October 13, 2006 @ 11:12 am

Omarion - 21 (T.U.G./Sony Urban/Epic)

Damien Scott

right On 21, his second solo album, the former face of B2K attempts to solidify his growth as an artist, and also his growth as a person, but he’s in a state of arrested development. Unlike fellow soul young’uns Ne-Yo and Chris Brown—equipped with better pipes and pens—Omarion lacks range, both emotional and vocal. On the saccharine “The Making of You,” O struggles with the overdone when-a-woman’s-fed-up premise. The same can be said of the regretful friends-turned-lovers tale “What Are We Doing.” And on “Midnight,” a song about cheating, Omarion clumsily belts his lines, sounding detached enough from the lyrics to be telling someone else’s story. But O does have his lustrous moments—like when he tries gaming a girl by risibly telling her, “I bet you never thought I’d wash my dishes,” on the rollicking “Have You Ever Been With a Star.” And when he insists, on both the ’80s-pop-synth-infused “Entourage” and the sensual “Needs,” that he’d forgo fame, luxuries, and crew for a special love, he achieves a rare sincerity. It’s not clear, though, why he refers to himself as King O - Omarion is never fully in charge. Do you want VIBE delivered to your home or office? CLICK HERE.

Article tags: 21, Chris Brown, Neyo, Omarion 

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