Most people out here simply refuse to look at Darius Rucker without seeing him in only one role: the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish and singing only one type of music. This is unfortunate because BACK TO THEN is a very good solo effort, a celebration of old school soul. If that's not your thing, and you're looking for Hootie's style of music, then perhaps you should pass on this...but if you are a fan of old school R&B, then you will love it!

Darius enlists the assistance of some of today's R&B heavy hitters (Musiq, Jimmy Cozier, Lil Mo, Jill Scott, and Dre and Vidal of DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch of Jazz Productions) and the result is an eclectic neo soul-type vibe. Okay, it does have its flaws (the unnecessary hip-hop track with Snoop Dogg, "Sleeping In My Bed" in particular - I played it once and once was enough), but Darius proves to us that he has far more versatility than what you hear on the Hootie records. Upon hearing the head-bopping opener "Wild One" for the first time, he sounded so different that I didn't even know it was him!

Old school R&B legends like Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Teddy Pendergrass come to mind when you hear the cuts on this CD. The most outstanding songs are "Exodus", "Sometimes I Wonder" (a duet with Jill Scott...their voices compliment each others PERFECTLY), "Back To Then", "This Is My World", "Glad You're Mine", "Butterfly" and "Ten Years" (a revealing look into Darius' personal life, absolutely breathtaking).

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Darius Rucker is a wonderful R&B singer, and BACK TO THEN is proof of that. He said that this was the album he always wanted to make long before he ever thought about joining about a band, and I'm so glad this has finally come to pass. I'm looking forward to more solo work from Darius. Hope this CD finally gives him the props he truly deserves!

If you're like me, you started to get into music around 1994-95, you just couldn't resist the fun, catchy tunes of a little band from South Carolina called Hootie & The Blowfish. As the years have gone by my taste has gotten heavier and heavier, and a band like Hootie would be last on my list, but I'll admit it, I still have Cracked Rear View to this day. The one thing about Hootie that always really stood out in my point of view, was the voice of frontman Darius Rucker. Very few bands I like actually have lead singers who can sing, but Darius is one of them. He just, sings with so much emotion, like you can really tell how he feels about what he's singing about.

Well recently I was on Hootie's web site just for old time's sake, and I saw news of Darius making a solo cd, and I heard that it was going to be an R&B record, not pop-rock. Well I'm not really into R&B, but I decided to check it out, considering I always loved Darius's voice so much. I was shocked. There was just, something about his songs that I loved so much. His voice doesn't sound like anything else in R&B today- he sounds so much more like an old-school R&B singer, like Al Green.

So yes, I downloaded and burned the cd, and it now sits in my collection next to Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden! The best songs have to be "Wild One", "One More Night", and "Somewhere".

Hootie & The Blowfish might have been the biggest "fad" band of the 90s, but Darius Rucker is one of the most talented singers I've ever heard- this probably will be the only R&B cd ever in my collection, but man, what a good one it is! Keep it up Darius, you're doing great!

Reading the negative reviews of this album made me decide to write my personal feelings. It seems to me that the people who did not enjoy this album were expecting something that this album does not set out to be. If you are expecting Hootie and The Blowfish, do not buy this album. If you are expecting an R&B album in the vein of the current Hip Hop movement, do not buy this album. This album is neither of those things.

This album is a strong debut from an artist looking to go a different direction on his own. While Darius has hooked many of us with his distintive voice and addictive melodies on Hootie albums, that isn't what he was trying to do here. He set out to create an R&B album, in the vein of the neo-soul movement. He does fall a little short, but not for lack of trying.

The album is definately not the best neo-soul album out. It does not have best song-writing, but what R&B album does? I think reviewers that complained about the songwriting were forgetting that R&B music is traditionally more focused on the voice of the artist, and not the lyrics.

This is where this album excels. Darius' voice is what made me so interested in the album, and it is what will keep the album in heavy rotation for me. Instead of lending his distinctly powerful vocals to alternative pop, he lends them to slickly produced R&B tracks. It makes for a very good listen.

I do think that the album could have been better. I wish that he could have worked more with the producers from the first few tracks - Andre Davis, who produced most of Jill Scott's first album. It would have kept the album flowing a little better.

Possibly the worst part of the album is the part that I was most interested in hearing - Sleeping in My Bed. Seeing Snoop Dogg on the track made me flip to this one pretty quickly... and then flip back to the start of the album almost as fast. The track is HORRIBLE, and should have been left off. Darius sounds horrible here (the only time on the album) and Snoop sounds misplaced. If I could scratch this off the disc, I would!

That being said, the album does have many bright spots. Wild One, One More Night, and the gospel song Somewhere are all beautiful songs that showcase Darius' voice as well as the lush production. Sometimes I Wonder, the duet with Jill Scott, is an excellent track that should get some airplay. While many have dismissed this track, saying that Darius cannot keep up with Jill's vocals, I disagree. The two vocalists provide a nice balance between her sweetness and his power. Excellent track.

I was more than pleased that they also included This Is My World - which I first heard while watching Shallow Hal. This is a wonderful song, and the song that got me excited for the album.

Finally, there is Ten Years, which is an incredibly candid song written to his wife. While the songwriting on the rest of the album may not live up to many people's expectations, this look into his life should more than make up for it.

Overal, buy this album realizing what it is - a very good R&B/neo-soul album from a great singer. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have decided to make it my personal mission in life to get people to buy this CD. I have been lending it to my friends and not letting them know who the artist is (as most of them have no idea that "Hootie's" real name is Darius Rucker). I knew that he had an amazing voice so I had no qualms about purchasing this album without hearing any of the songs. I do have to agree that the outing with Snoop Dogg is a bit unfortunate and is probably the only thing stopping me from rating this a five star CD. I hope that people who are not Hootie fans but are fans of GOOD Soul/R&B will give this CD a chance.

Those of you who read my reviews know I tend to go on and on when I comment on something I like...well, not this time. I promise I'll keep it short.

In short, Darius Rucker's BACK TO THEN is the best CD of 2002. Since the day I got it, I honestly have not played anything else. And now I have two copies...one for home, one to travel with. I truly love his new neo-soul vibe...not that I didn't love him in Hootie, but I feel I can relate to this side of him so much more. Each of the lyrics (which the majority Darius co-wrote) are full of the joys and heartaches of being in love. Darius performs these songs with soul, verity and passion that just jumps out at you. And that voice! Lord, that voice of his is heaven sent. If you ever had doubts about his vocal abilities, your mind will be forever changed upon hearing this CD!

I loved just about everything on it. My favorites: "Wild One", "Exodus", "Back To Then", "This Is My World", "Butterfly" and the testimonial "Ten Years". The two most outstanding cuts are "Sometimes I Wonder", a steamy duet with Jill Scott (these two just HAVE to work together again!) and a remake of Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine". Darius' version will absolutely FLOOR you! I can't really say much more, except that this is a CD that you HAVE to own!

Okay, okay, I promised not to ramble. :) But I can't find enough good things to say about BACK TO THEN. Darius, I just love what you done here and I love you as a performer. Excellent job. Keep banging!!