While You Were Sleeping, Robin Thicke Tried To Sneak Back Into The Music Industry

At this point, it's hard to put Robin Thicke's name through your head without cringing, even just a little. Putting it softly, Thicke had just about the worst 2014 imaginable, plagued by a very public divorce proceeding (his own fault,) an album that sold roughly 30 copies worldwide and an even more public copyright suit against Marvin Gaye's estate that left his bank account battered and his pride bruised (once again, his own fault.) But even if you can't think Thicke and get the warm & fuzzies, perhaps a new joint could help smooth things over? Late last night, the embattled once r&b star dropped off a new number for us to teeth on, and to be frank, it's not terrible. By no means or measure does it stack up to the standard of musical richness that 2015 has put forth, but "Morning Sun" isn't as bad as you may think or hope it to be. Thicke banks heavily on his vocals, while a fairly simple groove takes over; low-end holds down the funk, the beat breaks and Thicke's croon remains as velvety as we all remembered it to be. And I know, now that his catalogue has basically become subject to all sorts of swagger-jacking claims, that the music-headhunters are licking their chops and this might as well be the dinner bell ringing cross the pasteur, but give the man a break. His last birthday was capped with a multi-million dollar payout to the Gaye estate and he's basically the poster child for blurred licensing lines the world over. Something's gotta turn up at some point. So here's the first step and note to the Robin Thicke comeback tour. Listen to "Morning Sun" below and grab the single on iTunes today. No word on whether an album is even in the cards for Thicke, but we'll be sure to have our heads on a swivel.