Album: Jason Derulo
Released: 2010
Tracks: 9
Derulo's debut album is filled with feel good, fun-to-dance-to tunes. "Whatcha Say" is a light hip-hop beat accompanied by soulful vocals and "Ridin' Solo" proves that breakups can sometimes be a good thing. Derulo's vocals and music organization (ne never dwells in overly hard or loud beats) allow for a generally enjoyable experience, with only a few exceptions. "What If" would classify as a love ballad gone wrong. The piano melodies are drowned out by a beat that just won't go away. Derulo's voice is one that would be perfect for either acoustic or auto tuned songs, and this song would've been an opportunity for the artist to shine without any dance pop glitz overpowering him. "Sky's the Limit" doesn't quite capture the same flair as the rest of the piece, the music seeming to not quite fit the vocals. Derulo's record company insits on putting their own mark on his work, constantly inserting the same auto tunes in every single track, the tones becoming fast victims of overuse. It's a pretty good first effort, but loses a few points for freshness and originality.
Usher
by Isabella
Album: Raymond Vs. Raymond
Released: 2010
Tracks: 14
Usher is a veteran to the music industry and frankly this album is disappointing. "Hey Daddy" and "Lil Freak" are probably the best tracks on the listing; easy to get stuck in your head with autotunes that won't drive you insane. "There Goes My Baby", a hit single, is an uncertain piano background with vocals that don't quite match. "Guilty" feat. T.I. loses its R& B atmosphere, verging on hip-hop/ rap without the signature carefully thought out rhymes. "Mars vs. Venus" plays on the title card, but doesn't deliver the right punch that you would expect from such an interesting title. "O.M.G.", another smash hit, seems genius on the surface, but after listening to it a few times, you get an entirely different impression. Usher has gone through personal issues while writing and recording this album, so it's no surprise that it seems like its going in a hundred different directions at once. Many songs have taglines spoken by Usher himself, which pulled me away from the actual song that followed. While Usher may be talented, he hasn't lived up to his full potential this time. While originality isn't really an exceptionally strong point in either of these albums, Derulo hasn't been around long enough for most people to get tired of him. Usher, on the other hand, needs to get back to his roots.
