Artist: JoJo
Album: Can't Take That Away From Me
Out: September 14th (for FREE!)
We all remember JoJo. She had a string of hits in the early millennium, and no one could believe how young she was after they heard her sing (Willow Smith anyone?). Then she moved into a semi-successful acting career (RV anyone?). Then she moved into ... obscurity.
I'm guessing no one ever thought they'd hear from JoJo ever again. Well, her record label would have loved for that to happen as well. As JoJo has matured over the years, as has her sound. Gone are the days of her bubble gum R&B infused pop melodies. She's begun to embrace her more urban side and that's what makes her happy. Unfortunately transitioning genres is a difficult thing, and often requires a lot of label support, something this singer does not have.
So after a long legal battle with her label to get them to pay attention to her or let her out of her contract so she could go somewhere where they did, she won and now she's getting the push she needs.
Buuuuut...
I'm not sure this is the right direction.
I've never truly understood the concept of a "mixtape." Its an interim of half way decent rap songs that were all produced by one person late one night when said rapper and producer got stoned and thought it'd be cool to make an album in one night. They usually aren't very good, and they are always given away for free. It's something that the Hip-Hop community uses to tide fans over while they work on the real music. So when I see R&B artists/Pop acts doing the same thing, I have to scratch my head a little bit.
When listening to this record, it is not a mixtape by any means. It is a completed and finished product. Are there hits here? Not really. Are there good songs here? Of course. Will you find something you like? Absolutely!
The "tape" opens with the title track, Can't Take That Away From Me. JoJo promised that each song would be a different type of sound you've probably never heard from her before. This title offering infuses rock and an 80's vibe that soars with her clear and mature vocals. I get 'old school' early Mariah/Janet vibes from her voice and this song. It's a repetitive soaring track that I enjoyed on first listen.
The next track Running on Empty takes a page out of its own name and falls flat. Its a one of those meandering R&B tracks that I hope she stays away from on her next full length effort. Pretty Please picks up the 'empty' slack with a titillating throw back to 70's R&B. Its a bit under-produced, but its a fun "getting ready with the girls" kind of a song.
The next two songs (Why Didn't You Call and Just A Dream) were so boring I've already forgotten what they sounded like, and deleted them immediately from my iTunes. Experimental for sure. Just not my cup of tea. When Does It Go Away, which features Travis Garland, picks up the previous tracks slack. This is a modern pop gem ballad. The song soars into your brain and finds a strange place in your heart. We've all felt this feeling before. It's an absolutely beautiful track, that was most likely recorded for Garland's derailed album, since he seems to featured prominently. But I love this track, and find myself humming it from time to time when I'm on my own.
The pop gems keep coming with My Time Is Money. This is a female empowerment song that you can dance to. It will keep your girls night out party going and get everyone amped for being young sexy single independent women! I'll admit, I've been jamming to this song for over a month now. I just can't get enough. It's pure Beyonce pop music.
Moving back into the lifeless R&B that she seems to enjoy exploring on this effort, What You Like, is a dreary piece that does nothing to keep my ears interested in listening, and I doubt it'll do the same for you. In the Dark, which was the first Internet single from the tape, is a dark sexy moody piece that delves into subject of sex (gasp!). It's pure R&B, but its the kind of baby making R&B that was produced correctly and its delivered properly. I dare you not to catch yourself touching yourself a little when this song comes on your shuffle.
Boy Without A Heart is that perfect bluesy R&B song I've always wanted to hear from her. Throwing me back into the 60's. Live instrumentation, instead of computer produced beats. The lyrics are heart-wrenching, and reflective. I can't get enough this kind of JoJo. I hope she keeps moving forward in this direction.
The shows closer, All I Want Is Everything, is the title for her forthcoming LP. I have to wonder if this will be a track on the upcoming release, or if its just a pre-cursor for the new material. Either way, its a jam that fits into the TLC R&B from the mid-90's. It's medium paced and its a lyrical anthem to the musically stunted JoJo of the past few years. It's kind of like a lion roar from the sparky 19 year old who's already had 7 years of a career before it was even legal for her to drink. Awe, young money! What have you done lately?
Bottom line: It's free, so I may have been easier on it, but I think its a worthy download. Figure out which JoJo you like.
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