Nfared Reviews: Jon B

Stronger Everyday


Jon B. is like that smart kid in class that sits in the back of the room. He
always aces the tests. He never says much; it’s quite easy to forget he is
there. When he does finally speak though, he is instantly remembered and his
comments are usually worth having to wait to hear him speak. Jon B has been one
of R&B’s best-kept secrets for a long time. Perhaps aiming to stay that way, he
quietly released “Stronger Everyday” last year on Sanctuary Records. Just like
the kid in the back of the class, though Jon has been silent for a while—he has
been working.



Musically, there is nothing like hearing an artist sing over a track that sounds
like it was made specifically for that artist. I’m Right Here, produced by
Michael Angelo nicely compliments Jon B’s distinctive tenor. Though Jon B tends
to go a bit soulful at times, this upbeat track is more funk than soul, but Jon
still works the track and makes it his own. He slips in and out of the verses
smoothly, despite the speed of the track. He almost sings as if this is a slow
song, but the difference between his flow and the flow of the track is not at
all bothersome; it’s more opposites attract. Slow intentional singing with an
upbeat track is rare in an industry where singers are determined to race with
the track. Jon is relaxed here as he tells a young lady, “Girl you need to be
wit me/I can give you what you need/I’m right here/I got just what you want…”
This song shows that Jon has remained consistent with his style. He also shows
that sometimes to get the results you expect, you have
to do the unexpected.



When Jon B first hit the industry he was instantly compared to Babyface because
of their similar sound. Both artists decide to play on this comparison by coming
together on the smooth “What I Like About You”. The beat is slow and the
addition of the strings (and Babyface’s voice in the chorus) gives the song that
trademark Babyface sound, which Jon seems to work well with. He switches up from
his normal relaxed flow, singing ahead of the beat at points (think Beyonce on
Cater to you). Though this style of singing can be slightly distracting, Jon
manages to maintain a sense of sincerity as he tells his girl in the first
verse, “You have this way about you/that’s so adorable/ain’t nothing fake about
you/girl you’re so approachable…” Written by both Jon and Babyface, the lyrics
are somewhat high schoolish, yet the simplicity of the writing makes the song
believable. Though probably not what most would consider a “love song”, Jon
shows here that love can be expressed in many different
ways.


Final Grade
For various reasons, the talented artists in the industry are always taking
longer-that-the-fan-base-would-like breaks. Jon though experienced personal loss
as the result of a fire that destroyed his studio. This CD is a testament to the
fact that trials don’t have to get in the way of life’s desires. The vibe of the
CD is consistent production wise. Lyrically, Jon stays simple and earnest. The
end result a rarity; a CD that feels like a complete listen all the way through.
Final Grade: A

















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