.
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