Latino-rap sensation Pitbull takes the top spot thanks to a little help from Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack – the Euro-dance wiz-kid currently making a claim to David Guetta’s production throne.
2010 has been a year unusually full with grandiose concept albums. Once the preserve of 70’s prog rock bands such as Yes – who were known to churn out 8 minute keyboard epics in honour of Henry VII’s wives – the concept album has made an unlikely return. Notable 2010 concept albums include Janelle Monáe’s critically acclaimed breakthrough ‘The ArchAndroid (Suites II and II)’ – which centred on the exploits of a messianic android sent to Earth – and Big Boi’s ludicrously titled ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty ‘. However, perhaps most ridiculous of all is the album from esteemed film actor Christopher Lee (he of Dracula and Lord Of The Rings Fame): who earlier this year released a long player of ‘symphonic metal’ that told the story of one of his direct descendants from the Holy Roman Empire.
Ne-Yo’s new album, ‘Libra Scale’, is yet another album with an ‘out-there’ theme. It tells the rise of R&B’s first superhero squad, The Gentlemen. A trio of R&B crooners, The Gentlemen are granted all that they’ve ever wanted – special powers, money, fame, women – the only catch is the men must use their powers to fight crime in their city and must never fall in love. Whether or not Ne-Yo is to be the next Stan Lee remains to be seen, all that’s clear is that he hasn’t lost his knack for writing ridiculously catchy urban hits. The album’s already spawned the hugely successful ‘Beautiful Monster’ and ‘Champagne Life’ with the next single, ‘One In A Million’, about to drop in a few weeks. A mid-tempo ballad with more than a hint of Michael Jackson about it, ‘One In a Million’ continues to consolidate Ne-Yo’s reputation as a ladies man par-excellence. Check out the video at the top of the post.
‘One In A Million’ and ‘Libra Scale’ are both out on 18th October.
It’s no secret that Michael Jackson was a big influence on the R&B crooner Ne-Yo. His dance moves, vocal delivery and knack of writing huge cross over soul/ R&B tunes all owe a certain debt of gratitude to the King Of Pop. On his latest single, however, Ne-Yo ups the ante and goes full on MJ crazy and the results are truly impressive. The video sees the singer in ‘Smooth Criminal’ mode donning a trilby, suit and trademark black loathers. He even uses Jacko’s signature trademark breathy beatbox style interjections to give the record a spookily familiar feel.
Going against the grain of most urban artists, Ne-Yo also shuns the gangster image of many of his contemporaries by painting himself as an Eliot Ness style crime fighting figure. It’s evidently a move that fails to decrease his flair with the ladies such is the bevy of attractive females throughout the video.
Once again Ne-Yo delivers another fine R&B hit to add to his already impressive list of work. ‘Champagne Life’ may owe more than a little to Jackson’s unique vocal styles, but in many ways it’s exactly the kind of record Jacko’s many fans would have hoped he’d be making if he were still around.
Ne-Yo’s new album ‘Libra Scale’ is due out September.
If you’d suggested a couple of years ago that the smooth crooner and all round ladies man Ne-Yo would one day be making full frontal speaker shaking Tech-house, people would have probably have laughed you out the room. Yet this is the reality we are confronted with on Ne-Yo’s new single, ‘Beautiful Monster’. You can blame the success of Lady Gaga and Will.i.am; but the worlds of R&B and electro dance seem to be irrevocably intertwined at the moment.
That’s not to say ‘Beautiful Monster’ is bad: far from it in fact. The odd mixture of aggressive synthesisers – that seem to be taken from Josh Wink’s 90’s acid house hit ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ – and Ne-Yo’s knack for writing a radio friendly chorus create quite an intriguing juxtaposition. Granted, it’s not a million miles away from many of the electro/urban hybrids that are dominating the charts of late; but Ne-Yo’s formidable song writing skills elevate it above some of the less inspired efforts that still seem to gain huge success. Throw in a few Michael Jackson style falsetto adlibs into the mix, and you can pretty much guarantee this will be another hit for the L.A. born heart throb.
‘Beautiful Monster’ is taken from Ne-Yo’s forthcoming album ‘Libra Scale’ which is due for release in September 2010
