Singer songwriter and producer Ne-Yo has used his many talents for many artists throughout the industry. For his third album, “Year of The Gentleman”, the industry’s renoun producer, songwriter, and singer, puts all of his skills on display.
The album is full of diversity from ballads like, “Back to What You Know,” and “Why Does She Stay,” a song where he plays the role of a man who treats his woman badly while she treats him well, yet she stays in the relationship. “Single,” which is produced by super-producer Polow tha Don, is a song where Ne-Yo is a boyfriend for a night for the single women at the club without without a date.
On “Nobody,” which Ne-Yo produced, is a song that describes that one woman with a great swagger and style that is so unique. This song helps give the balance. It helps keep the album from having too many ballads and make up/break up songs that can make an album sound like a big, long pitty party.
Ne-Yo even plays the opposite role of what he does on, “Why Does She Stay.” He plays the victim on the song, “Lie to Me.” On this song he paints the picture of a relationship that is so devastating that he would rather hear a lie then the truth.
The album, at 12 tracks and running only 48 minutes long, is short without a lot of filler songs thrown in. It isn’t the 17-18-track album that drags on with a lot of songs you want to skip. Overall, the Gentleman isn’t overwhelmingly great from the type of music Ne-Yo is capable of making. But with good song writing, diversity, and good production Ne-Yo delivers a solid album.
-Dontae McCray