Robin Thicke ratchets up the soul on his third solo album, "Something Else," due July 1 via Star Trak/Interscope. Thicke previewed the project for media last night (April 14) in Los Angeles.

"Something Else" is led by the uptempo single "Magic," a further expansion of the sultry, classic R&B sound that powered his 2006 breakthrough, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke."

A fedora-clad Thicke worked the room (across the street from Interscope's Los Angeles headquarters), introducing himself to those in attendance. Prior to playing the album, he thanked Interscope for the "honor to do this one more time" and declared that the listening soiree was "a celebration. It's the Barack Obama era: yes, we can!"

While "Evolution" featured cameos by Lil' Wayne, Faith Evans and Pharrell, "Something Else" sports no featured guests. Thicke wrote and produced the entire album.

"Evolution" climbed to No. 5 on The Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, spinning off the hit single "Lost Without U." To date, it has sold 1.5 million units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In related news, Thicke's manager, Miguel Melendez of Overbook Entertainment, says fellow client Jennifer Hudson's long-awaited debut is due Sept. 30 via Arista Records.