Album Review: Sean Garrett – Turbo 919
Sean Garrett, who is often referred to as “The Pen” is releasing his debut album. Even though you may not be familiar with him as an artist, you definitely know his music, having written countless hits for Britney Spears, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Fantasia and Gwen Stefani. And with his debut album, Turbo 919 he plans to solidify why he can say “Ya hear a smash on the radio, bet I penned it…” at the beginning of every track he writes…
I admit, I have been growing tired of producers and writers dropping albums. I don’t understand what they have to prove – they’ve already made it known that they can write the heck out of a song. And from being around a lot of writers and producers, I always have found that they have the gift of singing as well. In some cases, that’s the truth – whereas in others, well, it just isn’t. I didn’t mind The Dream’s album – it was a great effort. I really don’t mind Keri Hilson, because I was familiar with her as an artist before I really familiarized myself with her writing. But something about Sean Garrett got under my skin because he was always singing, rapping or shouting on someone else’s song that he’d written. I knew that an album was coming sooner or later. I always got the feeling that he wanted to be an artist.
But if you’re talented, you deserve your time to shine as well. When the single, “♫ Grippin’,” featuring Ludacris leaked, I was highly disappointed and a little miffed. Not only did I find the song to be a little underwhelming, and not his best display of penmanship, but I found his shrill voice extremely annoying! I remained hopeful that Sean’s album wouldn’t be a complete disaster, considering that I was such a huge fan of many of his previous works for other artists.
After hearing Turbo 919 in its entirety, I’m not even mad. Sean really did put together a catalog of songs that could all be put out and accepted by a wide audience of people. My opinion still stands with his voice, though. These songs, I would rather hear sang by other artists. Not even the host of A-list producers that he tapped to work on the debut album could help me think that these songs just couldn’t have gone out to other artists. Sean has done so many songs, he probably could call in a lot of favors from the likes of producers like Bloodshy & Avant, The Neptunes and Rodney Jerkins.
Make sure you pick up Sean Garrett’s album in stores or on iTunes, June 24th!
nice body but kinda reminds me of a teenage mutant ninja turtle…lol still love em tho
I have never heard his song except on CL. His voice is annoying.
not be shallow…but I’m going to be anyway, lol
He’s a little weird lookin’
That Grippin song was horrible, hope the rest of his songs are better…so best of luck to him…
well I just feel blogs are being a bit harsh on him….in a market where bad voices such as Rihanna, Ray J are makin it….he’s okay!He could make it,but yal r making sure he doesnt…wel anyway this is goin to b another underrated album I guess.
keri hilson is garbage
DUDE SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO BEING A WRITER!! OR TAKE THE NEXT STEP AT PRODUCING OR START YOUR OWN LABEL….BUT SINGING IS NOT THE JAM!!!
FIRST HE DOESN’T HAVE THE “IT” FACTOR…HE DOESN’T HAVE ME EXCITED AT ALL TO HEAR HIS MATERIAL.
HE SHOULD DEFINITELY STICK TO WRITING AND START PRODUCING…PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY EGOS ARE SO BIG THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING…NO YOU CAN’T…STOP IT!
I didn’t realize he did Joe’s “Where you at”…that’s a really nice song!! He should stick to producing.
Not everyone is meant to be a frontlining artist…sheesh
Why dont producers stick to PRODUCING and stop tryna do it all…
I usually don’t agree with Brian’s reviews, but this time, I agree with Brian 100%–Sean Garrett needs to sit his ASS down….along with The Dream, whatever the heck his name. He need to sit his ass down, too. There are only very few producers who should get on the mic…I think Babyface and Raphael Saadiq are only ones who have successfully done that.
I’ve heard good things about this album. The only hang up to the people that have heard this album is his voice.I have to agree with them, his voice is irritating. I’m surprised that his voice would be so annoying. For him to have vocally arranged and produced so many hit songs, I would’ve expected a more tolerable voice.
I like that song “Grippin on the Bed” I personally thought it was a good effort. I think people are being way too hard on Sean and I’m sure his album is really good. I think that Brian didn’t like Sean to begin with. Hence the sucky album review. And the only writer/singer that should stick to writing is Keri. That chick can’t write a hit song for herself to save her life. And her voice is definitely nothing special nor does it stand out. I think Sean stands a good chance of being a successful writer/singer. Quit the hatin!
