CD Reviews

Ne-Yo

IN MY OWN WORDS | Def Jam

By JAMIN WARREN | March 14, 2006

2.5 Stars

Think Ne-Yo is bummed that his songwriting success of 2K5 (Mario’s “Let Me Love You”) got snubbed at the Grammys? Probably not. In fact, the Arkansas wordsmith is patiently waiting for next year’s awards ceremony. Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” was a runaway hit last quarter, and it pushed him center stage for his aptly titled debut, In My Own Words. The lead single captures the delicious irony of writing a love song about being tired of love songs; it also marks the end of the creativity flowing from Ne-Yo’s quill. He purrs “Baby I love making love in front of the mirror” in “Mirror” and then chants “Sexy love . . . keep me sprung” on “Sexy Love.” Despite his billing as a songwriter, Ne-Yo’s voice is the true main attraction, and on In My Own Words it quietly slides in with the likes of Omarion, B5, and Bobby Valentino. Perhaps we should consider a new genre for the bevy of highly libidinal soulmen with sugar on their lips. Ne-Yo Soul? Nah, too easy.