It's understandable if you hadn't noticed, but romantic R&B crooner Bobby V. -- the artist formerly known as Bobby Valentino -- has released five studio albums in the past seven years. This is a pretty strong track record, particularly since he's been on three different record labels during that time period. His latest release, Dusk Till Dawn, which came out Oct. 16, 2012 via eOne Music in collaboration with Bob's own label, Blu Kolla Dreams, is a step up from his previous effort, 2011's forgettable Fly on the Wall, and is probably his most consistent album yet, vocally. Not that the album's a real gem, or even anything more than mediocre. But at least on this album, Bobby's voice is fairly strong on most songs.
Unrelenting Drive
One of the great things about Bobby V. is how much he believes in himself. He may not be the most talented singer, or the most popular, or the tallest, but he's been able to stay in the game all these years based mainly on his belief in himself and his unrelenting drive to be a successful recording artist. That belief and drive go a long way on some of his songs, where he unleashes his powers of seduction on unsuspecting females. On songs like "Nothing On You" and the Tim & Bob-produced "Are You Ready," Bobby sings tenderly -- and occasionally off-key -- in his semi-spoken vocal style about how much he loves you and needs you and doesn't want anybody but you. And although the delivery is flawed, he sounds completely earnest.
Unfortunately, he doesn't really bring anything new or innovative to the game this time out, and the topics of most the songs here -- getting drunk and romantic in the club ("Tipsey Love"), sexual games ("Role Play") and lustful anticipation ("Put It In") are all topics that have been sung by other male R&B artists, particularly Usher, numerous times over the past few years.
Unfortunately, he doesn't really bring anything new or innovative to the game this time out, and the topics of most the songs here -- getting drunk and romantic in the club ("Tipsey Love"), sexual games ("Role Play") and lustful anticipation ("Put It In") are all topics that have been sung by other male R&B artists, particularly Usher, numerous times over the past few years.
Vocal Growth
The one thing that raises the album up a notch quality-wise is the guest artists on various songs. Bobby's always been one to reach out to numerous other performers to appear on his albums, and Dusk Till Dawn is no exception. Rappers Cassidy, Future, Gucci Mane and Red Cafe appear on various tracks, and singer K. Michelle duets with Bob on the previously-mentioned "Put It In." But the best guest spot, not surprisingly, is by Lil Wayne, who steals the song "Mirror" right from under Bobby's nose with lyrics like "I think her name Stephanie but call her Steph, shorty so right, I don't know what's left/'Who your daddy,' then I hit faster, the mirror said 'you are, you conceited bastard'." For those keeping track, the song "Mirror" marks the fourth song the pair have appeared on together, with the others being Nicki Minaj's "Sex in the Lounge" (featuring Lil Wayne and Bobby V) from earlier this year; the 2008 Wayne track "Mrs. Officer;" and a 2005 remix of Bobby's "Tell Me."
Although it's the guest appearances that make the album worth listening to, it's also evident that Bob has grown somewhat as a vocalist since his dreadful previous album, 2011's Fly on the Wall. The off-key crooning he's known for isn't nearly as obvious as it's been in the past, and he can actually carry a tune farther and better now. That said, even with his improvement in the singing department, Dusk Till Dawn is still an album that's far from mandatory listening.
Although it's the guest appearances that make the album worth listening to, it's also evident that Bob has grown somewhat as a vocalist since his dreadful previous album, 2011's Fly on the Wall. The off-key crooning he's known for isn't nearly as obvious as it's been in the past, and he can actually carry a tune farther and better now. That said, even with his improvement in the singing department, Dusk Till Dawn is still an album that's far from mandatory listening.