| "Ne-Yo": Ne-Yo by Michael Heyliger |
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As we all know, the world of contemporary
R&B can occasionally become stale, with so
many artists following formulas and creating
interchangeable music. If you’ve been
anywhere near a radio for the past three
months or so, you’ve heard Ne-Yo’s midtempo
jam “So Sick” a million times. The song’s
insinuating beat and intriguing lyrics locked in
R&B can occasionally become stale, with so
many artists following formulas and creating
interchangeable music. If you’ve been
anywhere near a radio for the past three
months or so, you’ve heard Ne-Yo’s midtempo
jam “So Sick” a million times. The song’s
insinuating beat and intriguing lyrics locked in
many a listener, and set the stage for the singer/songwriter’s debut
album “In My Own Words”.
At first glance, you may peg “Words” as one of those formulaic,
interchangeable albums. Ne-Yo does occasionally fall into the trap of
sounding like Usher or even Mario, the singer he wrote the #1 hit
“Let Me Love You” for. A closer listen reveals Ne-Yo to be a singer and
songwriter with a whole lot of promise. While he doesn’t boast a
knockout voice, he definitely has a way with a lyric that manifests
itself into some of this album’s stronger songs.
The album is geared towards mid-tempo songs in the vein of “So
Sick”, which creates an easygoing vibe for the whole album. The
album isn’t overrun with guest artists or a strong hip-hop influence,
so it’s easy to just sit back and let Ne-Yo do his thing.
Highlights include “It Just Ain’t Right”, one of several songs with a bit
of early-90’s New Jack swing influence. This track deftly weaves lines
from the Switch hit “I Call Your Name” into a story about a love that
Ne-Yo just can’t forget. “Sexy Love” has a bit of a Donell Jones vibe to
it, while “When You’re Mad” has a sly lyric and a fantastic melody.
While some tracks here veer sharply toward cliché, the album’s
closing track, “Time”, leaves no doubt about Ne-Yo’s talent. It’s a
spare, orchestral piano ballad, and is undeniably beautiful. One
hopes that Ne-Yo leans a little further in this direction with the artistic
freedom this album’s success will undoubtedly grant him.
If you’re looking for a solid debut album, look no further than Ne-Yo’s
“In My Own Words”. His matinee-idol looks and romantic vibe will help
snare the younger generation, while the classy melodies as well as
the nods to the old school will snare the moms and pops. Hopefully,
this album is just the tip of the iceberg in what could be a long, fruitful
career.
More info at Ne-Yo's website: www.iam-neyo.com
album “In My Own Words”.
At first glance, you may peg “Words” as one of those formulaic,
interchangeable albums. Ne-Yo does occasionally fall into the trap of
sounding like Usher or even Mario, the singer he wrote the #1 hit
“Let Me Love You” for. A closer listen reveals Ne-Yo to be a singer and
songwriter with a whole lot of promise. While he doesn’t boast a
knockout voice, he definitely has a way with a lyric that manifests
itself into some of this album’s stronger songs.
The album is geared towards mid-tempo songs in the vein of “So
Sick”, which creates an easygoing vibe for the whole album. The
album isn’t overrun with guest artists or a strong hip-hop influence,
so it’s easy to just sit back and let Ne-Yo do his thing.
Highlights include “It Just Ain’t Right”, one of several songs with a bit
of early-90’s New Jack swing influence. This track deftly weaves lines
from the Switch hit “I Call Your Name” into a story about a love that
Ne-Yo just can’t forget. “Sexy Love” has a bit of a Donell Jones vibe to
it, while “When You’re Mad” has a sly lyric and a fantastic melody.
While some tracks here veer sharply toward cliché, the album’s
closing track, “Time”, leaves no doubt about Ne-Yo’s talent. It’s a
spare, orchestral piano ballad, and is undeniably beautiful. One
hopes that Ne-Yo leans a little further in this direction with the artistic
freedom this album’s success will undoubtedly grant him.
If you’re looking for a solid debut album, look no further than Ne-Yo’s
“In My Own Words”. His matinee-idol looks and romantic vibe will help
snare the younger generation, while the classy melodies as well as
the nods to the old school will snare the moms and pops. Hopefully,
this album is just the tip of the iceberg in what could be a long, fruitful
career.
More info at Ne-Yo's website: www.iam-neyo.com
