Ne-Yo Loves (Going Crazy About) The Ladies

noah | May 1, 2007 10:30 am
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Every week, we round up the all-important, all-summarizing last sentences of the biggest new-music reviews. Today’s entry is Ne-Yo’s Because Of You:

• “… He’s got a silky voice and a clear knack for chronicling obsessive love and lust; maybe one day he’ll create a half-crazed R&B masterpiece. (‘Leaving Tonight,’ a perfectly pulpy duet with Jennifer Hudson, hints at this possibility.) But in the meantime, Because of You is a likable little album: 12 girl-crazy songs from a boy who can stop anytime he wants. Honest.” [NY Times] • “… Unlike Jackson, Ne-Yo sometimes lets his polite style shade into stiffness. But when he finally gives his id room to breathe on ‘Say It’ and ‘Sex With My Ex,’ he shows he can handle racy themes and aggressive beats without dumbing down or sleazing up his songwriting. Hopefully next time he’ll feel ready to take a few more risks. B+” [EW]

• “… Sure, Ne-Yo can do a good Michael Jackson impersonation, but his voice lacks the clarity of tone and is incapable of reaching the higher notes with beauty, as on ‘Crazy’ and ‘Can We Chill.’ ‘Sex With My Ex’ and ‘Addicted’ are adequate Prince homages, with their chugging electric guitars and churchy organs. But most of the other songs are too formulaic to be truly addictive.” [LA Times] • “… But Ne-Yo, whose writing credits include ear-candy triumphs such as Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable’ and Rihanna’s ‘Unfaithful,’ seems most in his element when cranking out the relatively simple, straightforward pleasures that many more complicated artists would be hard-pressed to master.” [USA Today]

Earlier: The Last Word archives

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