Editor's Note
Introduction
Current Index
Free Your Mind
The Future
Wake Up
Editorials
Alliance
Bizarre
The Staff
Photos
Community
Bobby Valentino
Special Occasion
Upon releasing the follow-up to his 2005 self-titled debut album
Bobby Valentino, Valentino promised the fans and listeners a 10 song
guarantee. Assuring that the listeners and fans will enjoy at least 10
songs off his sophomore album Special Occasion. Valentino enlists
the help of hit producers Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Bryan Michael-Cox
on his sophomore effort, as well as the staple production team of Tim &
Bob from his debut album.
Listening to the album, Valentino holds true to the promise that the listeners would enjoy at least 10 out of the 17 songs from Special Occasion, but the album does hit low points. The futuristic-beat box Timbaland (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado) produced Anonymous starts the album off on that promise. Anonymous finds Valentino in hot pursuit for that right woman who is un-site/unseen, "I want to know your name. I got to know your name. Why you got to be anonymous?" On the second Timbaland produced track, Rearview (Ridin’), Valentino sings about driving away from a rocky relationship, with a cameo from label boss Ludacris on this track. The first single Turn the Page produced by Rodney Jerkins (Destiny’s Child, Brandy), finds the R&B crooner reassuring his girl that he is different from other guys in her past. Rapper Fabolous makes the second guest appearance on the album "Let Him Go," where the smooth voice Valentino wants a girl of his interest to leave her unhealthy relationship and get with him. Other standout tracks are Home Is Where You Belong, Only Human, I Was Wrong, and Babyface’s Soon As I Get Home. Valentino’s version of Babyface’s Soon As I Get Home, would have to be the perfect song that showcases his vocal talents. At times throughout the album, Valentino’s voice is reminiscent to that of the legendary R&B/pop crooner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
With the 10 song guarantee fulfilled, the album does lose its spark on certain songs. The album consists primarily of ballads and mid-tempos songs, which at times can force the listener to question where are the up-tempo and club influenced records. As he did for his debut album, could it be V~tino is going for that laid back mode on this album? That same laid back formula attracted a mainly all female audience.
B+