Album Review: Ne-Yo is Back in Black with R.E.D.

Stylish, sleek, and commercial, Ne-Yo has returned to form

4/5

Ne-Yo is not like other guys.

For starters, he can sing, really well. He made his name with smooth, well-written R&B grooves and pulsing dance-pop that every male artist since has copied to the letter (although not as well). In a world of sagging pants and snapbacks, he insists on well-fitted suit and a fedora. He also isn't afraid to experiment as much as he follows Top 40 conventions.

His last "experiment", 2010's Libra Scale, led to one of the biggest flop albums of that year.

Now, he's back with an album that follows closer behind The Year of the Gentleman, his excellent 2008 album. R.E.D. is as slick as we know him to be, with some of the glossiest production currently out there. There is definitely more pop sensibility in this album, no more evident than from the lead single "Let Me Love You (Until You Love Yourself)", an irresistible slice of dance-pop with excellent, Sia-penned lyrics. A lot of the album is about empowering women in substantial ways, another trademark of Ne-Yo's music that sets him apart from his R&B contemporaries. He raises glasses to girls with class on the groovy "Don't Make Em Like You" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) and blames his lover for keeping him in bed on the downright sexy "Lazy Love", with swoon-worthy charm and elegance. Lyrically, he still is one of best in music right now, with a great knack for what would connect the easiest with his target female audience.

The R&B tracks are chock-full of the ease and breeze that was sorely lacking on his last effort. "Miss Right" is a standout for those looking for a cool, chill-out song. "Jealous" harkens back to his first #1 hit "So Sick". Never one to exclude pop from his repertoire, Ne-Yo finds him sticking with what would work on radio, while he does experiment with light dubstep, with middling results, on "Be The One". "Forever Now", with it's piano-synth combination, is an excellent second single, even if it's not the most exciting track production-wise. The real surprise here is "She Is", a gentle guitar ballad assisted by country superstar Tim McGraw. On paper, it has no reason to exist, but it is surprisingly warm and romantic in practice, and the two compliment each other.

A traditional, commercial record, R.E.D. easily puts Ne-Yo back in the top tier of male artists right now, which is where he belongs.