Joe Thomas, New Man

lovely written but wish that the album didn't have such great snippets that were great potential songs!

This is easily Joe's strongest album in recent years. It's a true R&B record, and you can tell that now that hes not on Jive anymore, he finally got the creative freedom he wanted. Because with Ain't Nothin Like Me, i felt like he tried to hard to fit in with the rest of the radio R&B, and the album was really just kind of dull. But New Man, is easily his strongest effort since My Name is Joe in 2000. He really went out on this album and did his thing. New Man isnt the best album of the year by any means, but its a very strong showing. And I was so happy when i got this album because we havent had a good Joe album since 2003, so when this one came out i was really hopin he would turn out something good. And he did. One thing that really helped this album is the production. He did four songs with B.Cox, and had a song with the Stereotypes and Polow Da Don. This album actually had an R&B feel to it unlike Ain't Nothin Like Me. "By Any Means" is a great feel good track with beautiful vocals about trying to get your girl back. It's definetly one of the better songs on the album, along with "Man In Your Life", which obviously sampled Nas's "Hero" beat, which normally i wouldnt think is cool, but Joe actually makes the song work without it coming off as swagger jacking. But its definetly one of the best joe songs and it really bangs in the car lol. But then we get some classic Joe with the soft and smooth standout ballads "Chameleon" and "Start Over Again". Like i said, this album isnt amazing by any means, but it shows that Joe is still relevant in the presently dry state of R&B.



Grade:
B

This CD is wonderful well written. Joe knows exactly what a woman needs. I can not wait for the release in February the tracks will have a woman wanting her man more and more.

I HAVE SAY I AM A DIE HARD JOE FAN,BUT I'M ITCHING FOR A NEW AVENUE WITH A BALLADEER THAT CAN DELIVER. ANY JOE FAN WILL LIKE THE ALBUM, BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY LOUD BELLS. I'M STILL A FAN THOUGH.

I love the "old" Joe!! With this album, it seems as if he tried to become more main stream (what the teens listen to). However, the tracks 12-16 are the bomb, snippets are included on this album. Actually, they come out on his next album (Feb 2009). I keep those tracks on repeat. Nevertheless, he's still one of my favorite artists. I've grown up on JOE (teenager) and now I'm 30!