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| Just as the playcount of Ne-Yo's new album reaches almost 100 on my iTunes, Bobby Valentino drops his sophomore album, also one of the most anticipated R&B albums on my wishlist. Without surprise, Bobby V. did it again. Special Occasion is not only a satisfying follow-up to his self-titled debut, but it's also everything I expected to hear. "Turn The Page" was released as a single the end of last year but it never received much publicity or attention. If I remember correctly, this album was originally scheduled to be released a long time ago too. However, after the numerous listens to this album, I have to say it was definitely worth the wait. The album managed to preserve Bobby V's addictingly sensational vocal while incorporating beats and melody that are somewhat upbeat and futuristic sounding, the product of top notch Hip-Hop producers Timbaland, Tim and Bob, and Darkchild. On "Anonymous", Timbaland brilliantly combines his signature beats with Bobby V's seductive vocal to assemble a midtempo hit, well not quite yet but a predicted one. The familiar Timbaland beats remain distinctive and consistent throughout the song, catchy and flowing. Another production of Timbaland- "Rearview" featuring Ludacris sounds somewhat similar to "Anonymous" in which Bobby V uses 'rearview' as a metaphor to overlook his past experience and trauma. "If I Had My Way", one of my favorites from the album; nothing dramatic, just an easy, smooth-flowing melody that particularly captures my attention. Then "How 'Bout It", a romantic slowjam joined by piano as one of its main background instruments ends up being my favorite slowjam of the album. Bobby V. exerts this convincing and powerful strength so perfectly throughout the song. Another track produced by Tim and Bob that is worth discussing is "Home Is Where You Belong"; the song starts off with Tim and Bob's signature Oriental elements, this is what really caught my attention and it is also another reason to why this is such a great continuation from Bobby V's debut. Classic and exquisite. The Oriental music in Bobby V's albums is definitely not commonplace among the general R&B artists. All in all, Bobby V. is bound to make a success from his sophomore album after a 2 year hiatus. For those interested to try out a slight variation of R&B, I'd recommand this one without hesitation. Finally, I give it 4.5 stars/5.
e. h u's Top 5:
1. Anonymous ft. Timbaland
2. How 'Bout It
3. Only One (Bonus in UK Version)
4. If I Had My Way
5. Home Is Where You Belong
p.s I just realized that my top 5 are the ones that I reviewed. That said, doesn't mean the other tracks are not worth listening to. I almost want to say that this follow-up album could not have been better. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
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Again, Ne-Yo strikes another success in his sophomore album- Because of you. Being at this young age in such a competitive market, Ne-Yo shows his audience that he is far beyond the capability of a mere 22. In the past, I've been having the assumption that for r&b artists to throw a sophomore album that's just as good as the debut is nearly impossible, for mainstream r&b; however, Ne-Yo proved me wrong. When he released his debut album, I definitely didn't agree that he was going to be the next Usher despite his mass popularity, blame it on the played out hit- So Sick. And I'm not going to deny that I already sense his new single Because of you pulling another So Sick episode. Nonetheless, I strongly recommand Track 2- Crazy ft. Jay-Z, my personal favorite, been spinning the song the entire week. Surprisingly, it isn't because of Jay-Z that makes me addicted to the song, in fact he only features a minor part in the beginning. As much as I like Jay-Z, I'm going to be objective and admit that his part is almost unnecessary because it simply sounds incoherent with the rest of the song. It's just another Ne-Yo style r&b but something about it makes me crazy over it...
e. h u's Top 5:
1. Crazy ft. Jay-Z
2. Can We Chill
3. Do You
4. Leavin' Tonight ft. Jennifer Hudson
5. Make It Work
p.s. my 1st yr just ended, ha 
p.s.s i smell the craziness of my summer coming 
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| Song of the day: 偷笑 defining r&b in a soft, smooth, romantic rhythm with an electrifying voice- . 偷笑
作曲 : 方大同
填詞 : 方大同
編曲 : 方大同
你的眉毛 說了什麼 也許沒有什麼 我怎麼了
你的姿態 多麼難猜 有趣又有可愛 也有點奇怪
你的手裡隻有一杯水 從沒聽過一杯水會令人醉
不知應不應該叫你一個大孩子 人左你右刁蠻不愛聽話
＊會不會 是不是我太閑 這意外 你忽然會偷偷笑開
笑的解釋 字典裡記載 那好像是一種甜蜜的青白
就說我太多心 不對 是你 真有點神秘＊
你的耳朵 聽到什麼 腦袋裡想什麼 你憲麼了
你的雙手 捏著衣袖 道出你的溫柔 值得研究
兩個人還不懂的科學 像剛開課會念的第一節
錯 對 沒答案的問題
現在讓我再來做個推敲
不對了 怎麼會那麼在意了 再沒有看到你笑了
是否再不想為誰 來回味不是為我費心 實在可惜
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| A perfect blend of jazzy, sexy, groovy, yet soulful beats joined with a sensual vocal- Sound of Soulfuric House "blue 6ix, miguel migs, jay-j, lisa shaw, om series, midnight soul"     
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| Looking at photos and videos that people recorded from Jay-Z's concert, I really wish I could've flown back home to witness this. Before coming to Boston, I remember myself constantly talking about how badly I want to watch his concert, my all-time favorite rapper, a true artist who I genuinely look up to. Who would've guessed that of all places, he'd go to Taiwan, despite the small 'real' rap appreciator population. I don't care what you all have to say about his retirement, it is no doubt that Hova's one of the greatest in his era, if not the best. Admit it. Just listening to my brother going on and on about this concert that he claimed to be the best he's ever watched, makes me so jealous that I couldn't be there to see it for myself. Come to Boston or even NY, I'd skip school and ride the ghetto Chinatown bus to NY just for your concert. Looking forward to his comeback album- Kingdom Come, will be released in Nov. 2006 
I spent 3 hours last night downloading music when I should've been reading, I would love to share my music folder but there's just so much. Diddy's album is out, in my opinion he's too mainstream, was never a big fan of his music but this album features many big shots that I like such as Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige and even Christina Aguilara. Another album that I STRONGLY RECOMMAND is Frankie J's- Priceless. Love this album. Also, Rubben Studdard's- The Return. And one of my favorite R&B singers, Bobby Valentino's new single- Turn the page. Good stuff, gotta hear it for yourself. | | |
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