I first saw Ne-Yo when I saw his video for the song with Peedi Crakk entitled "Stay". The song was pretty good but since Ne-Yo was a new artist I wasn't sure if I was going to purchase his CD. I don't listen to the radio that often, because of my CD collection, but I had alot of people asking me if I had heard Ne-Yo's song called "So Sick" and I was like no, not yet.

Once I heard the song and saw the video, I knew that I would purchase Ne-Yo's CD. One problem that I thought that Ne-Yo would have was that a song like "So Sick" is so tight that he would have a problem keeping up with that track. Once you listen to "In My Own Words", you will see that isn't the case.

One reason why I like Ne-Yo's CD so much is like reviewer "Charles Hubbert" stated he has a whole bunch of singles on this CD. Some artists' CDs are based on the strength of 2 singles and the rest of the material on their CD clearly doesn't match up to the well known, popular songs.

"Let Me Get This Right" has Ne-Yo talking about a situation where him and this woman are messing with each other with an understanding that they can still do their thing if they need to, however, Ne-Yo seems like he is ready to take the next step and wants to see if this particular woman is ready to take the next step like he is ready to by making this an exclusive relationship. Ne-Yo makes alot of songs that people can relate to when it comes to male/female relations. His current single "So Sick" is also an excellent example of this. If a male says that he can't relate to this song then he must extremely hate r&b music or he is in extreme denial. It's bad enough that the relationship is already over and you're reminiscing about everything but you torture yourself even more by listening to songs that remind you of when times in the relationship were still going well. Believe me I've done that myself. "When You're Mad" talks about when your woman is either being petty by talking about how you left the toilet seat up or even when she really is mad and you respect that but she still looks good and you're thinking about sexual things instead of thinking about what she is really mad about. Some women don't like that, but as MJ would say that's just "Human Nature" for a man. "It Just Ain't Right" is a nice midtempo song that I enjoy personally because Ne-Yo samples one of my favorite slow jams of all time, "I Call Your Name" from the group Switch. He even goes as far as singing original notes from the original song as well. Of course Ne-Yo puts a sexual twist to things as he asks a woman that he use to mess with if she still thinks about their sexual encounters of the past eventhough they are both supposed to be involved with other people at the current time. Ne-Yo shows another side on "Mirror". Think Sisqo's "Unleash The Dragon" CD and think slow jam. The ladies will definitely not have a problem with this song at all. Sisqo had slow jams on his solo debut entitled "How Can I Love U 2Nite" and "So Sexual" and when I think of "Mirror" those are 2 songs that come to my mind right away. After "Mirror", Ne-Yo speeds the pace back up with "Sign Me Up". This is a classic uptempo jam as Ne-Yo basically tells this particular woman that whatever I need to do, I'll do it as long as you give me a chance to be the man that you need and if need be she can "sign him up". "I Ain't Gotta Tell You" has Ne-Yo talking about a situation where he is letting the woman know that he doesn't have to "gas" her up with things that she is use to hearing, he just wants to know if he has a chance with her. "Get Down Like That" has Ne-Yo using the same O' Jays sample, "I Swear I Love No One But You", that Mary J. Blige used on her current CD, "The Breakthrough", entitled "No One Will Do". While Mary J. sounds like she used the track as a dedication to her husband Kendu, Ne-Yo uses the sample to let the ladies know that while he is involved in this current relationship he can't allow the pressure to stay faithful to get to him and even if another woman is trying as hard as she can to get with him that he can't do anything for them while he is with this particular woman. This track is one of my favorite songs on "In My Own Words". "Sexy Love" is a nice midtempo jam that has Ne-Yo talking about a special woman that may have been in his life at one time. "Let Go" is basically a slow jam version of "So Sick". The only difference is that in "So Sick" it seems as if Ne-Yo doesn't want to be reminded of the relationship and on "Let Go" Ne-Yo is having a hard time letting go of that relationship and seems determined that if the woman wants to come back to him that he would be all for it. "Time" is definitely a change of pace from the rest of "In My Own Words". "Time" is a nice slow jam that has Ne-Yo reminding everyone men or women that if you love someone you have to chreish that situation before it's too late. Ne-Yo definitely shows me something on this track. "In My Own Words" closes out with the aforementioned "Get Down Like That" that this time features Ghostface. "Pretty Tony" definitely adds some flavor to a track that was already one of my favorites. This collaboration happened more than likely because of Ne-Yo being featured on Ghostface's 1st single from his CD "Fishscale", "Back Like That".

