Just One More Love Song? (In My Own Words - Ne-Yo)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	In My Own Words - Ne-Yo
Date:	15/07/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of big tunes

Disadvantages: A couple of weaker ones

In 2006 the R&B singer Ne-Yo released his debut album entitled "In My Own Words", bursting on the scene at the same time as the youngster Chris Brown to change the face of mainstream R&B and who dominates the male field.

1. "Stay"

Although it was "So Sick" which initially brought attention his way in the UK, this was his first single, and personally I saw it as one of his best tracks to date as you see that on some classic samples from the Hip Hop world, and a collaboration from Def Jam's Peedi Peedi (formerly Peedi Crakk) you see that he does a banger of a club joint to kick off this album.

**Five Stars**

2. "Let Me Get This Right"

Moving things on significantly, you see that he does a song which has him going for something which fits in much more with the side of R&B which takes on minimalistic influence from Hip Hop, and I felt that it was good to establish this early on as it has him guide you into the type of thing which dominates the album, and shows what he has to offer with it.

**Four Stars**

3. "So Sick"

In the UK, this was the artist's breakthrough single, and I can see how the mainstream appeal of the song allowed him to infiltrate into this field at the time, but I really can't say its something I really enjoyed all that much as he does a typical bluesy song about heartbreak. It was a popular one, and one you are bound to recognise, but just not something to my tastes.

**Three Stars**

4. "When You're Mad"

Later re-imagined on his third album "Year of the Gentleman", this is a song which has him singing about how exactly he feels when he sees his girl angry. It is a fun little song, and a great choice for a single with him showing how well he can fit in with the contemporary trends in the R&B world. The Shea Taylor production is one of the best elements to it, and it makes it stand out as a result.

**Four Stars**

5. "It Just Ain't Right"

This one seesm to come out of nowhere as he quickly shifts the direction of the music as he gets into this song and chooses to get down with a classy little two-stepping joint which has him showing how he can get down to that good old funk to drive his music and pull all of the best stuff out of it. I found it to be a big one and it improves with time.

**Five Stars**

6. "Mirror"

In this one, just as with the one prior to it, you have a song which gets better the more you hear it, but I felt that in this case the situation was a little different in that this starts from a state where initially I couldn't really feel it as it wasn't really making all that much sense with its frantic and erratic production confusing things, but as you listen more, it seems to all connect and make sense.

**Four Stars**

7. "Sign Me Up"

Neff-UU takes over with the beats on this one, and I felt that he did very well with it as he clearly knew exactly where he wanted to do with it, and it appeared that Ne-Yo came through and delivered with his role in it all by bringing life to the music which has him do things in an original way when speaking on the girl he wants, and how he wishes to get her.

**Four Stars**

8. "I Ain't Gotta Tell You"

I felt that in this song, you just how well the artist's song-writing can be as in this one he comes up with even more of his fresh work which simply hasn't been heard by any other before, I felt that as he was backed by some fly beats too, he couldn't go wrong with it as he does a track which shows lots of progression and drive from the singer.

**Four Stars**

9. "Get Down Like That"

I know this one more for the remix with Ghostface Killah with a completely different arrangement from EP on the production, but I felt that this one was just as successful in what is attempted on this one as you see that he performs a song which has him speaking on his views upon relationships, and how he can't engage in certain ones when certain things are occurring at the time.

**Four Stars**

10. "Sexy Love"

This was on of the key singles from the artist, and just as with "So Sick" and a few other son the record, you have StarGate on the beats, and I felt that this soothing strings which he is given to work with are just what is required to guide him as he does another one which has him go in on how he feels about his girl, one who is constantly making an effort to impress him.

**Four Stars**

11. "Let Go"

Right off one of the big tunes from the album, you see him choosing to get straight back to it on this one as he brings up the energy levels on this one with more of StarGate's beats, and in this case (the Norwegian duo responsible for hits form the likes of Blue, S Club 7 and Beyoncé) choose to get back to the club setting of the thing, and have the atmosphere excited to do it on this one.

**Five Stars**

12. "Time"

Ending this album, you find that he goes for a song which has him putting his vocals first (and having the production placed in a secondary role where he isn't having to rely on it for direction) as in this one you see that he chooses to go for a bald to show great variation in the album. I didn't really like it that much, but I felt that it was needed to show what else he was capable of.

**Two Stars**

I felt that this was largely a strong album form the artist, and it shows lots of diversity form him as he is able to come up with much variety in the short release to show just how much he has to offer, and what potential directions he could go with on future albums. A couple of tracks hold this back slightly, bit this is certainly a good R&B album.

Summary: Ne-Yo's debut album