I was introduced to Ne-Yo when I heard the track "Stay", which features the artist formerly known as Peedi Crakk. The song got my attention but I needed to hear more tracks before I decided to invest in Ne-Yo's project. Once "So Sick" was released to radio, I knew that I would invest in it.

Ne-Yo was singing the blues about not being with the woman that he still loves and the midtempo track was in heavy rotation on the radio stations.

Ne-Yo released his debut CD,

, in 2006.

My favorite tracks ended up being "Let Me Get This Right", "Get Down Like That", "Mirror", "Time" and "Let Go".

Ne-Yo released

a year later. The title track gave the CD alot of attention and the midtempo jam "Do You" didn't hurt things either. I also liked the alternate version of "Do You" that featured Mary J. Blige. My other favorites from the CD included "Can We Chill", "Say It", "Angel" and "Crazy" w/Jay-Z.

I saw Ne-Yo in concert earlier this year with Alicia Keys and Jordin

Sparks. I was anxious to see whether or not he would perform any songs from his upcoming album. He began the concert with "Closer" but I was disappointed that he didn't atleast give us a preview of what to expect.

After listening to this CD, I understand why he kept us in suspense and I am definitely satisfied with the final product. The 1st single "Closer" is unlike any song that Ne-Yo has made so far in his career. The track has tremendous energy and it comes across as an urban house song that you will be doing any kind of 2 step to even 20 years from now. He slows things down with the 2nd single "Miss Independent". Ne-Yo dedicates this track to the ladies that are out there doing their thing on their own. Whether, it's raising children, being the boss of their own firm or paying their bills on time, Ne-Yo dedicates this song to the independent ladies that are making something out of their lives. If you purchased the CD from Itunes there is a remix of "Miss Independent" entitled "She Got Her Own" w/Jamie Foxx & Fabolous. Most people will like the original track better but the remix isn't that bad at all. "Nobody" is a nice uptempo jam for the clubs. The track has Mijac (Michael Jackson) written all over it but it also has hit written all over it as well. Ne-Yo talks about how a particular woman is shutting the club down with her style, dancing skills and overall looks. I am not sure why Ne-Yo decided to put a track that he wrote for New Kids On The Block's new CD on here. However, "Single" clearly works and any female that's ever been put in that situation will definitely be able to relate to Ne-Yo's lyrics on this track. Once you hear "Mad" you will be able to understand why Ne-Yo's songwriting is in so much demand. He is able to break down things that happen in relationships in general and I am pretty sure that he has experienced some of the things that he is writing about as well. "Why Does She Stay?" has Ne-Yo acknowledging his faults and what he does wrong in the relationship and at the same time he is asking why does his woman choose to stay with him despite these faults. He gives her credit for putting up with his antics and he even realizes that he doesn't deserve to be with her. "Fade Into The Background" has Ne-Yo describing a situation at the club where he is eyeing a particular young lady. By the time he has to nerve to try to approach her, he realizes that someone beat him to it or that she is there with someone else. I think that has happened to every man atleast once in their life. "So You Can Cry" is a stellar midtempo jam that has Ne-Yo describing a situation where a woman is feeling depressed about a failed relationship and Ne-Yo is trying to do anything possible to be there for her during this difficult time. Ne-Yo has a nice touch of thoughtfulness on this project and it just makes him a better songwriter. "Back To What You Know" has Ne-Yo telling the lady that he is involved with that he can tell that she is not 100% commited to their relationship. He is letting her know that if your heart is still with your ex, then that is where you need to be instead of wasting their time in this relationship. Can the church say Amen to that one? This is another stellar midtempo jam on "Year Of The Gentleman". "Lie To Me" sounds like a track that Michael Jackson turned down and Ne-Yo decided to use for himself. On the 2nd verse, I thought I was going to hear a "Chum On" that Mijac is famous for singing in his songs. Ne-Yo is eerily trying to channel Michael on the 2nd verse. This song isn't bad but it could have been better. Things end on a great note with "Stop The World". The song will have you thankful that you are able to find someone special to spend the rest of your life with like I have. "Part Of The List" isn't bad but it sounds like Ne-Yo was trying to hard on certain parts of this track.

Overall, I feel Ne-Yo has created one of the best r&b releases of the year with "Year Of The Gentleman". This is clearly the best CD that Ne-Yo has ever written and the majority of the tracks demonstrate his writing talent. If you enjoyed "In My Own Words" or "Because Of You", then you can't afford to pass up on "Year Of The Gentleman".

James' Top 5

1) Closer

2) Miss Independent

3) Stop This World

4) So You Can Cry

5) Fade Into The Background

Honorable Mention:

Nobody

Why Does She Stay?