In my opinion, you will find a hard time trying to find many faults with "In My Own Words". You may find yourself saying that alot of the tracks are similar or that they may deal with the same subject matter but when you're a young man in your early 20s what more can your really talk about. There are alot of sexual undertones on this CD, but that doesn't take away from the quality of this CD. You can tell that Ne-Yo is a very talented songwriter and his producers match his voice with good tracks as well.

Overall, Ne-Yo has unlimited potential. If you are a fan of new school r&b then I think this will be the CD for you. Although this CD doesn't have alot of ballads, this CD reminds me of Bobby Valentino's CD because of the subject matter. As far as potential goes, Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole has the new school r&b game on lock for now. Hopefully, both artists can continue to get better as they get older.

James' Top 5

1) So Sick

2) Get Down Like That

3) Sign Me Up

4) It Just Ain't Right

5) Time

2006 has been a year filled with strong R&B albums. Ne-Yo's exceptional debut disc doesn't buck the trend. While Ne-Yo's voice doesn't quite have the grit of John Legend or Anthony Hamilton or the polish of Jaheim, he is definitely a credible R&B vocalist. Unlike other contemporary R&B artists, Ne-Yo tends to stay away from dance-pop and "clubby" R&B tracks in favor for more credible, "songwriter's" track. One has to listen no further than the exceptionally sincere "So Sick" to hear the quality of the words that Ne-Yo sings.

Production is also strong throughout the album with very strong drum programming throughout. Also, Ne-yo jacks the same sample that Mary J. Blige uses on her exceptional THE BREAKTHROUGH album ("No One Will Do") for his own hit "Get Down Like That", one of my personal favorites. Among others besides the already mentioned, songs "Stay", Ne-yo's radio bombing single (though it is an exceptional track), "Let Me Get This Right", and "It Just Ain't Right" are the best offered on this exceptional album. Ne-Yo only has a few slight missteps that hold the album back slightly.

The biggest downer about this release is that at times you feel that Ne-Yo is either the slightest bit too smooth or too reserved. However, it is that reserved quality that makes the simplicity of a song such as "So Sick" so effective. 4 stars, easily.

I'm not lying. I didn't think that this CD would get me the way it did, but I am singing all the songs and constantly playing the CD in my car. All the songs are quite soulful; he is a breath of fresh air for the crap that we've been hearing trying to passed off as R&B. He is the epitomy of how R&B should be! I love it. All the songs, as the others said, are each great singles.

My fav. songs (in no particular order):

Stay

Let Me Get This Right

Sign Me Up

You Aint Gotta Go

Sexy Love

Let Go

BTW, I don't suggest the younger set to listen to this WHOLE album. Its mostly about sex, sex and more sex.

Songwriter Ne-Yo's (a.k.a. Shaffer Smith, he wrote Mario's #1 Grammy-nominated smash, "Let Me Love You") debut CD 'In My Own Words' is definitely one of the best contemporary soul releases of this decade. I enjoyed the 1st single, "Stay," but it was the 2nd single, "So Sick," that I absolutely did not like. After hearing buzz that this CD was the one to have, I went out and purchased it...and I wasn't disappointed. I still enjoy "Stay," and my other favorites here are:

"Stay"

"Sign Me Up"

"When You're Mad"

"It Just Ain't Right"

"Mirror"

"I Ain't Gotta Tell You"

"Get Down Like That"

"Get Down Like That" may confuse a lot of listeners if they don't know their music. It's a great song, and its chorus has the exact same tune as "No One Will Do," the opening track from Mary J. Blige's latest amazing release, 'The Breakthrough.' Ne-Yo didn't sample this from Blige; both he & Blige actually used the same O'Jays sample, "I Swear I Love No One But You." Ne-Yo's album does contain a lot of samples, particularly those from the DeBarge family, but that doesn't diminish the quality if this album. Ne-Yo is an terrific songwriter, and a pretty good vocalist. He has a lot of control when he sings, and most importantly, he does oversing the songs like some of his female R&B counterparts (or for that matter, some of his male R&B counterparts). With material like this, Ne-Yo will be around for a long time to come. I definitely recommend this CD if you're an R&B/soul fan like myself.

Ne-Yo first caught my attention when his second single "so sick" came out. I heard it ALL the time, had no idea who was singing it but i loved it. I found out who it was a loved him. I didn't buy his album until the "when you're mad" video came out. I LOVED the song and the concept to the video and i had to have it! He is extremely talented and I love him!

My top 5

1. When you're mad

2. So sick

3. Sexy Love

4. Stay

5 Let me get this right