Search - Omarion :: O

3-1/2 stars -- All grown up

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 06/21/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not really surprised that Omarion came out with a solo album, because he was the only person in B2K that did anything anyway (unless you count Lil' Fizz; *cough* wack rapper *cough*). Anyway, a lot of young fans were devastated when B2K broke up. But in retrospect, I'm not really surprised that happened either, considering how fast everything was going: they released three albums in one year, followed by doing the generic movie You Got Served (or as I like to call it, the male Bring It On). Thus, they probably got sick of each other. Whatever the case, Omarion persevered with his debut solo album, O.



I remember that as soon as the title track hit radio, Omarion explained that its sexuality is due to the fact that he's growing up (which is true; I mean, he's about to turn 21). And as far as sex-driven songs go, most of them are highlights, like the title track, "Slow Dancin'", and the necessary Neptunes track, "Touch". The only one that could possibly stand a rewrite is "In the Dark". Actually, scratch that: what REALLY could have been left behind was "Take It Off". Here, rather than Omarion sounding grown-up, he comes across more like a kid TRYING to grow up. Complete with profanity-just-for-the-sake-of-profanity (Eamon, anyone?), an irritating beat, and a wack rap by some femcee named Mila J., you'll want to take it off rotation.



I'm not exactly sure why Big Boi feels he has to guest star with all the young R&B singers of the moment (see also Brooke Valentine), but he DOES do a good job with "Never Gonna Let You Go". And "Growing Pains" is a very interesting tale about the B2K breakup. But I think "Drop That Heater" is overrated. Sure, it'll bump in the club, but I don't think it'll bump anywhere else.



Omarion's debut album is quite impressive, and it does show that he's growing up. At the same time, though, I don't know if that's 100% valid considering that the album cover boasts a contest to win a free phone call from him. Oh well, this is still some nice R&B, so give it a spin.



Anthony Rupert



P.S. In response to the reviewer that didn't call this a solo album because there are singers in the background, um...that's why they're called BACKGROUND SINGERS."

A big surprise, from low expectations

The Sage | Chicago, IL USA | 12/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To be completely honest, I was in love with B2K (one of the few over 20) and was sad that they broke up. However, when Omarion released his album, after much anticipation, I started to think. Maybe because of the way the group broke up he would still have B2K music lingering into his solo debut. This would be a career killer if he held on to his boy band antics, and I thought that this was ultamately what he was doomed for. Boy was I in for a surprise. Despite some tracks like, "I'm Tryna" and "Take It Off," the album shines beyond his boy band past, and heads way for a promising future. To be honest (again) I can almost listen to his album from start to finish, and I can't say that about alot of artist. The highs are "Never gonna let you go" where I feel Omarion's true personality (as far as music) actually arises, "O" which I thought to be completly arrogant of him, until I realized that I misread the song (O stands for Orgasm, not Omarion), "Touch", a song that actually had to grow on me (most of the neptunes music does that to me), and songs 10-13. That particular group of songs shows maturity in him that charms me (well I am a girl). The song about the group breaking up, "Growing Pains" finally gave me an exact picture of what the group went through from his perspective (something I felt was lacking because the other boys got there point across, and I'm sure there are always two parts to a story). The lows were "I'm Tryna" a song that could have done without all the whining at the end, and "Take it off" a song that could have done without the cursing, and the weak female rapper at the end. Overall I would purchase this album, because it flew far beyond my expectations, and I'm pretty sure it will fly beyond yours."

Album Is Off The Chains

~*~LadyBishop~*~ | New York City | 02/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Omarion has grown up alot since B2K, and because of this the album reaches a broader fan base of the grown and sexy as they say. I would reccomend this Cd to the world. He did his thing."