Back To What You Know

Single

Mad

One of the few R&B stars to emerge in the last few years to sound more like an authentic talent than a record company puppet, singer/songwriter Ne-Yo affirms his stardom on killer third studio LP "Year of the Gentleman." A classy affair throughout, the fast-moving album packs a dozen quality songs, at least half of which could make solid radio hits, with Ne-Yo's warm, velvety vocals leading the way. He is a smart songwriter fully aware of the type of material that suits his limited but solid, expressive range, enabling him to craft catchy, elegant musical rapture consistently and heartily.

Ne-Yo has explained the album title by proclaiming it as his aim to evoke memories of a different time - a time when it was imperative to walk out the front door always looking your best - to look the part of the gentleman. Most importantly, he sings as well as looks the part on the glossy album cover, whether he does it through romantic paeans such as "Why Does She Stay?" or situational pieces such as "Mad," where he refuses to go to bed with his love muffin until their argument is over and they've kissed and made up. Yes, Ne-Yo may be aiming for the title of Mister Cornball, but darn if he doesn't churn out some downright listenable stuff.

The seductive, hook-drenched "Nobody" is every bit as impressive as effervescent lead single "Closer," one of the strongest Top 10 pop hits of the year. The bouncy "Single" twists and bends with sticky-as-Christmas tree sentiments that ably blend in with the album's context, as does second single "Miss Independent." A sexy, endlessly-playable pledge of allegiance to powerful women, it is already firmly situated in the Top 40 and bound to go even further than "Closer." Stargate's buoyant, light-as-feather production touch again brings out the best in Ne-Yo's particular brand of meaty, substantial R&B.

The pace slows as the album winds down, but the quality songs keep coming with the likes of the hard-won wisdom of "Lie to Me" and the crisp, airy "Back to What You Know." The urgent, captivating "Stop This World" wraps thing up tidily.

Ne-Yo truly delivers the goods here. Solid, juicy melodies color all the tracks, as opposed to the pre-canned rhythms and handclaps that have poisoned the market as of late. In the world of mainstream music he is a creative breath of fresh air. He may not yield anything groundbreaking, but he produces quality art. Today's pop music scene desperately needs more artists like him, and if "Year of the Gentleman" is any indication he is here to stay for a while.

Few people have made as big impact in music as Ne-Yo, probably the most talented songwriter to come out in the last decade. Ne-Yo wrote songs for a myraid of artists including Beyonce's "Irreplaceanble" #1 , Mario's "Let Me Lov You", #1 Rihanna's "Unfaithfull" #2 "Take A Bow" #1 and now also Jennifer Hudson's excellent single "Spotlight". On top of that he was still able to record two solo albums in two years "In My Own Words" 2006 and "

" 2007 with hits like "So Sick" #1. "Sexy Love #7 "Because Of You" #2 and "Closer" #8. In others words, Ne-Yo is is nothing short of excellent and as productive as he is right now there is no way you missed him. His third album, "Year Of The Gentleman" is aparently a tribute to the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr) that have been influentual for Ne-Yo both cause they were good singers and cause they dressed elegantly, something that Ne-Yo also does. The album on the other hand is very simular to his previous two. So, all these rumours that he would be collaborating with Timbaland (and several big time guests like Beyonce) was proven false. Ne-Yo, Stargate and other simular producer are mostly behind this, apart from the Polow Da Don produced NKOTB "Single" which also appeared on their last album. In one way you may wonder why Ne-Yo once again play save with music we already know he got full control over, but who knows how his genuine songwriting would be adapted to the heavy synths and drums of Timbaland? and would Ne-Yo still be intersting enough if he was paired up with Singers better then him?. Anyway, "Year Of The Gentleman" is a very good album and if you like his previous stuff you're gonna enjoy this one too.

First single "Closer" doesn't need much of a presentation, it's one of the faster Ne-Yo songs to date with a great hook and a dance-pop sound. He sings about the obsessive attraction he gets over watching a beautiful woman. The song peaked at #1 in the UK And #8 in the US. Second song "Nobody" is Michael Jackson influenced and somewhat resembling "Can We Chill" from his last album. Another good song. I was surprised to find "Single" with NKOTB here, cause Ne-Yo normally doesn't include songs he wrote for other artists on his own albums, like "Hate That I Love You" for Rihanna but on this particular version NKOTB doesn't appear and suddenly the song is much better. "Mad" not to be mistaken for his other song "When You're Mad", is one of my favorites. Infact it's a little simular lyrically, Ne-Yo sings he doesn't want to go to bed "Mad at You". This is a brilliant midtempo. Second single "Miss Independent" with that synth beat resembling Kanye West's "Flashing Light" is also excellent and one of the more commercial songs here. You got to love the strong, hardworking independent women that know what they want. Only Ne-Yo would dare coming up with a song like this.

