AMG Review of All or Nothing

David Jeffries
All Music Guide

Borrowing the best bits of his 2008 U.K. release My Own Way while adding a handful of new tracks, All or Nothing is R&B singer Jay Sean’s big play for American success. Released by Birdman and Lil Wayne’s Cash Money label, the album ushers Sean into a new realm of slickness with the widescreen love song “Down,” plus the ridiculously infectious “Do You Remember,” which bounces along with dancehall superstar Sean Paul and the King of Crunk, Lil Jon. Another new cut, “War,” ends up the ballad of choice with Sean playing the role of a soldier hoping to come home to a still faithful wife. The rest of the pillow talk gems come courtesy of My Own Way with both the exotic “Ride It” and the elegant “Stay” landing here, although the jazzy “Maybe” didn’t make the cut for some odd reason. Even with the omission, All or Nothing is a strong U.S. debut for this Akon-meets-Chris Brown-styled singer, one that takes advantage of his suave back catalog and the hip new possibilities now possible via Cash Money.