Hoong Wei Long
Ng Yan Hong reviews Year of the Gentleman and lets us in on the who to the what and the rating for Ne-Yo’s 3rd album.
Who
This 29-year-old R&B singer-songwriter has several remarkable hits under his belt. An established producer, he helped create Beyonce’s 10-week number one hit, “Irreplaceable”. The Pussycat Dolls also had the pleasure of working with him.
What
Since his successful debut (In My Own Words), in 2006 and well-received sophomore effort, (Because of You), in 2007, Ne-Yo is back with his highly anticipated third outing, (Year Of The Gentleman). His first single, “Closer”, is an energetic dance track — a refreshing change from his urban songs that already dominate airwaves and charts. What makes the album shine is that when the man sings about the blues, you just know he means it, especially on tracks like “Mad” and “Part Of The List”.
Bottom Line
Despite the promising opening, the album mellows too quickly. The hits are definitely deserving, but the fillers stick out like sore thumbs.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Tracklisting
01. Closer (Sample)
02. Nobody
03. Single
04. Mad (Sample)
05. Miss Independent
06. Why Does She Stay
07. Fade Into The Background
08. So You Can Cry
09. Part Of The List (Sample)
10. Back To What You Know
11. Lie To Me
12. Stop This World