R&B crooner Avant is back with his fifth album released on his new label, Capitol Records, which hit stores yesterday, December 9th.
Avant acknowledges the singer’s established track record. He says, “I’ve proved my point. The album reflects who I am. I think one of the reasons I’ve been able to enjoy the kind of longevity I’ve had, is that I write songs that are about real-life situations.”
The album’s kick-off single, “♫ When It Hurts” is an impassioned and irresistible plea about the true meaning of unconditional love, produced by the Anonymous Entertainment team of Eric Dawkins and Tony Dixon.
Other aspects of love inspired Avant to create “♫ Break Your Back”, a sexy ode to gettin’ it on. “I know what my fans expect and they look to me for the way I try and come across with a love song,” Avant explains, “but at the same time, as a songwriter I also know there’s nothing new under the sun. My job is to find new ways of saying things that you might have heard before.”
“Out of Character” is Avant’s attempt to persuade his lady to invite another woman for a night of pleasure. He explains to her, “The way I feel about you won’t change, and I’m not trying to make you go both ways. But tonight you need to go both ways for me, baby.”
The album also features a couple of charming and faithful tracks. On “Y.O.U.,” Avant states that he has found his reason to love unconditionally. Although he is an accomplished songwriter, he is not afraid to cover another artist’s material, especially if it allows him to add his own style (remember “♫ My First Love“). He offers his take on the Christopher Cross classic, “Sailing”. “Sometimes when you’re going through life you just want to sit back, relax and think of everything that’s going on, and for me, “Sailing” is a song that gives you the freedom to do that.”
Avant is filled with his best material to-date, but “Material Things” really messes up the flow on the album midway. I understand the message behind it, but up-tempo tracks aren’t really Avant’s forte.
MY FAVES: “Sensuality”, “Perfect Gentleman”, “Involve Yourself”, “Out of Character”, “Y.O.U.”, “Sailing”
AVANT IS IN STORES NOW.
love avant
I didn’t even know he was coming out w/a project…
~Sweets~
I didn’t even know he had an album out, in fact I would never have heard of him if not for CL. I shall listen to some of his songs then
He really needs to sit down…I really don’t like this dude.
I think he will finally have a career since R. Kelly is on hiatus, but he better watch out for Ne-yo. Cause “Year of the Gentleman” is FIRE!!!
Congrats to Avant & best wishes on the new CD. His remake of Sailing is hot!
I love Avant!!! He is so underrated!
I heard him singing a capella on the radio recently, he shut it down. His voice is beautiful! I have been down since “my first love”.
This album would a nice backround track for holiday love making lol, but alas my bed will be cold this Christmas..oh well lol
Love Avant and the album but it was so short and I went and took a hour lunch to go get this from Target! STill love you Avant I think you are so underrated!!!!
i like avant but i dont like when artists put together an album about sexin women up and breakin peoples backs n stuf flike that..its like do u have any thing else to sing about other than havin 3 ways?
i saw his album yesterday sittin there ..i got brandys and musiqs and left his sitting righ there and thanks for this review cuz now i dont have any doubts about leavin it there
my fav song of his to date is my first love and that wasnt even him by himself
I didn’t know Avant had an album out. I do like a lot of his songs. I’ll check this one out.
@ tiffany & bree – i second that! love him too – I especially love that he is not overexposed and too big of a star that he can’t play at smaller venues (i.e., unplugged sessions). There is something about seeing an artist in a smaller venue – where its about the music and not the actual “stage show.”
I have always liked Avant’s music. I’ll have to pick this up…
Seriously….Avant makes me angry. I hear his voice and I want to smack the sh*t out of people. All of his songs are stereotypical, his singing style is repeated throughout every song. He sucks.
I want to say this in the strongest terms possible: This negro is garbage and he is bad for modern R&B.
Why do i like every Avant song that they have played on the radio yet i have never bought or even downloaded any of his albums/songs?
i recently got the album, and as the posts says, there are some great songs, but then there is just that one, that messes up the flow. my thing is we should already know what avant is about to like the cd or not. but it is one of his best projects to date.
Y.O.U. is my FAVORITE! I’ve played it 10x striaght! It’s on my Myspace and that song is just a CLASSIC! And the thing is I’m not a big Avant fan because he is kinda stuck on himself in person a few years ago when I met him. However, who knows? People change and whether or not I like his attitude his album is pretty good. Also like the make of “Sailing”. But back to Y.O.U. I think that will be a wedding song of mine… “Y.. Yearn For… O… Overtaken… U… Understand that… I’m taking about Y.O.U.!”… LOVES IT!
I like him but not enough to buy his album. I bought his second album and it was just alright.
I didn’t know Musqic had a album coming out. Why doesn’t he have any singles on the radio?
I already got it yesterday, and yea the up beats aren’t him but he tried something out of himself, I mean didn’t Musiq do it with dat Dumb ass song “Radio”.
Give this mann more respect he very underated.
I love Avant, this man can sing his ass off, he is so sexy in his songs, I love Sailing, this is a song I can Ride too and think of my Man of 20yrs, do your thing Avant!
I will buy this album, and Music Soul Child these two men are very underated!
ITA with THE SPONSER, this mofo wack as he11, and who makes a song about threesomes with a lady he supposely loves then trying to make the shat sound legit, Yeah just the world needs. More switch hitting mofos
I love his songs, When it hurt has been my jam for a minute. I think I might get his album…
Avant cd is so hot ……..good look for the “09″ do ya thang boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off topic was the clip for “Tennesse” Mariah’s movie posted? I think it’s finally finished, and she may do quite well in total contrast to “Glitter” lol…
I Love Avant!!!
the cd is hot..im copping it on itunes
Musiq’s album is HOT too!!! Some tracks like the up beats I wasn’t feeling however Someone… Dear John… and a lot more slow tracks really make the album well worth it.
