Chris Brown's erratic 'F.A.M.E.'

Album / CD art cover titled " F.A.M.E. " EXPLICIT... — Album / CD art cover titled " F.A.M.E. " EXPLICIT LYRICS by Chris Brown Credit: None/

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comMarch 21, 2011

Even if Chris Brown gets his wish and no one remembers he punched Rihanna in the face, his new album, "F.A.M.E." (Jive), still sounds lost.

Brown needs a new persona. He can't pull off the street tough like his collaborators in "Deuces" or "Look at Me Now," especially after Busta Rhymes steals that one. He's not believable as the sweet innocent in the Michael Jackson-sampling "She Ain't You" or the forlorn "Should've Kissed You." That leaves him with anonymous dance artist, which he adequately plays in "Yeah 3x" and "Beautiful People." Maybe he can hide out there for a while.