Ne-Yo - In My Own Words Review

• Artist: Ne-Yo
• Title: In My Own Words
• Production From: Brian Reid, Brandon Howard, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Ervin Pope, Ron "Neff U" Feemstar
• Lead Single: "So Sick"

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With the success of Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” and “Don’t Forget About Us,” along with Mary J. Blige’s “B Without U,” love songs seem to currently have a stong hold on the end of 2005 and the start of 2006.  Rather than following the trends set by his elder R&B queens, Ne-Yo has decided to contradict them all and share with us his utter dislike for love songs…with a long song! (Might we add it worked.)

Ne-Yo’s debut album, “In My Own Words,” is a very raw and gutsy album similar to the creativity of R Kelly’s TP2.Com.  The first single, “So Sick,” showcases Ne-Yo’s originality with lyrics that catch your heart so deep, the song becomes the object of its own concept; Essentially, making the listener unable to stop listening to the music that reminds them of the then significant other.

The man clearly has an immense amount of singing talent and an incredible array of catchy lyrics.  His content though is what separates him from most artists in the industry.  On a song such as “When You’re Mad,” Ne-Yo paints the perfect picture: “Could it be the little wrinkle over your nose / when you make your angry face / that makes me wanna just take off all your close / and sex you all over the place/ could it be the little way you storm around/ that makes me wanna tear you down.” Did he put you in the right mood yet?

“Mirror” later reveals Ne-Yo’s keen ability to set a mood unseen lately by many up-and-coming artists.  The slow tempo melody rides over a soothing base line giving Ne-Yo the opportunity to reveal thoughts most would consider too explicit for an RnB artist, “…keep your chin up / please watch me do the nasty / I like it when you make it move fast / mommy, If I pull your hair back / cause I want you to see that.”

Overall, “In My Own Words” is a nearly perfect album.  With hits such as the faithful “Get Down Like That” and the unforgiving “Time,” Ne-Yo shouldn’t find any problem choosing his next single.  Although the opening track “Stay” (featuring Peedi Peedi) seems to be out of place, the album still easily plays from beginning to end with the only interruptions coming from hitting the track back button.  Ne-Yo has managed to accomplish two feats on his debut; trying something new in a very imitative industry and getting it right straight out the gate.