“Grippin on the Bed”…this is why black folks can’t get ahead in society. This is why I would never let my child listen to R&B stations…because of raunchy, classless songs like that. What kind of name is that. That is why crossover stations will NEVER have respect for R&B, other than Rihanna. (Shaking my HEad)
out of respect for Obama’s presidential race, these raunchy R&B singers need to sit it out for the rest of the year…and shut their skank mouths up
Because you can produce don’t make you a singer. Case and point Pharrell Willams is the WORST singer on earth yet people buy his dumb ass songs.
Sean Garrett keep your dreams alive because if all these none sing can lip sync artist can make their way to the top, hell there is room for you too.
To those Pharrell, Rihanna and them, thank youuuuu. We all know you don’t have to be able to sing to be successful nowadays so… lol
I kinda liked that “Grippin” song but I’m not sure I’ll be checking for his album
*to those who said
This dude is wack. He’s not a real singer. And he’s not a heartthrob. How did he get a record deal??? I understand wanting to pursue all of your passions but please spare my ears.
not to be rude but he scares the HELL outta me…he should really stick to songwriting solely…seriously
now my boo brian michael cox…i aint mad about that…i have practiced making a lot of children to songs he has written and produced lol…plus his song is really nice…im anxious lol
BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I just listened to his song with Pharrell and he sucks he cant sing.
Producers and writers also want to be singers to get some of the spotlight. You all know producers & writers make more money than the singer on a song, but you don’t get all those sweet deals that come with fame and that’s what they want.
his cd TO ME is just ok. a couple songs u can ride out wit, but some to me are not up to par being that he is a producer. with the dream, yes @ times his voice gets annoying, but he got a dope cd. to me his cd is one of the best male r&b albums out today. sean seems to me to be a pen happy producer who had some beats locked up and decided to hear his voice on a track. but….thats my opinion, listed to the cd for yourself and u decide cause wat i may dislike, someone else may like.
I like his CD. I really like grippin, patron and especially girlfriend. Give him a honest chance, stop hatin!
I say if you have the talent as a writer or producer to sing then you should pursue it. I dont understand Brian and all the others who have the nerve to say they are tired of writers and producers pursuing music careers. Since when has it been wrong to pursue your dreams? What if the sole reason they got in the game was to eventually become an artist? Nobody’s telling you to stick to blog writing and not shoot for Rolling Stone right??
I like the song Grippin but whats up with the hair? Is that the new style? Im 27 but Im feeling old if thats what the guys are into.
With all the producer success i.e Kanye, Dream, Neo etc I guess he decided to jump on the Band Wagon.
Since concrete featured that Patron song a week or two ago I’ve been playing it every damn day, but I’m more of a Neptunes fan. I love that fucking song but I don’t too much care for Sean. I’m listening to it now on 10X repeat, lame I know.
We heard Sean’s Album and we have tried, tried and tried to make it grow on us and well….it just does not stick. The tracks aren’t that bad but the sound of Sean’s voice makes you wanna throw up all your food that you have digested that day. I mean, just because you produce does not mean you should do a full album, unless you sound like Keri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Ne-Yo, etc. But he doesn’t and we are very sad about that. Try again Sean…in 2020.
i keep picturing J.HOLIDAY or somebody singing GRIPPIN other than him.
Ok, i think some of these producers need to stop going solo, cuz it’s getting on my nerves, but i think Pharrell did good when he went solo, and i’m from VA, so i love his music but Sean Garrett needs to slow down before he can just go all solo. Look at The Dream he went solo and now he acting like T-Pain, people like him can make good music and go solo at the same time. And Swizz Beatz went solo what do yall have to say about him? Alot of producers feel that if they can make hit songs for other artist then they can make a hit song by going solo, but sometimes it just don’t work that way, they just need to stick to producing.
I wasn’t going to comment on this, but he seems so full of himself. He’ll do well though because you dont even have to have talent today to be on the charts.
When I looked at the first picture i thought “Who in the hell let Bokeem Woodbine record an CD?!”
To #23 – You should only pursue things you can ACTUALLY do. He can write and produce and that’s great. He pursued those things first because he does a great job w/ those BUT HE CAN’T SING. Why pursue something you can’t do well? Seriously… save that money and our ears!
Its no longer cool to be behind the scenes.. now everybody wants to be a star. I remember back in the day singers/artists use to dream of doing the behind the scenes work.. now everybody wants to be center stage.. we need balance in the industry.
