Trey Songz

Ready

(Atlantic)

US release date: 1 September 2009

UK release date: 31 August 2009

By Tyler Lewis

Songz Needs Better Songs

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Trey Songz is the most frustrating R&B star to emerge this decade.

He possesses a piercing tenor and an instantly recognizable vocal presence, something his contemporaries (from Mario to Chris Brown to Ne-Yo) probably wish they had. And when he has material to match his voice, he is peerless. “Gotta Go”, from his debut album, was the most effortlessly soulful pop song to emerge from the recent crop of millennial R&B new jacks. “We Should Be”, from his sophomore album, Trey Day, was every bit its equal.

And yet, for as talented and gifted as he is, Songz’ albums are always a mixed bag. In fact, he seems strikingly unconcerned with how silly some of his work actually is. Since his artistic reference point is R. Kelly, this isn’t entirely surprising, but three albums into his career it is disappointing. Like many artists of his generation, he easily captures the superficial elements of his artistic forebears (in this case, R. Kelly’s penchant for needlessly crass and silly lyricism when singing about sex), but misses entirely what made that artist an icon (Songz has none of R. Kelly’s ability to explore physical pleasure’s relationship to religious ecstasy).

In other words, he embodies R. Kelly’s excesses, but none of his nuances.

“Ready” is a smartly produced album that continues Songz’ habit of wildly inconsistent albums. There is some genuinely brilliant work here, but there is also some of the silliest stuff I have ever heard (The less said about “LOL :)”, the better), which makes for a frustrating listening experience.

The best songs are the songs that are complete departures from the R. Kelly template (“Black Roses”, “Yo Side of the Bed”, and “Be Where You Are”). All three are about as brilliant as black pop gets and showcase just how versatile and expressive a vocalist Trey can be. “Black Roses” is the album standout and was co-written and produced by young wunderkind Bei Maejor, who helmed “Long Gone Missing” from Trey Day and wrote one of the better songs on Ginuwine’s latest. It’s a lament (“Black roses, for this dying love. Now we’re breaking up”) set to quasi-electronica production, buoyed by a soulful vocal arrangement. The effect is positively thrilling. “Be Where You Are” is reminiscent of Jordan Knight’s “Give It To You”, and it is every bit as fun as that song was. This is the purest pop song Songz has done and it really works. “Yo Side of the Bed” is pop rock, and he does it better than Beyoncé did on I Am…Sasha Fierce and Brandy did on Human.

There are a few other really good songs. Lead single “I Need a Girl” and “Neighbors Hear My Name” thump as they should and ballads “Holla If You Need Me” and “Love Lost” are emotional and affecting due to Trey’s stunning lead vocal. But the album completely falls apart in the middle. At 17 tracks, a sagging middle feels positively interminable. There are also two inexplicable, incoherent appearances by Jimmy from Degrassi (otherwise known as Drake, the latest mediocre rapper to win legions of fans for no discernible reason).

What’s maddening and frustrating is that Trey has put out enough great material this year to make a truly brilliant album. In June, he released a mixtape, Anticipation, that is overall a better album than Ready, even though it’s more standard R&B fare. In fact five songs from that release—“Does She Know”, “Infidelity”, “You Belong to Me”, “More Than That”, and “It Would Be”—could have been included with the seven good songs on Ready to make a leaner, more consistently excellent official studio release. One that could have been the black pop record of the year.

Clearly then, what Songz needs is a surer guiding hand. Someone at Atlantic or in Songz’ camp should have helped him do a better job of choosing songs for his official release. There had to be someone who was thinking that an album with “Black Roses” on it, shouldn’t have “LOL : )” on it as well.

Next time, they should speak up.

— 10 September 2009
Trey Songz - Black Roses
 
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Comments

I see what you are saying but there was a reason why songs such as LOL:)Invented Sex and Say Aaah were put on Ready….Say Aaah is a catchy song that will play in the club and LOL:) is a definite ringtone hit…We all know that Trey can sing and his strictly R&B records are what he excels in but that doesn’t always sell records. He needs records that appeal to the masses and even though Anticipation is a fan favorite it didn’t have the crossover appeal that Ready has. Obviously him and his label(finally) are doing something right b/c Read has had great first week numbers.It’s #3 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on Billboard rap/rnb charts behind Whitney Houston. You may not agree with the single choices Trey and his team have made but you can’t say its hurting him b/c 4 singles (I need a girl,LOL:),Invented Sex and Successful)are in heavy rotation on the radio and that’s HUGE! I guess I am thinking like a business person instead of a music lover but in this day and age if you want to sell you have to cater to both!

Comment by Angela from Jersey — September 12, 2009 @ 8:18 pm

Angela

You are not wrong.  But the role of a music critic is to look at the work.  Those songs may move people to buy the album, but that doesn’t make them good.  People spent tons of money on Macarena as well. 

