♫ ALBUM REVIEW: JON B – HELPLESS ROMANTIC

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♫ Album Review: JON B. – HELPLESS ROMANTIC ♫

Remember singer/songwriter Jon B.? Well after a long break, he released his 5th studio album, Helpless Romantic, today.

LISTEN UP:

Jon’s classic sophomore album, Cool Relax, put the singer on the map back in 1997. The album contained three of his biggest hits; “They Don’t Know,” “Are U Still Down” (ft. Tupac Shakur), and “I Do (Whatcha Say Boo),” and was hailed as one of the best R&B albums released that year; not to mention, was certified platinum.

A lot has changed in the R&B game since he took a break to get married have a child and just live life. With the addition of new prominent R&B players, Ne-Yo, John Legend, and of course Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake, you would think that he might be a little scared. But with his new release “Helpless Romantic” he proves that he still has it.

In between the clap beats, Spanish guitar strings and smooth pianos lies a decent album. Sticking with his signature formula, each track finds him complacently residing in his musical element. The up-tempo lead single “Oh So Sexy” featuring Paul Wall is a nice departure from the album’s more laid back flow while “Helpless Romantic” and “Paradise In You” are the love anecdotes that he’s known for.

It’s not until “Drops of Rain,” “Need It Bad” and “Get Up On It” that Jon not only finds a comfortable sultry groove but he refreshes our memories as to why we liked him in the first place.

Although there is no real high point to “Helpless Romantic” sometimes a smooth coast from beginning to end gets the job done.

Posted in ALBUM REVIEW, MUSIC

97 Responses to ♫ ALBUM REVIEW: JON B – HELPLESS ROMANTIC

  1. Brad

    I loved jon b’s previous work but really people YOU are reaching!! this sounds like a demo this craptastic no wonder he’s on an independant with no promotion…. the singing is off the material as wack this does not come close to any of the recent material from Justin Timberfake or Robin Thicke……..you would have thought his album was gonna be the truth the way he was coming for robin thicke in that interview this right here is a joke…..

  2. CRYSSY

    I GOT HIS ALBUM @ 9AM AND CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO IT. I AM SOOO GLAD HE IS BACK FROM HIS 4 YEAR 4-5 YEAR HIATUS.

  3. PRETTYGIRLSAVAGE

    YESSSS I LOVE JON B. – GOING TO BUY IT ASAP! GLAD YOU GUYS GAVE HIM A GOOD REVIEW!

  4. Mrs.Sk8board P

    HOLD ON!!!!!!!!!!…how he coming out wit an album maad hard…wit no promo BUT this…and them songs are……????..but good luck wit that jon b.

  5. daddy-d

    All three songs sound nice but where he get off using the n word in on&on

  6. flAwless

    OMG! i love him =) …!!! i’m so glad he’s back!….!!!

  7. Shar

    That’s my boo, i’m sooo glad he’s back. You go white boy, show Justin Timberfake how it’s really done.

  8. Lisa

    Im so sick and tired of people HATING on Jon B HE LOOKS, SING, AND AROUND IS A BETTER ARTIST THAN JUSTIN AND ROBIN….. COME ON PEOPLE HE IS STRAIT SOUL AND LIVE HIS MUSIC. I met Jon B back in 05 and he was wonderful inside and out. He a GREAT performer I wish he hadn’t got married but I can respect that ….Good luck JON B and always stay blessed a fan back since1995 1LOVE

  9. NabsteR

    I’ve been a fan since ‘Bonafide’ in 1995 ! I’ve just picked the new album and I already love every track ! Welcome back Boogotti.

  10. Dame(Obama time)

    Hold Up was my jam too

    Cool Relax was fire too I still play that one

  11. 11.18.08

    this post seems wierd since brian didnt post it

    but hey damn i missed some jon b

    where is his album being sold? i was jus at target and didnt see shit lol

  12. Miss. Tiandez Jones

    i used to love this dude!
    so happy hes back, the tracks sound so melodic..soooo damn nice. loving it, loving it!!

    yay jon b

  13. thanks for posting this! I asked for yall to review his album. THANKS!

  14. LAFAYETTE,LOUISIANA'S FINEST....ALL U INSECURE RATS BOW DOWN!!

    JON B IS THE SH*T……THIS IS WHAT REAL R&B IS ALL ABOUT, SMOOTH OUT AND SEXY, UNLIKE THE CORNBALL MUSIC OF TODAY THAT IS “PACKAGED AS R&B,,,,IE. CHRIS BROWN, RHIANNA, BEYONCE, THOSE UGLY LIL BOYS FROM FLORIDA, SO ON AND SO FORTH!