Ne-Yo was an artist first… He happens to have the talent for writing. For some artists, at least the ones who write their own stuff, they may sign with a label and be put “on the shelf” for 2-3 years, so they write or learn production to keep themselves busy. You may go to L.A. or NY and not get in immediately as an artist, but you have to make your money somehow, so you start writing for others. I cant speak for Keri Hilson and others because I dont know them, but Ne-Yo didnt do out to L.A. saying I am going to write and produce, he just happened to have those talents. We knew he could sing back in the 90′s, but he hadn’t caught his break yet. He utilized his other talents until he got recognized. We wondered how Tatyana Ali, Uncle Sam and people like that were on the charts in 98 and Shaffer couldn’t catch a break. It just wasn’t his time. Now he is known for his signing and writing and won’t be going away any time soon. #31 I agree with you, back in the day you had artists who dreamed of doing their own music behind the scenes… It’s funny how things are today. But also old producers did come out with albums back in the days, it just wasn’t as prevelant and they weren’t shouting themselves out on their own and other peoples albums and they weren’t as successful at album sales.
I don’t care for Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo, The Dream, Brian Michael Cox, Keri Hilson, etc. as writers, producers or performers. However, I will not knock their hustle. It is a good thing people are going out there and doing their thing even if they are not my type. My list of people I stan after (actually buy rather than bootleg) is extremely short with only 5 of them still being alive; therefore, he had not a shot in h-e-double hockey stick of entering my ipod. Keep hustlin…ain’t mad just not copping or messing with my bandwidth to hear you.
Grippin on the bed…just another dude claiming he can do stuff he can’t…I’ll pass
He looks like one of those orgs from Lord of the rings.
Does anyone else think in the first pic that he looks like a carbon copy of Bokeem Woodbine? (Jason’s Lyric)
Sean if you’re reading this, don’t feel bad. I think your music is fine, for someone else, if you were a more marketable guy it would work, but you’re not. That’s what makes you a great producer/songwriter, stick to that. But hey I’m nobody, maybe it’s in the stars, never know.
Hey guys I agree with everybody that these producers should stick to writing and producing, and Sean’s voice is definitely horrible, but I actually like his song that features lil Wayne– Check it out
SEAN GARRETT—GIRLFRIEND FT. LIL WAYNE
http://www.supload.com/listen?s=6GHQFUMI3A03
Cd is HORRIBLE!!! UGH @ his voice!
Every producer/songwriter always wants to be a singer. Even actors want to be singers and vice versa. I’m not complaining with recent great efforts from Ne-Yo and the Dream. Not sure about Sean tho. I find Brian’s critique to be overtly negative tho. I didn’t mind Sean’s first song with Luda…I actually bump that song in my ride. But, I did expect more as well. Good luck Sean!
@ #12, you got it right! That’s why I on the rare moments that I listen to the radio, I only listen to cross over stations because the black stations are too filthy because we play the uncut versions for our kids and for the most part( not all, I didn’t say ALL) , the cross over stations play the edited versions. Some R&B music is so classless always talking about sex and vulgarity which takes no real talent at all to come up with. Talk about something else for a change!!!
lyrics always talking about butts, licking, shaking, drinking, as if we are like wild animals, always in heat! Get some talent and sing about something else. I dare you to write a song without using anything about sex or sexual innuendos, or anything about killing, drinking, or shooting. I double dare you.
HE LOOK LIKE HERMAN THE MUNSTER!
LMAO. i always jumbled those words on Chris brown’s wall to wall. “on” “yeah smash on the radio bet i pend it”
I FEEL THE MUSIC ON SEAN GARRETT’S NEW ALBUM WILL TAKE HIM OVER THE TOP. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOVE HIS VOCAL RANGE TO GET THE VIBE OF HIS MUSICAL TALENT. TODAY ARTIST ARE DOING WHAT EVER THEY WANT AND THAT’S DUE THE LABELS WANTING TO PUT OUT A HOT RECORD EVERYTIME OUT. IT’S NOT THE ARTIST WHOM SELECT WHAT GO’S OUT ON THE AIRWAYS IT’S THE LABEL EXECS. SEAN GARRETT IS A TALENT THAT IS RARE AND DESERVES TO SPREAD HIS WINGS IN THE BIZZ.