We can’t continue to construct a false choice between sales and art.  Unlike most people, I think there is a way to make music people will buy that is also well-crafted and interesting.  Trey sometimes does that.  Just because you have catchy dirty south production, doesn’t mean the lyricism has to be one-dimensional and silly.  Any of those singles could have had better melodies and lyrics than they currently have. 

Thanks for the comment.

Comment by Tyler from DC — September 13, 2009 @ 8:56 am

I completely agree with review. The anticipation mixtape would have made a better album. He should have at least put out more songs from the mixtape on the album. I think that if he demonstrate how skilled he is, Trey would get recognized for it and still sell well. I always skip LOL and say ahh on the album. In fact, I just mixed up Anticipation and Ready, cut out the weaker tracks and just listen to that. There’s really no need to try to make catchy beats and quick hooks because it never lasts too long. People like Alicia Keys drop albums every 2 - 3 years and destroy the charts because they make good music. Trey should take from them, it could take a little longer to get recognized that way, but once it happens, he’d benefit from that success longer than the buzz he’s got right now.

Comment by Merryl from Canada — October 6, 2009 @ 11:31 am

Couldn’t agree more with the frustrated opinion of Tyler Lewis.

Vocally, Trey Songz has to be one of the very best R&B singers of his generation. Unfortunately - he’s a former rapper, and his street-thug side and maybe even immaturity takes centre-stage too often with his lyrics.

Lyrics like “sometimes she calls me ‘oh sh** - ‘cos I make her curse”, spoil the vibe on an otherwise brilliant track ‘neighbours know my name’, and what the heck is going on with songs like ‘LOL :)’ and song-titles like ‘say aah’ !?!?

His first album I Gotta make it - in my opinion - showed the guy has HUGE potential to be a modern ‘R Kelly-style’ R&B great. He should be way higher regarded by now. He just needs some guidance, to make an album geared to show off his real ability, and to keep the other stuff to a minimum or on a mixtape.

Comment by Paul from United Kingdom — October 20, 2009 @ 11:59 am

Trey Songz - Ready. (NO he ain’t)

Trey Songz - You let me down again dude. You’re better than this.

Why is this his most successful album so far? The mind boggles.

Agree pretty much with everyone here. :(

Trey Songz fans. Check out ‘Love Safari’ one of many better songs left out.

Comment by J.R. from Charlotte — October 21, 2009 @ 11:03 am

This review is still way too positive considering the content of this album. None of it is anywhere close to listenable. This is pure modern pop rubbish that is better used to annoy and irritate than actually entertain the listener.

0/10 is a more appropriate score. How any music critic can give any score higher than that is beyond me, unless all of these critics are getting bribed by the record companies…

Honestly, that is a possibility.

Comment by Joe from Pennsylvania — December 6, 2009 @ 3:15 pm

Joe

Thanks for your comment.  I don’t think the album is that bad.  I think there are some genuinely good tracks on it, as I reference here. 

I can assure you I’m not bribed by Songz’ record label.  Frankly, they should be in the wrong business if they paid for a lukewarm review such as mine.

Comment by Tyler from DC — December 8, 2009 @ 4:25 pm

I am completely disagree with any negative review of Ready.  Trey Songz is talented and gifted when it comes to making music and setting personal feelings and thoughts to a rhythm people can identify with.  Granted, everyone won’t like the sexual topics he explores but so what?!  The topics do not take away from how nicely he is able to deliver that topic vocally.  Lyrically, we is really talented.  Sex is such a highly talked about topic in and out of the music industry but people like it.  To be a stand out in a field drenched with mediocrity and ZERO creativity, it is important to approach a common topic with a freshness and uniqueness that Trey does.  So, the “oh sh** - ‘cause I make her cuss” line was cute, unexpected, and very real to anyone who has had good sex—which is what he’s talking about.  And again, he sings it in a higher tone synonymous with the feeling of great sexual gratification.  It gives the song texture and feeling.  I love it!!
Clearly, it seems to me that those who do not like Mr. Songz’s album are not in tune to what his fans like and love about him.  Trey Songz is young man who grew up in a digital era so singing songs like “LOL :)” is completely appropriate to the age group of his fan base and his own age.  It’s upbeat, catchy, and still he delivers vocally.  “Say Aah” is equally appropriate (and easy to listen to).  Celebrities all around are endorsing different alcoholic products and such.  Why not sing a song about it? 
Ready is a much more fine tuned album that deserves the accolades it receives.  I can listen to it from beginning to end without skipping anything.  The arrangement on the album was terrific and transitions wonderfully from the more upbeat middle portion to the slower tempo on the balance of the album.

Comment by Sauda from Brooklyn, NY — December 21, 2009 @ 7:34 am

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