Avant taking it to a Whole new LEVEL with Sailing (can’t stop listening to it)
Sailing is pure Fiyahhhhh!!! I hope his record company realizes what kind of hit he
has on his HANDs. Simply Beautiful thats the only way to put IT !!
Sailing is a remake and the FAT white boy hit it better
um…Brandy will be getting my money this week…Avant, no so much
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ALBUM IS CORNY AS HELL! THATZ WHY NOBODY KNEW THAT HE WAS COMING OUT WITH ANYTHING. THANKS TO THE INTERNET LEAKING MUSIC I DOWNLOADED THIS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND IT’S PURE GARBAGE. HE’S NOT EVEN KILLING IT VOCALLY ON THIS ALBUM 4 THUMBS DOWN. DO’NT EVEN WASTE YOUR MONEY! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH MUSIC NOW! OMG!
@ sexyqb, year of the gentlemen is the sh*t..but um I havent heard too much about his album, I didnt even kno that it was out! Wow I mustve been under a rock, or his advertisers have…lol
peee-yoooo!
i hate avant!
i dont care what nobody says,avant is one talented dude….i love this album,my favorites are When It Hurts, Y.O.U,Sailing,and hell i like Out Of Character….ya’ll need to stop acting like dude is the first person to talk about a damn THREESOME!stfu…all these songs people makin about “my girl got a gf”…SATDOWNSOMEWHERE!
GOOD JOB J.DAKAR!
YOU DID A FAB REVIEW!
#15, I hear you! I like ‘When it Hurts’ & I just heard ‘Y.O.U.’ on Sirius, sounds alright.
NEW EFFING POST PLEASE!
^^^ OKAY! LOL….
I DEPEND ON CL TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY AT WORK… AND IT’S BEEN BORING AS HELL!! LOL
LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY … CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINE COVER! Congrats Janet?!!?
I KNOW I HEARD THAT TOO….. JANET IS SUPPOSE TO BE “OFFICIALLY” PREGNANT
I never checked for Avant before and I must say I like his music. It’s pretty good. I would definitely download his album. he he he
WHAT IN THE HELL IS UP WIT CONCRET LOOP YALL R ALWAYS SOO DAMN LATE WIT THE LASTES NEWS! i SWEAR TO GOD!!! DID YALL HERE JANET JACKSON IS PREANAT! SHE TOLD PEOPLE MAG HIT UP THEBYF.COM
CONCRETELOOP LATE ON EVERYTHING I HEARD FROM BYF TOO
I like what he does but i’ll probably be dowloading it…for free LOL sorry Avant but it’s a recession. Like somebdy said before…only B-Rocka will have my money this fall and Beyonce too Lol.
Avante I have one question why you didnt promote the album? I bought the album today because of your pass work and i must say it’s the bomb! Love you Avante;the album is so sexy…..
love you avante the album is great!
I got that news from Life&Style Weekly, not sure of their cred. level…any who CL like to be 100 with it so thats the delay perhaps… Avant is alright, but jamie has me.
avant is great!!!!!!!!!!!!! pick up this cd…..he is def underrated, give him a chance….
avant is great!!!!!!!!!!!!! pick up this cd…..he is def underrated, give him a chance….
The only song I liked was “Out of Character,” everything else was just blah. And the thing is, I love Avant voice, he just has a really beautiful soulful voice that is perfect for R&B. Plus he’s one of the few R&B crooners that didn’t sell out and change to “pop music”. Overall I’m not really feeling this album. Production on most songs are either boring or bland. It’s a shame cause “Private Room” was my shyt!
Although, I am happy to see CL post on someone different. Now only if we could get them to acknowledge India Arie or Tamia..we’d be in business;)
India Arie, Heather Headley,Tamia and more of Janelle Monae….too bad
Only really like Sailing, When It Hurts, and Y.O.U…
I’M BUYING HIS CD!
I love Avant… He is another underrated artist that is truly talented but i’m still a fan and supporter!!!! I got my copy and even though i will agree that it could have been more songs on the cd, it’s still a good album!!!!
straight up, soo underrated.
the song “easy” is sung by a friend of mine. she demos for alot of people and has one of the sickest voices in the world. often compared to brandy so i can see why the mistake would be made by some people
Avant new CD is the S#*!… I love all his work and this is yet another great project. And the comment to him being stuck on hisself…maybe he just wasn’t feeling ol’ girl because he came to Tennessee and he showed not only me personally, but all his fans in the spot MUCH love!!! Took at least 50 pictures with all the fans and hung out with everyone. He’s super nice and super talented. Much Love!
Great review, there shouldve been more tracks definitely. But Avant is one of those artists that just never seems to breakout into superstardom that you wish would…his stuff is underrated and underplayed!
@ 57… Umm, Well while you were taking photos and getting shown “love” from behind the ropes, lol… Myself, whom he was “feeling me” enough to be invited to “hang out” at his hotel and bring my friends and his attitude was “I’m AVANT!” Like it was suppose to mean something… Then when I brought one of his Biggest fans a girlfriend of mine and she wanted to take a photo, His reply was “I only take photos with pretty girls”. She was cute just plus size. He received a cuss out of a lifetime and we left. Now like I said this was back in the day 2004 when he was touring with Tony Thompson (from Hi-Five RIP) to be exact! People change, but at the time first impressions last a while… I STILL LOVE the album though, and I’m not going to take away from his talent. I’ll still play Y.O.U. at my wedding!
Just don’t make assumptions Sweetheart! lol
i am a huge avant fan, but i was kinda disappointed,
dnt the buzz over this album
thot director was better than this
and Private room was even better
i was expectin more…voice less beats, more romance less sex…
maybe i’ll get used to it