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Javier
Javier (self-titled)
label: Interscope Records
released: 02.06.03
our score: 2.5 out of 5.0
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Well, the world has finally found what
it has been looking for. Yet another new neo-soul artist. In this
decade alone, we have been bombarded with neo-soul crooners such
as Jaheim, Tank, Koffee Brown, Maxwell, Eric Benet, Kem, Dwele,
Avant, Musiq, Joe… just to name… almost a DOZEN. And
now, Capitol records has made the music world a more original
place with the release of Javier’s self titled debut.
It seems that the debut from this young,
aspiring artist is targeting the older audience, as it has a more
intimate feel found in Alicia Keys and Maxwell records. A pleasant
surprise I found on the disc was the occasional use of guitar
and piano. But throughout the album, it never really reaches past
the level of ultimate blandness. Almost every song is a mid-tempo
soul groove that could have been written for anyone’s debut.
The first single, “Crazy”, is probably the strongest
track before the song dissolves into… yawn… The last
song, the redeeming “October Sky”, attempts to be
a classic ballad, but never becomes one until the fantastic trumpet
and piano solos toward the end of the song. Everything in between
really isn’t worth checking out more than twice.
His voice is smooth and classy. But the
problem is, so is everyone else’s in this industry. Think
of him as a Babyface impersonator, or a less nasal Raphael Saadiq.
Yet the “vocal gymnastics” he relies on, like everyone
else, gets irritating after a while.
The main problem with this album is that
it could have been anyone’s album. There’s not too
much here separating it from the rest of the pack. Sure, he can
sing, but that’s why he’s got the record deal. And
while the whole coffee-house atmosphere provides more intimacy,
it’s all been done before. But it isn’t the kind of
album that is going to rely on critical acclaim to get where it
needs to go. So if the classier side of modern neo-soul music
interests you, I’d advise you to pick it up. Otherwise,
you’ll be alright with any other album from the soul section
of your local music store.
22-Feb-2003
11:19 PM
If you
liked Javier...
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| Tracklist:
1.
Crazy
2. Beautiful U R
3. Song For Your Tears
4. Slow Motion
5. Hey Little Sister
6. Biggest Mistake
7. Interlude #1
8. If I Never Get To Heaven
9. Can't Have My Heart
10. She Spoke To Me
11. In Your Hands
12. She'll Never Know
13. Interlude #2
14. October Sky
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