Even though he began his career writing hits for the likes of
Diddy and
Sean Kingston, singer/songwriter
Jason Derülo always had his eye on becoming a solo performer. His Auto-Tuned,
Imogen Heap-sampling debut single, “Watcha Say,” was an infectious, slick, and on-point way to launch a career, but his debut album is less satisfying, even with plenty of the same well-crafted, futuristic R&B as his breakthrough tune. Since
Derulo seems entirely devoted to the song, the problem may lie with the album format itself. This one barely fits the definition at a scant nine songs, and there’s little attention paid to the overall flow -- but if what you're looking for is R&B that sparkles and dazzles, there are nine quick fixes here, each one just dying to get stuck in your head. The talented
J.R. Rotem handles the production for the whole show, blurring the lines between dance-pop and R&B on highlights like “In My Head.” It’s clever how “The Sky’s the Limit” knicks a bit of “Flashdance (What a Feeling)” for its melody, and the bright and shiny “Love Hangover” is equally ‘80s-flavored besides being a rock-solid tune. As a performer, the smooth
Derulo -- made even smoother by Auto-Tune -- delivers it all so effortlessly that none of that persuasive debut hunger comes through, making this stylish and short set one to admire rather than advocate. ~ David Jeffries