Fans searching for more of the sensual R&B of Van Hunt’s past work (two albums on Capitol, a handful of EPs) may be more than surprised to stumble on the talented auteur in the “rock” section of iTunes. While it may take some time to warm to his transformation into a funk-rock artist, give it a chance—the payoff is huge. What Were You Hoping For? opens with the Beck-ish track “North Hollywood,” which snakes and slithers until it hits a bump and swoops skyward for a moment with car-crash snare drums and metallic guitars. Before you have time to scratch your head, “Watching You Go Crazy” kicks in without warning, a thrashed drum kit battling it out with a layer of scratchy, distorted guitars while Hunt’s sultry voice raises to the requisite rock howl. There are plenty of hard/soft dynamics, often within songs (as there are on “Watching You”) and certainly between them. This Van Hunt has Curtis Mayfield’s soul, Lenny Kravitz’s rock ’n’ roll heart, and Rick James’ funk in his blood—and he ties it together with a royal purple thread (for you younger folks, that's a reference to Prince).