Joe reviewed
Joe
Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me
(Jive)
Chart-topping loverman’s sixth album is a slow jam from start to finish.
Joe Thomas has found incredible success despite having such an unremarkable voice. The former gospel singer rarely presses the upper or lower extents of his range, and he generally respects his songs by 86-ing overblown solos and adding subtle hip-hop touches. But this high-wire act becomes more like walking down the middle of the road on Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me. Despite its demonstrative title, Joe embodies his nondescript stagename throughout. Opener “Get To Know Me” is about as rowdy as things get — which isn’t much considering controversey-stoker Nas cameos. Even Young Buck and Tony Yayo fail to stir much of anything on the title track. The normally sure-handed Joe — who’s usually quite adept at producing his own stuff — instead lets Nothin‘ get swamped by never-ending ballads and drags so much toward the end the “Tears Of A Clown”-ish closer, “Life Of The Party,” sinks under the weight.
4
— Steve Forstneger
