NE-YO
YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN (Def Jam)
Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith’s musical resume reads like the diary of a broken man. Becoming the go-to scribe after crafting number-one hits like “Let Me Love You” for Mario and, more recently “Take a Bow” for Rihanna, the man has proven that he has a knack for profiting from relationship sorrows.
But with his latest effort, Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo is a stronger, more confident man than the one many remember licking his wounds on “So Sick” from his debut album In My Own Words and “Do You” from 2007’s Because of You.
Gentleman’s lead single “Closer” squashes any thought that Ne-Yo is throwing his annual pity party. The dance, Euro-smash finds Ne-Yo following the advances of a seductress while trying to maintain his cool. On “So You Can Cry”, rather than help a needy woman wallow in her own tears, Ne-Yo coaches her out her rough patch. And “Back to What You Know” shows that not only can he pick up the girl, he can also send her packing.
Ne-Yo hasn’t completely chucked his bread and butter, evening out his new found machismo with a slew of ballads for his gentle, nasally (Michael Jackson-like) voice to frolic upon. Songs of jealousy (“Fade into the Background”) and insecurity (“Why Does She Stay”) make this album complete.
And just as a refined fellow would not whisper crass statements or howl at every passing skirt, Gentleman has no mean bass lines that quake out of speakers, nor does it boast any exaggerated, futuristic effects. It simply supplies the soundtrack to a polished man’s happenings, crisp suit not included.
Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman is in stores 9/16/08
Cover art for Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman"
Track Listing for "Year of the Gentleman"
1. Closer
2. Nobody
3. Single
4. Mad
5. Miss Independent
6. Why Does She Stay
7. Fade Into The Background
8. So You Can Cry
9. Part of The List
10. Back To What You Know
11. Lie To Me
12. Stop This World
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