So, not only are we mindful of Donell Jones’ return since his 2006 release, Journey of a Gemini (“R&B ain’t been the same since I left it”), we are on constant alert to his underrated status, and we have to listen to words of encouragement from his mom. She acknowledges the difficulties of the industry, as only a mother can (“Baby, I know it’s been hard for you in this business/ But you can’t give up”), and then she requests that he sing the “Chicago-style R&B that I brought you up on.” The song begins with commentary - almost a plea, really - from Jones’ mother, reminding him of his roots and how much people are counting on him and supporting him. The next track, “Your Place”, is a slinky come-hither, punctuated by Donell Jones’ thrill of the chase and love of the sensual hunt. He’s quick to tell us how underrated he is while, on album opener “The World is Yours”, he claims, “I know I’m the best, and the fans appreciate it.” Does he think he’s great, in general? You bet he does, and he lets us know it by devoting a few of the adlibs on his 2010 LP, Lyrics, to this very subject. Here’s the problem: I’m not convinced Donell Jones knows how truly great he is at this aspect of his songwriting. Who in today’s R&B and soul market is delving into the psychology of betrayal and deception like Donell Jones? Vocally, a comparison to Chico DeBarge wouldn’t be far-fetched. He embodies the roughneck sultriness of Jodeci and Jagged Edge but balances it with the more delicate touch of Musiq Soulchild. Kelly’s tales of soap opera intrigue seem more pedestrian and oversimplified than usual (and I kind of dig R. The Chicago, Illinois singer excels at it, reveling in it in a way that makes R. Few in R&B handle the details of duplicity quite like Donell Jones.
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