  15. tee

    luv jon b . , luv the new album! it is a must have for all lovers of goood true r&b music.classic jon b with a new , cool twist

  16. tee

    jon b’s hold up is a seeexxxyyy, sssseeeexxxxxxyyyyyy! jam…luv, luv, luv …all the way inside was that times 2

  17. Natalie

    I missed him!!!!!!!!!!!!! ….BUT>>>>>>where is the album promotion??!!!! How does he expect to sell these jams all by himself???!!!!

  18. Really

    I just checked out the cd and I have to say Jon definitely didn’t disappoint. I absolutely love the “Everybody Here Wants You” re-make, he sounds just like Jeff and that is hard to do. I will definitely have to buy this one along with John Legend’s new one tomorrow.

  19. Kurt

    Anyone who is a JonB fan please repost my links on as many blogs as you can! I just started helping out Jon with his online campaign!

    Thanks

    Kurt aka DJ Playdat

  20. Really

    @79

    Definitely upload his songs to Imeem because that site gets a crazy amount of hits!

    Good Luck!

  21. GinaRoe

    YES YES YES Been waiting a long time for this ever since he had Ohh so sexy on his myspace. Bugotti u still got it. LOVE this man.

  22. tpink

    Why does jon b look like borat now?

  23. Pingback: ALBUM REVIEW: JON B - HELPLESS ROMANTIC - REUPNetwork.com - Hip Hop News Headquarters

  24. tsweet

    Love, Love, Love, Jon B. His last album “Stronger Everyday” was a MAJOR slept on album. even though it didn’t have any promo like this album here, it was a GREAT, GREAT ALBUM, still have that album on my iPod.

    Check out his last album “STRONGER EVERYDAY” if you ever have free time….great album

  25. Kell-El

    ☆ Lola A♏ ★
    Tuesday, October 28, 2008 /
    New album? Where’s the promotion?

    ^ I’m saying tho! I will be coppin!!

    *Enters hater mode*

    Homie needs that brush cut back though lol!!

  26. hautia

    I have been look for “Oh So Sex,” that was my jam and I only heard it once before and couldn’t find it no more.

    A VERY good look

  27. MAI03

    Good to see Jon back. I love his music. They Don’t Know was my jam!!!!!!!

  28. Jay

    Jon B is the truth. He’s a beast. Matter of fact he’s JON BEAST!
    His last album Stronger Everyday was incredible. It had so many great songs and alot of cameos( Tupac, ODB, Scarface, Tank, Babyface, Beenie Man…). Jon B never disappoints only his album promotion does. I’m definitely going to buy this album (Helpless Romantic). And as far as all the comparing him with Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke let me break it down to ya: Justin is more Pop and R&B, Thicke is more Neo Soul and R&B, but Jon B. is 100% R&B. So get it right. Its so great to see so many Jon B. fans on this post. Jon B PLEASE DONT STOP THE MUSIC!!!

  29. Coco Beauty

    I’m loving “Ooh So Sexy” but the version with Paul Wall sucks!! He messed up the song! The version without him is fire..

  30. archera12

    I love the album! I recommend “Drops of Rain”, “Its U”, “Get What You Want” and “On & On”! Oh Jon B baby welcome back !!!!

  31. starslitup

    For all the little ones who don’t know sit back and pay attention to a TRUE GENTLEMEN, he isn’t hating on the kids who have completly bitten his style he just has to let the young ones know who did it first, he did say “TUPAC DIDN’T BLESS NO PUNK!!!” Take notes this is real music

  32. Regissreg

    Love your new album, My favorite song is “Need it Badd” Smooth R&B Groove.

  33. MS. ATL

    Another great album! It smooth all the way through. Classic JB!
    I love “ITS YOU” and “IN TOO DEEP”…only a true artist can make this kind of music! WE LOVE YOU JB!!

  34. Diamond Latrelle

    This new Jon B album is HOT!!!!

  35. ChurchShoes

    The album is HOT!! I cannot stop listening to it. Like all albums, it has a couple of so-so tracks, but Jon is bringing that heat for the grown and sexy people! Please support real artists no matter what genre of music they do. His last album “Stronger Everyday” should have lit up urban radio, but it got no airplay and I suspect the same fate for this album, but you need this in your collection. You won’t be sorry!

  36. surfer

    listening 2 `helpless romantic` … yummie! dang… what a gr8 memory. must b time 2 make more if jon b popped up:)

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