The Young Balladeer Has Returned

Ne-Yo, a.k.a. Schaffer C. Smith, has returned with his follow-up to his 2005 self-tiled debut, Because of You. Formally titled Know Me, the 12-track album really soars and truly shows his talents as a storyteller through song.You would want to actually listen to to the lyrics of his whole album. It's a concept album of a rocky relationship that can be traced to his inspirations from the 60'-80's R&B era. A true balladeer, his smooth vocals work on each track invoking something that has been lost in R&B for more than a decade now: L-O-V-E, love.Along with "Sex With My Ex", a Prince-esque song, the title track is basiclly something of a club banger but it still has value to knock the socks off any lover. Now he also enlists the help of Def Jam Exec Jay-Z on "Crazy" which balances Ne-Yo's vocals with an opening rhyme that doesn't take the track away from the album artist. Also featured is Academy-Award winner Jennifer Hudson on "Leaving Tonight" where her vocals might overpower his a little but he does put up a valiant effort to keep up and making it the memorable track for the album.However, it's best to throw on when your with your sweetie. If this doesn't get some feelings bubbling, nothing else will.