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Bobby Valentino - Special Occasion
Bobby Valentino - Special Occasion
 (Def Jam Records)

- reviewed by Danitha Jones

I have to give credit where credit is due and Bobby Valentino's new album deserves it, Special Occasion is a pretty good album. Some of the songs are straight heat, especially "Anonymous" and "Turn the Page".

I didn't find any of the songs wack, but something seems to be missing which keeps the album only close to perfect, not fully there.

The collaborations were excellent choices because neither Fab, Timbaland or Luda drew much attention to themselves. Fab and Luda usually spit fire on any track they're on, so I did expect their verses on this album to be better than they were, but it's for the best. Even though their verses weren't all the great, it kept the focus on Bobby Valentino.

I would have liked to hear him and a chick make a song together. "If I Had It My Way" would have been a good song to feature a female on possibly Rhianna.

Special Occasion offers a variety of songs that range from focusing on sex on "I Can't Wait Til Later" to apologizing for being a dog in "I Was Wrong."

I would say this album is a good buy.

Track By Track
-- Degrees --102030405060708090100
1.  Intro
2.  Anonymous
3.  Checkin For Me
4.  Special Occasion
5.  Rearview (Ridin')
6.  If I Had My Way
7.  How 'Bout It
8.  Turn The Page
9.  Home Is Where..
10. Let Him Go
11. Only Human
12. Can't Wait 'Til Later
13. I Was Wrong
14. Soon As I Get Home
15. Over & Over
16. Right There
The Industry Says

Monsters and Critics - - "When the limber-voiced ladies' man isn't strutting his stuff à la the dancefloor-ready "Checking for Me," a full-on stomper about a lady who likes to pretend she doesn't have an eye out for Bobby V., he's pleading his case to a lover in dire need of reassurance ("Turn The Page," "Home is Where You Belong," "Soon As I Get Home"). What binds these tracks is a hard-bitten refusal to skimp on the passion; no matter how quick the tempo or quirky the beat ("Tired of Being Alone" is especially exotic), Valentino delivers with all the fire he can muster."


Blender - 3 1/2 stars "Though none of the songs on this second album are particularly memorable, Valentino’s actorly dedication keeps it appealing. Playing the pickup artist with mirrored shades and a dry, cool tenor, Bobby never breaks character or loses the vibe — it’s a cheesy role, but a seductive one as well."


Blues and Soul UK - 4 out of 10 "The sophomore curse has struck the southern soul star and it doesn't seem like he's going to be getting up from the blow anytime soon. The constant repetition of tracks 'Over & Over', 'Can't Wait 'Til Later' and 'Only Human' mirror an artist desperately seeking to recreate an older era of R&B. It's not that Bobby can't cut the mustard because he's already proved that he can, it's just the direction that he's taken with this release is all wrong."



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