After collecting Top 10 R&B hits with "Bed" and "Suffocate", as well as, collecting a Grammy nomination for his debut album, Back of My Lac, J. Holiday is back with his sophomore effort, Round 2.The lead single, "It's Yours", immediately felt like a lesser version of his original hit, "Bed", but unlike its predecessor, it's essence didn't promptly hit you instead it was more of a building process.
"Don't Go", is a sentimental ballad with a nice laid back feel that shows the R&B star replaying the underlying message of, "Suffocate". That said, the track is nicely put together and he does a good job of selling it as an original.
"Run Into My Arms", marks one of the effort's stronger moments, as he coos:
"Just like in the movies baby, I'm a come to ya rescue, I'm a rescue you, And I know this might sound crazy, but I think I'm here to protect you, So girl, can you stop running, Cause this ain't that kind of lovin', I got ya, Just run into my arms"
The vocals are strong and his convictions easily convince you that he's capable of doing everything he says he will.
The equally enjoyable, "Sing 2 U", has the essence of old school R&B, as he name-checks and references song titles from R&B pioneers Marvin Gaye, Jodeci, and R. Kelly.
"Forever Ain't Enough", is easily a highlight, because the track isn't one dimensional, its R&B, pop, even a slight bit country, and could comfortable fit in as the wedding song for two lovers.
"Lights Go Out" and "Make That Sound", just like a bulk of the tracks despite being solid, fails to move any further than the bedroom.
Rick Ross makes the album's only guest appearance on, "Wrong Lover", which he lessens with his dispensable ab-libs and sluggish rhymes.
While most of the music stays on solid ground, a few of the tracks like the lover releasing ballad, "Fly", and the message driven, "Homeless", which both succeed in showing a different aspect of the singer, but somehow manage to feel out of place among the rest of the set.
The problems don't stop there, instead they continue with the overly repetitive subject matter, which wouldn't be so bad if there was any creativity in fused, but there isn't, so that makes you feel like you're listening to the same track over and over, and it tends to get boring extremely quick.
Furthermore, the effort shows very little, if any, artistic growth that expands beyond the original blueprint of his debut album.
That said, Round 2, does proves that despite currently being sterile of creating groundbreaking material, he does possess the proficiency.
3 out of 5
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