Ryan Leslie

If you haven't heard of him...check him out.  You've probably heard the singles Diamond Girl and the hypnotic Addiction with Cassie and Fabolous.  If you liked those two you will definitely feel this album.  Those two songs start your journey through hard beats, dancing synths and catchy melodies.  The first is You're Fly with its melodic keyboards, rollin baseline and bouncin beat.  On the first listen this is where you begin to think that this dude might have somethin to bring the music game.  Then with the help of Neptunes he hits you with Quicksand.  You know how The Neptunes do it...right.  They didn't take the track too far out there.  This one is like Smoop's Beautiful.  The bridge on it is real nice with the sea of synths and R Les singing over it....real nice.  OMG then there's Valentine.  This song will definitely make you hit repeat.  Its a slower track but is very hard.  This song is made for the brothas the sit back and have yo woman dance for you or model some thangs for you...ha.  Actually I think the ladies will want to dance for you off this one....all you gotta do is put it on and start watchin them.  Anyway, I digress...you'll love it.  You will then eventually get to How It Was Supposed To Be.  You have to enjoy the sounds and beats in the tracks on this album...this is one that you should most certainly sit back and enjoy.  First the song gives you the beat with a little synth over it.  Then it introduces the keyboards by making them dance over the beat.  Next comes the cymbols.  And each sound is presented over the beat by itself.  Later when they are all put together you really know that this artist and his producers have put together a hard azz album.   The album moves right on into the next song Irina.  Another creative mix of synths, percussion and a strong beat.  Once again you will enjoy the use of different sounds together.  Out Of The Blue is more of the same.  I mean each song has the same elements but they are each done differently and creatively.  It s right here on the first listen that you really start to appreciate the fact that some artist actually get it.  The album is totally refreshing to hear.  Oh yeah the guy is so talented he made a song called Gibberish where he ain't really sayin nothing....just speakin gibberish but it sounds good....ha.  I predict this album will be at the top of the charts for a while.  

9 out of 10