Next up is a song called "Why Does She Stay" a ballad. Ne-Yo sais that his girlfriend is "So Much Better Then Me" and wonders why she stays when he's both lazy and always working. "I'm So Unworth Of Her", but it's because "She's In Love". He ends the song by saying So "I take my time and do what im suppose to do/Because i just cant see my life without you". A song better for it's lyrics then for it's charisma. "Fade Into The Background" another slower/midtempo song about missing out the chance to hook up with a lady. Ne-Yo sings "I Just walked in sat down silent/ I stood outside for awhile/ Wondering why did I come here /Face it you messed up and now she's with somebody else" This is a song almost anyone can relate too, this song in particular got married with someone else. "So You Can Cry" is also lyrically excellent about a heartbreaken girl. Ne-Yo sais he wants to "Go have calamari/And maybe a drink" but if she's still sad "I'll ask the sun to shine away from you today so you can cry (if that's what you want)". "Part Of The List", he mentioned things that he miss, and his ex-girlfriend is part of that list. "Back To What You Know" is slighlty faster with guitar riffs, here Ne-Yo said that if a girl don't love him and is thinking of her ex she can go back to him instead. Proposed third single "Lie To Me", is simular to the previous song while the closer "Stop This World" unusual for a Ne-Yo song with majestic "We Are The World" arrangements, but it's another love song about being in love. "And I see Heaven when she looks at me/

In her smile is the most amazing dream/ And in her eyes I fall asleep/ And I hope, Hope that she can see through the smoke

Of my imperfections into my soul/ And my heart where she has control". Beautiful.

Overall, another good Ne-Yo album, nuff said. If you liked his previous stuff you're gonna love this one too. It seem like the first 5 songs are more commercial and the rest are deeper love songs where the lyrics are in focus. So, basically there is something for everyone here. I needed about 2-3 listens to get into the songs but when I did I absolutely love them. Ne-Yo did it again, and so far this is the best R&B album of the year. Recommended.

After having the awesome and exhilarating experience of meeting Ne-yo at his album release party at Atlanta's "300 Atlanta" bowling alley/lounge, I totally fell head over heels for this lyrical genius. Ne-yo brings an element to R&B that has not been heard in decades. He ingeniously unites the sounds of some of Michael Jackson's greatest hits with his own touch of the quality classic Ne-yo sound! Ne-yo took his time writing this album. He went deep inside of himself to express the feelings of women, the pain of broken relationships and the regret of passing up a good woman, only to witness the marriage of that person to a man who Ne-yo exclaims "funny you don't know what you got, `til you don't got it no more ("Fade Into the Background" - beautifully written and oh, so Ne-yo!!). On "Miss Independent" he chooses his words carefully by denoting that what turns him on about a woman is a "woman who wants you, but don't need you"! The beat and the lyrics mesh beautifully for a definite #1 hit! This song lets you know, Ne-yo is definitely at the top of his game! On other cuts, such as "Part of the List", "Stop this World" and "So You Can Say", the lyrical genius in Ne-yo is truly shining! This time around Ne-yo has shown that this is undoubtedly the "Year of the Gentleman". If you are looking for segues to raunchy tracks like "Mirror" or "Sex with My Ex" found on previous Ne-yo classics, you will not find it - this creative genius is able to express his sexual appetite in such a debonair manner you think you are listening to cuts from Marvin Gaye or Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations! Ne-yo has matured and the Year of the Gentleman is a celebration of that maturity. You will not be disappointed one bit.

While I am a fan of Ne-Yo's music overall, I havnt really heard anything from him that wows me since his first album came out. He's done good work with his many guest spots on different artists' songs, and he is the only reason Pliles' song "Bust It Baby" is even remotely listenable, but his second CD was just ok. But with his third and supposedly final album, he comes outta left field with another potential classic!

"Year Of The Gentleman" is truly one of those albums that comes along once every few years and just stays in your CD player for months and you never get tired of hearing it. Even the songs that weren't all that good at first listen grow on you and become favorites (I'm specifically talking about his singles, "Closer" and "Nobody"). Out Of The 12 tracks on here, I love all but 2 of them, and for $10 bucks, I can live with that.

I think the bulk of this CD's appeal comes from Ne-Yo's writing ability. The man can write good songs, period. the fact that he actually has a very nice voice and doesn't try to go overboard with it only sweetens the deal. To emphasize the CD's title, I think this is definitely more for the grown folks then it is for the youngans. Not to say younger listeners wont enjoy, but most of the topics, especially at the end of the album, deal more with stuff you tend to go through when you're older.

Overall, I'd give it a 4.5, a great buy for a great artist. Hope you aint serious about leavin Ne-Yo, we will sorely miss you.