Dusk Till Dawn

Chronique

Each one of Bobby V's four major-label albums, released from 2005 through 2011, peaked in the Top Ten of the Billboard 200, yet he finds himself on an independent -- the R&B-veteran haven eOne -- for his fifth full-length. Dusk Till Dawn should satisfy listeners who expect more of the same and couldn't care less about development or refinement in the singer's sound. Not much of the album, however, compares to past triumphs like "Slow Down," "Tell Me," "Beep," or even "Phone #." Little lyrical creativity of variety is offered -- there's more "I'm-a beat it up," "You can get it," "Lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets," drunkenness, and abundant flattery of physical features. Even the lone Tim & Bob collaboration, "Are You Ready," is merely passable. The pained, regretful "Before You Break My Heart" is an exception, but the hook-ups -- highlighted by the tactless K. Michelle collaboration "Put It In" -- are so frequent that its impact is dulled. Bobby enlists more guest MCs than ever. Lil Wayne, Red Café, Future, Gucci Mane, and Cassidy all contribute, but not one of them is memorable here. He's running out of things to say -- or, more accurately, ways of saying the same things.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo