Customer Reviews

Joe Thomas, New Man

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Joe's new album "Joe Thomas New Man" came completely unexpected for me. I hadn't even heard of it until a few days before it's release and the first two singles from the album must've been released in obscurity since I hadn't heard about them either. This is strange cause Joe's last album "Ain't Nothin' Like Me" from last year (his first in 4 years) was one of the best R&B albums of 2007 and was an updated version of Joe's repertoire combining Joe's amazing tender R&B with slick modern production from the likes of Stargate, Sean Garrett and Tim & Bob. It even welcomed guest performences from rapper like Papoose, Nas and Fabolous and eventually peaked at #2 on the album charts. The only album being more successful then that was his 2000 release "My Name Is Joe". So why, "New Man" got so little promotion and attention is a mystery. Is the album really that bad is is it because the record company didn't do their best to promote it?.

One of the reasons is probably that Joe recently signed for the new started record company Kedar Entertainment (under Atlantic) and they're also scheduling another album coming up in mid 2009. "New Man" defenitely feel rushed, like an obligatory album released in-between. But it doesn't mean it's a bad album. However, there is no duets or guest rappers here and all of the top producers that made his last album great are gone, apart from Bryan Michael Cox who seem to appear on every R&B album anyway. The best songs here are the one's that are more upbeat like the title track produced by the Stereotypes. He sings that "she makes me feel like a convict, fresh out of jail" and the first single "E.R (Emergency Room)" where Joe is portraited as a patient that need TLC from a female doctor, a little simular to Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", full of methaphors and playfulness like "You don't need no notice from the doctor, your fingers my thermometer" or "I need mouth to mouth, you feel me/You got a lot to check out, get busy", This midtempo is undoubtly one of the best songs of this year. "By Any Means" with a good beat and the classic slow jam "Why Just Be Friends" in Robin Thicke territory are also decent aswell as "We Need To Roll" (which comes off as a little clumsy), "I won't Let Him Hurt You" and the Polow Da Don produced "Man in Your Life" that uses the same beat as Nas's "Hero". Halfway there are some quite sappy ballads that goes into one ear and out of the other and towards then end comes a few snippets of songs that will appear on his next album. Why they decided to release sneak peaks of future material is beyond me though.

Overall, A quite misleading title of the album since nothing is really new when Joe sings his smooth standard R&B with his typical good guy peronality, infact it would've been a better title for his last album. However, there is alot of good material here especially "New Man" and "E.R" but there is also alot of filler which leaves me with an ambivalent feeling at the end. The 5 snippets of songs that will appear on his 2009 are fine but instead of releasing 2 albums in such a short time he could've combined the best cuts from the two to make one more memorable album instead. If you're a Joe fan and like his usual stuff, check it out but don't expect him to sound like a new born man. 3 stars.

First I want to say I am true Joe fan dating back to his first CD. Many of the songs on here are a little on the corny side. This is one of those CDs that has to grow on you. Normally right out of the case you are jamming to Joe's CD.

Some of the songs are not your typical Joe sound. But I guess in order to reach other crowds and increase sales they have to do that. Shame though. Joe has a niche that not many artist has tapped into and it is getting lost in the sauce trying to compete with these young cats like NeYo or Chris Brown. "Joe, your music is better than there's don't worry about competing."

I am not sure who is writing some of these songs but it is obvious it's that cross over, modern type garbage. The snippets of his upcoming album "Signature" are MUCH better than a lot of the songs on here.

A little disappointing.

I agree with the other commenters as this cd is on the corny side until you get to the songs that will be on his next cd in February. He should have added a few of the full length versions to this cd. Yes, the cd is titled "A New Man" but it is missing the r&b flavor Joe carries so well. I give the cd 2.5 stars and will wait for the "Signature" cd to be released in February 2009 because I think that cd will bring Joe back to where he should be on the charts (and his music playing in my bedroom - lol!).

I didn't know Joe had a new CD out until I saw it in an electronic store's catalog for new releases. I visited Amazon.com to buy it, but I was caught offguard by all the negative reviews, so I decided to listen to the full CD on another website to see where all this was coming from.

Cons: There's nothing really wrong with the CD, but the main songs don't stand out. The beats are all mellow. Joe sounds pretty lackadaisical on just about every track. I don't get that vulnerability and tease of a hip hop fan from him that I'm used to, minus the description of wearing a white tee and new Air Ones. Not to say grown men can't just decide to come out of this era, but he was known for riding that line of sensitive man with a bad boy look. So his image has changed, and his music isn't as needy as it used to be.

Pros: The snippets at the end of the CD for "Signature" like "Special Friends," "Magic," "Sexy Girl," and "Wanna Be Your Love" had the best beats and lyrics. I wish those were the main songs because they could've been singles. His voice is still beautiful, and I've always enjoyed the way he hums/sings. There could be no lyric for thirty seconds, and his different tones of moaning entertain me.

I liked the songs, but I LOVED the snippets! If these had been swapped around, I believe his reviews may have been better. Instead of buying this CD, I'll just look for full versions of those songs if possible.

Joe is my favorite R&B singer, period. So naturally, hearing out of nowhere by chance that he had a new album coming out, I went out to get it without hesitation, expecting another great helping of great music. Blind faith, as they call it. But this crock of sh** is beyond me. With a very misleading title, this is a huge swing and a miss for Joe, and its not even just because of the music.

I agree to an extent that Joe sounds more "Chris Brown-ish" and mainstream on this CD, because its true. But sometimes you gotta make those songs to stay somewhat relevant, and thats ok, because for the most part I like the songs that he has on here, minus a few corn ball tracks like "why Just Be Friends" and "By Any Means". If the music was all there was to it, I would have given this a 4.5 rating. That's not the case unfortunately.

The reason I drop this rating from 4.5 to a 2 is because of this snippet crap at the end of the album. There are 11 whole tracks on this CD, 16 in total. Tracks 12-16 are samples of songs that are supposedly going to be released in their entirety next year on a new album. Never mind the songs I've heard on there thus far aren't really all that great, but the fact is I dropped $10 bucks for a lackluster album and some snippets??? If your a dedicated Joe fan like I am, then maybe you can fool yourself into buying this by mistake, but otherwise don't waste your money, its not worth it. Why waste the effort of spending your money when the artist cant make the effort to make it worth buying.

I've noticed a lot of people don't seem to like this CD, and while it's nowhere near as good as Joe's previous release there are some highlights.

I can totally relate to the comments as far as the songs being alittle on the corny side. Joe is an outstanding singer dating back the the "All I Am" cd.... I strongly believe that the label is trying to get Joe to cross over to a wider audieb=nce in order to generate record sales. And once again I can state that the snippets are definately worth the wait. I am so looking forward to the new CD that comes out in February of 2009. All In All I give "New Man" 3 stars out of five, this is the first of many projects for Joe to show that world that he is and will be the man with one of the best R and B sounds around today. Best song is "Heart Behind My Eyes"

Joe always produces such great music and I never miss the opportunity to hear him sing. May he have anymore great years.

for this joe album (new man) 4 stars for this one, 5 stars in feb 2009 more than likely. The album new man represents new label not him as a R&B artist. (Kedar Ent) not jive anymore. The album gives you typical slows (joe) jams, with a pinch of uptempo, good lyrics, and change up songs that would not interest the radio, but are heart based songs! such as #11 heart behind my eyes. Songs E.R , need to roll, for you and yo chick to get intimate. i won't let him hurt you, man in your life, why just be friends, songs to chill with yo chick or girl you trying to make yo chick. The new album in feb 2009 signature set to be a valentine love fest. a album of all slow jams , can't get any better for me as a joe fan since 92 album on mercury (everthing). This album not as bad as some may say? This is a sample of R&b food till feb 10, 2009. Appreciate joe giving you something to eat on, till the main course, sounds like a good Host!!!! Why people are saying he's changed, trying to sound like chris brown and ne-yo, i don't know? On all of joe albums he gives you uptempo, slow jams to push repeat on, and songs from his heart. So joe hasn't changed what he's been feeding you, you've changed what you been eating R&B wise!!! You got used to bubble gum R&B, with hot dance videos,with basic vocals and lyrics. Joe,R Kelly,Ne-yo,Usher, i comend them for giving me enjoyable albums that you don't want anybody to borrow, in fear of not getting them back!!! Listen to the radio,and count all of the songs,and albums you come across. That sound like 1 of these guys,influenced by, or produced by! Thats about 75%, who's trying to sound like who here????

Out of all of Joe's albums, this is his worse album so far. Joe is if not one of the best R&B singers out there. His talent is amazing. Don't know what happened here. Even his last album Ain't Nothing Like Me is far better than this one. In this album he tries to be someone he is not. He tries to sound like some of them other young R&B singers like Ne-yo and Chris Brown who in my opinion are not that great. Joe is known for his his romantic love songs, baby makin' music. Joe always keeps his sound original, but fails here. In my opinion, this album only has three good songs which are By Any Means, Why Be Just Friends, and We Need To Roll. Now on the bright side. Joe is releasing another album on Feburary 10, 2009. There's a song on Youtube from Joe's new album called What I Like which is a very good song. Hoppfully his next album is far better than this one.