Bobby Valentino - Bobby Valentino (CD)

All Music Guide

It's easy to imagine RB crooner Bobby Valentino stretched out on a crimson, crushedvelvet couch as he delivered his selftitled debut. This pillowtalky album must have been recorded with candles filling the recording studio, but you can bet there was the faint smell of patchouli too. Valentino's first fulllength has mystical touches in its overall slick and sexy production, touches that help separate the album from the competition in a way the everyday songwriting doesn't. Pan flutes, atmospheric interludes, and French women cooing sweet nothings flesh out the album, an album that's 99.9 percent "for the ladies," save an appearance from Valentino's main man, Ludacris. As limited as this sounds, Valentino and producers Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson make the album seem a lot more diverse than it really is by alternating the "let's get busy right now" numbers with the "you're very special, let's take this slow" numbers. That otherworldly production helps a lot too, as does Valentino's commit...ted delivery, sounding like he's not at all tired of this sensual material, so why should you be? His Babyfacelike voice is above average without a theatrical edge but with a charismatic street swagger and just the right touch of humble joy. As they would say in the tech world, "Slow Down" is the killer app, a single good enough to buy the whole album. Past the single, Bobby Valentino the album doesn't disappoint, but it is a bit frustrating when the smart music and bold "Real RB Singers Needed" sign point to grander possibilities. Of course, it is a debut and, considering that, pulling a daring punch or two is forgiven. If he keeps on the path of breaking the RB crooner rule book and really lets his inner maverick out, Valentino will go farther than competition can even imagine. - David Jeffries, All Music Guide Read more Less