J Holiday - Round 2 (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Decent Follow Up

Derrick Dunn | Woodbridge,VA | 03/10/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After his impressive debut, J.Holiday returns with his sophmore CD, Round 2. Holiday is a very impressive vocalist and given the right production, he could easily become a bigger force in R&B. As the norm with all my reviews, you'll find a track by track break down,

1. Intro - A standard interlude where J, sets up the vibe of the CD.

2. It's Yours - It took about five or six listens for this song to grow on me, as it sounded like Holiday was trying to get into the auto tune craze.

3. Fall - Now this is the strongest I've heard, Holiday sound vocally since seeing him live. It's a sentimental ballad and has a nice laid back feel to it.

4. Don't Go - Another strong ballad, where Holiday can really show off his vocals. The production has a 93 Jodeci feel to it. One of my favorite songs on the CD

5. Wrong Lover feat. Rick Ross - I really wasn't feeling this track as J. Holiday & Rick Ross don't have the same type of collabo chemistry that Ross shared with Avery Storm on last summer's massive hit Here I Am. Holiday's vocals are standard but Ross provides some uneeded ad-libs & a lazy rhyme.

6. Run Into My Arms - After this abymsall track the precedes it, Holiday reedems himself with this laid back ballad. This another trrack where J will be able to show off his vocals live in concert, if this is the type of song I could see Ralph Tresvant singing twenty years ago.

7. Sing 2 U - Another track with an old school feel, where J just wants to sing to the ladies. Listening to the track, made me think of the blue light in the basement parties and if this was a single, it could be a great video. Another one of my favorites on the CD.

8. Lights Go Out - This song could kind of serve as a sequel to his huge hit, Bed. While the song is a bit on the sexual side, Holiday never crosses into R.Kelly terrority.

9. Make That Sound - At the start of this song when I heard the voice coder I was instantly upset. Holiday is an impressive vocalist and like Jamie Foxx he doesn't need the voice coder to make a good song. The chorus & the song get repettive and Holidays mistakenly crosses into R.Kelly and comes off as a biter, rather than an oringial.

10. Forever Ain't Enoungh - Holiday once again reedems with this slow jam. This song reminds me off Ne-Yo's Stop This World as I could easily see this being a wedding song for young love birds. This is another song that will sound amazing live, with the right band backing him up.

11. Fly - I'm all for ballads, but this song was kind of boring and I think it's better suited for a Disney singer like The Jonas Brother's or Corbin Bleu.

12. Homeless - Holiday makes a bold move, by providing a message song so early in his carrer. I respect Holiday's vison for the song, but given the vibe of the CD this song seems out of place.

13. I Tried - The CD closes out with this guitar & drum driven ballad, while not the strongest ballad on the CD, it's a nice finale to the CD.

My favorite tracks

1. Sing 2 U

2. Fall

3. Don't Go

Least Favorite Tracks

1. Make That Sound

2. Wrong Lover

3. Fly

J. Holiday easily avoids the sophmore slump that can befall even the most talented R&B singer. I would have loved to hear a cover of some classic slows (i.e. The Jacksons Heaven Knows I Love You Girl or Al B. Sure's Ooh This Is Love) in place of the weaker tracks. However with one only guest apperance and by showcasing his maturing tenor, J. Holiday has provided a decent follow up to his impressive debut

"

It Was Just Okay; Not Bad. Not Great.

Ieva D. Blackshear | Philadelphia | 03/16/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My Rating: 3.5 stars

As so many before him, J. Holiday's second album didn't quite live up to the first one. J. Holiday has clearly grown since his first album and you can clearly hear that in his lyrics and sound. For me this CD was a bit too mellow. I thought he had a prefect mix of love and gangsta in his first album. I was looking for another "Bed" or "Suffocate" to add to the slow jam mix. There wasn't one I would consider. However, I did enjoy Wrong Lover feat. Rick Ross and Homeless. I'm not ready to give up on him. I think he has more to show the world. I would still by the album.

"

Better Than The Last One

Anna J | Philly, Pa. | 03/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"J Holiday is back with Round 2, an appropiate name for his sophmore CD. I like that I can play it at work and not have to turn it down because of excessive profanity like the first CD. J seems to be a little more in love this time around with tracks like It's Yours, Run Into My Arms and Forever Ain't Enough. Make That Sound shows a lil more of his freaky side that is on point as well. Took me about 3 spins to get in a groove, but overall was worth the ten bucks I dropped on it. You'll want to have this one on your collection."

It's round two, but it is not a knockout

Mikeisha Best | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 03/11/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Washington, DC native J. Holiday returns to the limelight with his sophomore effort entitled "Round 2." His first single is "It's Yours." Some people will consider this song a "Bed" knockoff because it sounds very akin to "Bed." It's a decent song, but it took some time to get into. A lot of his music sounds the same, especially the songs that are played on the radio. This album is better than his debut, "Back of My `Lac." The feel of this album is a laid back one for most of the songs are mid-tempo "rider/cruising" songs. In the intro, which is one of the best moments on this LP, he mentions his past hits like "Bed" and "Suffocate." His singing voice is accompanied by finger snaps; it was a nice way to open the album. Lyrically, "Homeless" is the strongest track. A portion of the hook is "If you didn't have a pot to piss in, didn't have a kitchen, imagine if you was homeless..." He is stressing to everyone that we need to be grateful for what we have because all of our possessions can be taken away easily. The guitar helps convey the emotions of the lyrics.

There were plenty of people in Target purchasing this album on today, March 10, 2008, "Round 2"'s release date. If you like his singles and first album, you should like this album. It's not bad.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "Don't Go"

2. "Wrong Lover"

3. "Fall"

4. "Intro"

5. "Run Into My Arms"

"

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