Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie (Universal Motown)
It would be easy to call Ryan Leslie an everything man. From mastering a lengthy list of instruments, to spooning Cassie with Next Selection marketing magic, and producing goods for celebrated artists, the Harvard grad totes a deep bucket of industry credits. However, a tough resume holds minimal weight when it comes down to the debut of a first-time US solo record. Scoring high points behind-the-scenes doesn’t always guarantee an undeniable victory via center stage. But it can be done, as other members of Leslie’s ilk, Ne-Yo and The-Dream, have well proven. Yet as R. Les takes his second stroke as a recording artist with this self-titled set (his first album, 2005’s Just Right, was released by Universal in Europe only), the results are moderately exemplary; a project heavy in power production, but skim on memorable showmanship.
Unlike Ne-Yo, Leslie’s vocals are more concerned with style than strength, (a single ballad is nonexistent) often knotting cozy rhymes with soprano stung harmonies, such as in the album’s opener, “You’re Fly,” a buoyant choral courtship, summery enough to tempt a bee into winter. However mid-ranged tunes are not always the concern, as The-Dream has managed to effectively veil with quirky, quippy lyricism. For Leslie all the necessary old ideas are there: guy gets hooked on girl (“Addiction”), guy loses girl (“How It Was Supposed to Be”), guy wants girl back (“Out Of the Blue”), and so forth. But the new spins needed to pluck Leslie from the grasp of lyrical genericism, remain for the most part, blatantly absent. Though the oddly seducing, hardly decipherable, warbles of “Gibberish,” pitch an interesting curveball on an otherwise restrained playing field.
What’s clear, however, is just how deft the talented Mr. Leslie is when it comes down to his virtuosic knack for composition. Glossing resplendent new jack jigs with licks of electro goodness, Leslie’s production skills are unquestionable. Even when the other remaining elements expected from an artist of his stature are.
Ryan Leslie hit stores on 2/10/09
Tracklisting for Ryan Leslie
1. Diamond Girl2. Addiction
3. You're Fly
4. Quicksand
5. Valentine
6. Just Right
7. How It Was Supposed To Be
8. I-R-I-N-A
9. Out Of The Blue
10. Shouldn’t Have to Wait
11. Wanna Be Good
12. Gibberish
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