The purpose of this thread is to discuss Ne-Yo and his upcoming album, Year of the Gentleman.
Grammy Award-winner Ne-Yo will release his third studio album, Year of the Gentleman, on September 16 via Island Def Jam Records. Its lead single, "Closer," was written by Ne-Yo and produced by Stargate. The single is currently at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
The album's second single, "Miss Independent," was written by Ne-Yo and produced by Stargate. The single is currently at #5 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart.
Year of the Gentleman was mainly produced by Stargate, the production duo primarily responsible for production duties on Ne-Yo's first two albums. It also features contributions by Polow da Don ("Love In This Club") and Stereotypes (Danity Kane's "Damaged").
Below is the official track list 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
Please place all news and developments pertinent to Ne-Yo and his album in this thread.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrTalented,
You didn't like In My Own Words? I love that album.
The reason I'll still get this album is because I love "Closer" and "Miss Independent." Usually, the first single has to be hot for me to buy the album. His first TWO singles have really impressed me, so I think I'll still get it.
I enjoyed Ne-Yo's last album (minus a track or two). The first two singles are killer. Plus the album has already got a 4-Star rating from Rollingstone...which rarely ever happens for R&B artists (ask Alicia Keys).
quote:
Ne-Yo Year of the Gentlemen ****
There's a difference between a ladies' man and a man who loves women, and Ne-Yo reps for the latter. The 28-year-old singer-songwriter says his latest collection of heartfelt love songs is a tribute to the Rat Pack's pressed-suit style, but it's actually a superb concept album about what a great boyfriend he can be — call it Songs in the Key of Nice. Having already penned lady-power hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna, he's the Gloria Steinem of R&B on "Miss Independent": "She move like a boss. . . . That's why I love her." Beyond its genuine lyrics, Gentleman also proves that Ne-Yo is a brilliant pop omnivore, gifted with a silky voice and an ability to pull everything from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to clubland synths under his sonic umbrella. He plays quick beats off slow vocals on the Stargate-produced "Closer," deploys clarinet and harpsichord on the Seventies-pop "So You Can Cry" and pulls out tinkling piano for "Lie to Me," a real-talk meditation on unfaithfulness. The moody piano and chord progression recall Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River," but the lyrics have a great twist: This time, Ne-Yo's the one in tears. - Caryn Ganz, Rollingstone
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 24fanatic,
For Your Grammy Consideration: Kanye West for "Heartless" and 808's & Heartbreak Adele for "Hometown Glory" Taylor Swift for "You Belong With Me" & Fearless Maxwell for "Pretty Wings" & BLACKsummer'snight Kings of Leon for "Use Somebody" The Cast of GLEE for "Don't Stop Believin' " Mariah Carey for "Obsessed"
That's a great review from RS, and it's extremely rare that an R&B artist gets high marks from them. Not that they're the final judge, but it must be a good album if they've decided to step outside their comfort zone and give an urban artist a 4-star rating.
After 2 fantastic lead-off singles, I figured this would be a solid album...and it is. Really solid stuff. Only had 1 listen so far, but I really liked it.
Grammy FYC: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak; Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.; John Legend, Evolver; Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up; David Guetta, One Love; Kelly Clarkson, "Already Gone"; Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield"; Kings Of Leon, "Use Somebody"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
I agree. Ne-Yo is by no means a great singer, but his music is infectious and he has an uncanny ability for catchy hooks. Most male artists don't make songs as catchy as his.
If he had a stronger voice, then his ballads would be better. His mid- and up-tempo stuff is better anyway. I think that Ne-Yo knows that, too. Notice that none of his hits have been ballads. He knows his strong suit and he sticks with it. I respect any artist who does that.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrTalented,
Apart from a little more drama, a notion set with the desperate urgency of opening track "Closer," not much makes Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo's third album in as many years, all that different from In My Own Words or Because of You. If there are any real shake-ups in the songwriter/singer's m.o., they are subtle, not glaring, typically evident only in the production wrinkles brought by his collaborators. Had each album been separated by a few years of inactivity, this lack of change might be an issue, but since breaking out with Mario's "Let Me Love You" in 2004, Ne-Yo has been nothing if not steady and consistent, a constant presence in the R&B chart who probably could not devise a gimmick if his career depended upon it -- unless you hold those natural and often uncanny Michael Jackson vocalisms, as present as ever throughout highlight "Nobody," against him. What makes the album slightly less satisfying than Ne-Yo's first two albums is that the ballads are slightly sappier and overwrought. The odds are in his favor, however, that no one has written a more gorgeous song about slothful self-loathing. That song, "Why Does She Stay," forms the front end of a two-track patch of glorious gloom -- the album's center, both literally and figuratively -- complemented by "Fade into the Background," where he watches the one who got away get married.
One of my favorite songs off this new album is "Mad". Hopefully it will be the next single. I've enjoyed the album so far, but it doesn't seem like he has very many radio-friendly tracks (as in potential singles, not non-explicit songs, haha). "Closer" is the only track like it on YEAR OF THE GENTLEMEN, so that was a no-brainer for a single choice.
