AMERICAN critics are reacting unfavourably to Chris Brown's new album, Graffiti, with most saying that they simply can't forget that he had physically assaulted former girlfriend Rihanna in February.

Most reviews give Brown props for churning out dancey R&B tracks, but reviewers say that the music cannot make them forget the elephant in the room.

The New York Times wrote: "On the cocky but alluring Sing Like Me, he...sings, 'When I put my hands on you, girl, I'm gonna drive your body crazy', (and) you start thinking about what those hands have done in the past."

For more my paper stories click here.