You have an older version of
Adobe Flash Player that cannot play the content
we've created.
Why not download and install the latest version now? It will only take a moment.
Adobe and Flash are trademarks of Adobe, Inc.
[]
[Ne-yo "Closer" Music Video] Watch the music video for "Closer" from Ne-Yo's "The Year of the Gentleman" album
Rolling Stone (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Beyond its genuine lyrics, GENTLEMAN also proves that Ne-Yo is a brilliant pop omnivore, gifted with a silky voice and an ability to pull everything from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to clubland synths under his sonic umbrella."
Rolling Stone (p.92) - Ranked #33 in Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums Of 2008 -- "[B]ringing harmonically rich songcraft back to hip-hop soul..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.73) - "[T]he 28-year-old Southerner with the Michael Jackson falsetto not only wears his heart on his sleeve, he lets it bleed down his cuff..." Grade: B+
XXL (Magazine) (p.121) - "Ne-Yo excels with his heartfelt lyrics, but tear-jerking moments are not all he has in his arsenal..."
Title Note
Personnel: Ne-Yo (vocals); Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Syience, Shomari "Sho" Wilson (various instruments); Bernt Rune Stray, Brandon Thomas, Jesse Bond (guitar); Robert "R.T." Taylor (guitars); Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow, Rob Martin, Olga Konopelsky, Gregory Teperman, Charles Parker (violin); Alexandra Leem, Davis Barnett (viola); Jennie Lorenzo (cello); Shea Taylor (strings, piano, synthesizer, bass instrument, drum programming); Micayle "the Mack" McKinney (keyboards).
Audio Mixers: Kevin "KD" Davis; Jaymz Hardy Martin III; Phil Tan.
Arrangers: Chuck Harmony; Larry Gold.
The R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and all-around hit-making machine known as Ne-Yo works his magic yet again on YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN. Different from your average R&B crooner of the day, Ne-Yo backs away from overt sexuality, instead aiming for subtle romantic ballads that vary from playful innocence to brooding melancholy. Lead single "Closer" is unique as Ne-Yo works his silky smooth voice over a poppy house track. Overall, YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN is consistent in this respectfully seductive approach to the fairer sex. In "Nobody," an awed Ne-Yo sings the praises of his love interest--"Can't nobody strut like her/Can't nobody touch her"--and the second single, "Miss Independent" is as close to a feminist anthem as the R&B genre has come in years. Production work comes from Polow da Don, Stargate, Chuck Harmony, Stereotypes, and Ne-Yo himself.
If You Enjoy "Year Of The Gentlemen (CD)", May We Also Recommend:
My favorite thing about Ne-Yo is how genuine the lyrics are. Hes got a great
voice, and can be successful at so many different musical styles, but the one
thing that holds everything together is that the lyrics are interesting,
heartfelt, and honest. Ne-Yo is a real gentleman, and his newest album is
amazing!