Stuttered Journey of a Gemini (Journey Of A Gemini - Donell Jones)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	Journey Of A Gemini - Donell Jones
Date:	11/07/09 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cuttin Me off?

Disadvantages: Too many weak tracks

**Introduction**

Back to the music reviews now with this release from R&B singer Donell Jones. You may remember his massive hit "U Know What's Up" which I remember from His "Where I wanna be" album which was released back in 1999. Although he has had released albums since then he has not had that kind of success in the charts he has had more acclaim from the critics who have given his previous two albums rather positive reviews.

**Journey Of A Gemini**

Journey Of A Gemini is the fourth solo album from Donell Jones. Released in June 2006 this album features collaborations from Jermaine Dupri, Bun B & Clipse. This album is typical of the way it has gone for Donell Jones since his big hit U Know What's Up. The album received little promotion from the record label due to a merger at the time between Song and BMG which ran into complications. However the album received very good reviews from a number of critics who praised the album.

1.) Special Girl

This is a mid-tempo opening track which features a firm beat and smooth vocals from Donell Jones and the backing vocalists. This is a mix of a ballad and a more uptempo track and gets the album off to a decent if a little uninspiring start. The best is yet to come.

2.) Better Start Talking - feat. Jermaine Dupri

This is an uptempo track which has a Neyo, Chris Brown like sound which I am not that impressed by as I know Donell Jones can do a lot better and is more talented than both of them. A decent enough track but could be better if a few things were tweaked a little.

3.) I'm Gonna Be

This is a smooth mid tempo track which flows well but still lacks the spark of his best work. The album is slowly working up to it's best material. This has a nice enough flow though and some good vocals from Donell Jones and his backing vocalists who add a nice enough touch.

4.) My Apology

This is the slowest track on the album so far and is the first very good track, a very sensual tender vocal is the key to the attraction of this one. The backing music is subtle and does a nice job of backing up Donell Jones' vocals. Could This be the start of something big?

5.) Spend The Night

This has a nice beat and flows well throught, the production from Mike City compliments Donell Jones' vocals well and this is one of the best of the more up tempo tracks on the album but it's certainly not the best track on the album as it lacks a little spark.

6.) Portrait Of A Woman

This is a really wonderful ballad which has a similar sound to Musiq Soulchild. I like the flow of this one as it really is smooth and Jones' vocals are very good on this track. Clearly showing that Donell Jones' best material is with the ballads and not the more up-tempo tracks despite U Know what's up.

7.) Cry

This is a funky slow ballad which has some great beats and smooth backing vocals as well as a great flow. His vocals remind me a little of laid back Usher and work a treat on this one. Cry is a very good track but still not quite the best on Journey of a Gemini. It contains a sample of Hall & Oates - Sara Smile.

8.) Ooh Na Na

This is a sexy bedroom type mid tempo track which has a Ginuwine like style about it. This track was Produced by The Underdogs and is a flowing ode to love making which will be a hit with couples so if you like sexy music to cuddle up to your partner listening to then try this.

9.) Feelin' You

This is another mid tempo track and I feel that it would be better if it was slowed down a touch as the vocals are good but the beat does not really have a spark that seperates it from a decent track to something a bit special. A decent enough track but could be a lot better.

10.) Can't Wait

Back to the ballads and back to the quality. This is a really lovely smooth ballad which sees Donell Jones singing with smooth laid back female vocalists. This is a breath of fresh air on the album and puts aside the up tempo tracks to the real beauty of the album.

11.) Lust Or Love

Sadly it's back to the mid tempo tracks and although this has a nice enough beat it just doesn't progress well enough to be considered a great track. I feel that again It could have been a lot better if tweaked a little in places. It's ok but not a highlight of the album.

12.) If You Want - feat. Bun B

I had never heard of Bun B before this track and this is just another track that fails to get the juices flowing. It's ok but just does not have the right structure so again it could have been a lot better if tweaked in places. Another one that does not have spark.

13.) Cuttin' Me Off

Now this is more like it. This is a lovely flowing ballad which has some really great moments, Great backing vocals and smooth vocals from Donell Jones. This is what more of the album should have been like. This is a real pleasure to listen to and one of the best on the album no doubt about that.

14.) Another Life

This sounds like an Usher track that was cut from the album. Basically Usher on a lukewarm day. This does nothing to enhance the album and sadly goes the way of much of this album. A dissapointment.

15. I'm Gonna Be - feat. Clipse

Now will the final track give us some hope? Well, A little but not nearly enough. This has an up-tempo feel and features Clipse who adds nothing to the overall appeal of this one. like much of the album this track is dissapointing.

**Overall**

Back in 1999 I thought here's a man who could be a big thing in the R&B scene when he released U Know What's Up and having listened to the album Where I wanna be I heard that it was also surrounded by decent songs. Well fast forward seven years to the release of this album in 2006 and all that promise seems to have stuttered. There are no really bad tracks here just loads of dissapointing moves where a little tinkering would have made all the difference. As it is there are only a handful of songs I would listen to on this album. I was expecting so much more.

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