For Your Grammy Consideration: Kanye West for "Heartless" and 808's & Heartbreak Adele for "Hometown Glory" Taylor Swift for "You Belong With Me" & Fearless Maxwell for "Pretty Wings" & BLACKsummer'snight Kings of Leon for "Use Somebody" The Cast of GLEE for "Don't Stop Believin' " Mariah Carey for "Obsessed"
What's with all the hate on Ne-Yo?He's not the best singer but he can still sing better than alot of these other Male Artists(Including Chris Brown)I loved his first album and his second album was decent,so Im sure I'll like this one.I love "Closer" and "Miss Independent".
Originally posted by Classof2006: What's with all the hate on Ne-Yo?He's not the best singer but he can still sing better than alot of these other Male Artists(Including Chris Brown)I loved his first album and his second album was decent,so Im sure I'll like this one.I love "Closer" and "Miss Independent".
All the hate? Only Gucci has been negative, and definitly not over the top.
Sometimes people read too far into things.
I really like "Closer", but I haven't heard "Miss independent" that much. Is it charting/an official single yet?
I loved In My Own Words. That was a stellar album all the way through. Because of You was very spotty, but it still contained a few songs that I liked.
The reason I've stuck by Ne-Yo is because the guy releases some truly KILLER singles. "Because of You" was an amazing record, and "Closer" is even better. And I love "Miss Independent"; it's currently the ringer on my cell phone.
I'm more excited about this album than I've been by the last two simply because I'm blown away by its TWO lead-off singles. Hopefully the album won't disappoint, and I'm not expecting it to.
And people were looking for a Best Contemporary R&B Album frontrunner? You have it right here. The reviews have been great thus far, he's the category's defending champ, and he's peaking at the right time. And if "Take A Bow" lands even one general nomination, you can go ahead and seal the win for him yet again. "Irreplaceable" worked for him last year, and "Take A Bow" can certainly benefit him this year.
quote:
Originally posted by Classof2006: What's with all the hate on Ne-Yo?He's not the best singer but he can still sing better than alot of these other Male Artists(Including Chris Brown)I loved his first album and his second album was decent,so Im sure I'll like this one.I love "Closer" and "Miss Independent".
Ne-Yo is not a better vocalist than Chris Brown, but that's just my personal opinion and it's certainly for another thread -- not this one.
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Originally posted by bildo10: I really like "Closer", but I haven't heard "Miss independent" that much. Is it charting/an official single yet?
It's currently at #9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart but I'm not sure if it's been released to pop radio yet. It's a killer track.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrTalented,
Originally posted by MrTalented: I loved In My Own Words. That was a stellar album all the way through. Because of You was very spotty, but it still contained a few songs that I liked.
The reason I've stuck by Ne-Yo is because the guy releases some truly KILLER singles. "Because of You" was an amazing record, and "Closer" is even better. And I love "Miss Independent"; it's currently the ringer on my cell phone.
I'm more excited about this album than I've been by the last two simply because I'm blown away by its TWO lead-off singles. Hopefully the album won't disappoint, and I'm not expecting it to.
And people were looking for a Best Contemporary R&B Album frontrunner? You have it right here. The reviews have been great thus far, he's the category's defending champ, and he's peaking at the right time. And if "Take A Bow" lands even one general nomination, you can go ahead and seal the win for him yet again. "Irreplaceable" worked for him last year, and "Take A Bow" can certainly benefit him this year.
quote:
Originally posted by Classof2006: What's with all the hate on Ne-Yo?He's not the best singer but he can still sing better than alot of these other Male Artists(Including Chris Brown)I loved his first album and his second album was decent,so Im sure I'll like this one.I love "Closer" and "Miss Independent".
Ne-Yo is not a better vocalist than Chris Brown, but that's just my personal opinion and it's certainly for another thread -- not this one.
quote:
Originally posted by bildo10: I really like "Closer", but I haven't heard "Miss independent" that much. Is it charting/an official single yet?
It's currently at #9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart but I'm not sure if it's been released to pop radio yet. It's a killer track.
Mr.Talented you really think Chris Brown is a better vocalist than Ne-Yo?Chris can sing but Ne-Yo sings with more emotion.
Ne-Yo may show more emotion, but his voice isn't as versatile.
For instance, as some posters have noted, Ne-Yo isn't as strong when featured on slower fare. However, he sounds best and in his element on mid-tempo/faster stuff. CB, on the other hand, sounds great doing both. His voice suits ballads well ("Say Goodbye," "Take You Down") and up-tempo stuff ("Forever," "Wall To Wall," "Kiss Kiss").
I've always thought that Chris Brown was a more talented singer.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrTalented,
Originally posted by MrTalented: Ne-Yo may show more emotion, but his voice isn't as versatile.
For instance, as some posters have noted, Ne-Yo isn't as strong when featured on slower fare. However, he sounds best and in his element on mid-tempo/faster stuff. CB, on the other hand, sounds great doing both. His voice suits ballads well ("Say Goodbye," "Take You Down") and up-tempo stuff ("Forever," "Wall To Wall," "Kiss Kiss").
I've always thought that Chris Brown was a more talented singer.
That's true.Chris does tend to sound good on BOTH ballads and up-tempo's,but I would still give the edge slightly to Ne-Yo!
If you would have asked me back in 2006 who sings better i would have said NE-YO but now that CB voice has matured and improved i think that Chris can sing circles around neyo.
Also MR.Talented I think CB is more of a frontrunner in cont. R&B then NE-YO.
Posts: 313 | Location: cali | Registered: June 04, 2007
