Journey of a Gemini

Donell Jones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: La Face
• ASIN: B0000DZ3FV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,655 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With Journey of a Gemini, R&B smoothie Donell Jones bounces back after a four-year lapse famously littered with personal and professional fiascos. Where a lot of artists might overthink such a momentous return to the spotlight, though, he displays an astrologically correct tendency to let his instincts guide him, and the result is a disc that sounds both tight stitched and effortless. The song cycle follows a beguiling pattern: when Jones isn't seducing somebody, a la the shamelessly sexed-up "Apple Pie," "Can't Wait," or "Ooh Na Na," he's emptying his heart into a dusky ballad like "Portrait of a Woman." Or else he's just reminding the world that he can crank out a hit and have a near-criminally good time doing it. While "Better Start Talking" gets backing from Jermaine Dupri and the other standout selections here boast top-tier production talent--Tim & Bob hook him up on "I'm Gonna Be" and Ryan Leslie lubes up the Bun B number "If You Want" till it's perfectly squeakless--Jones commands a distinctive kind of cool throughout. This journey may not lead him where his last disc did, which would be to the No. 3 position on the Billboard 200, but it's way worth following his trail markers anyway. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Donell Jones does it again, July 6, 2006

By 

J. Highsmith (Mitchellville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Journey of a Gemini (Audio CD)

Although, I liked "In The Hood" and Donell Jones' remake of Stevie Wonder's "Knock Me Off My Feet", I still wasn't sure if I should purchase Donell's debut CD, "My Heart". It wasn't until 3 years later when Donell Jones released "Where I Wanna Be" when I knew that I would be a fan of his for many years that I finally purchased "My Heart". When I saw Donell's video for "U Know What's Up" w/Left Eye (R.I.P.), there were no doubts at all that I would purchase this CD. Once I did, I was glad that I could play the CD in its entirety.
My favorite tracks ended up being "Shorty Got Her Eyes On Me", "Have You Seen Her", This Luv" and my all time favorite Donell Jones track, "Where I Wanna Be". Three years later Donell Jones dropped "Life Goes On". The CD's first single was "You Know That I Love You" and that ended up being one of my favorite tracks on "Life Goes On" as well as, "Where You Are", "Still" and the title track.

This time around, Donell Jones is back with his 4th CD, "Journey Of A Gemini". Although, this CD hasn't got alot of promotion, "Journey Of A Gemini" is right up there with "Where I Wanna Be" and "Life Goes On". The 1st song that I heard from this CD was the uptempo "Better Start Talking" w/Jermaine Dupri. Ryan Leslie & Sean Garrett did an excellent job with the track and Donell Jones does the rest with his vocals. If Donell Jones doesn't release a slow jam as his next single, then this track should be the choice. The 1st single from this CD, "I'm Gonna Be" is definitely the best song on "Journey Of A Gemini", in my opinion. Tim & Bob took a break from Bobby Valentino tracks to lace Donell Jones with some heat. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a video for the track and the song isn't getting the promotion that it deserves. This midtempo track is right up there with "You Know That I Love You" and "U Know What's Up" as Donell has no problem telling his woman what he would do and what he doesn't mind doing to do things for the woman in his life. There is also a version of the song with Clipse towards the end of the CD as well. Clipse & Pharrell have a certified banger out right now entitled, "Mr. Me Too". "My Apology" is just that as Donell wants to explain to his woman he does the wrong things at times and he even goes as far as blaming the well known "Split Personality Astrology sign" (Gemini) to explain why he treats her the way that he does. "Spend The Night" is a stellar uptempo track that will give you another reason why Donell has been in the game as long as he has. Donell gives you straight forward lyrics and Mike City provides the tight track. "Portrait Of A Woman" falls right in line with R Kelly's "A Woman's Threat" and Joe's "Treat Her Like A Lady" as Donell gives his spin on why a woman should be cherished and not left hanging to dry by "us" men. Donell gets deep on "Cry" as he talks about 2 unfortunate situations that happened in particular when families didn't pay attention to each other. This is a change of pace for Donell Jones but the formula works for me. "Ooh Na Na" and "Apple Pie" are self explanatory but these seductive slow jams work for me, since I have always liked Donell Jones' slow jams. Tim & Bob produce another banger in "Feelin' You". When I first listened to this CD, I must have played this track atleast 3 times back to back. Donell blesses us with another slow jam on "Can't Wait". He describes a situation where he had been with a particular woman and how it was hard for him to keep waiting without trying to "Dew The Do". Donell always makes songs that any man can relate to, which is one reason why I like his music. "If U Want" features Bun B from UGK and is produced by Ryan Leslie and Sean Garrett once again. The track is pretty good but Bun B's rap starts to fade once he gets to the middle of his 2nd verse. Bun B is better when he sticks to his "Get Throwed" formula of just being the "King Of The Trill" and not trying to be the king of an uptempo r&b track. "Another Life" has Donell talking about a situation where he was with a particular woman where there were just so many things going on that things just didn't work out. If things could be different or as Erykah Badu would say in the "Next Lifetime" we could be together.

I can honestly say that there aren't too many faults that I can find with this CD other than Track 1, "Special Girl" where there was nothing special about the song at all. "Baby It's You" is going fine until Rico Love gets on the track and does the song no justice at all. The problem that some Donell Jones fans may have is that some of the songs sound very similar so after awhile it may sound like "Journey Of A Gemini" is just one long track.

Overall, I am glad that Donell Jones has released another CD. It's a shame that he can't get more promotion for a job well done on a CD. It reminds me of Jon B's "Stronger Everyday" in the way that you have 2 nice CDs but for some reason the marketing departments at these two labels don't realize the product that they have. If you are a Donell Jones fan and you enjoy his previous CDs, then you will enjoy "Journey Of A Gemini" as well. If you are searching for Donell Jones songs that aren't on his CDs then you should definitely pick up the "Love & Basketball" soundtrack for the stellar "I'll Go" and the soundtrack to the remake of the movie "Shaft" to hear the impressive "Do What I Gotta Do"

James' Top 5

1) I'm Gonna Be
2) Better Start Talking
3) Feelin' You
4) Can't Wait
5) Apple Pie

Ranking Donell Jones' Discography

1) Where I Wanna Be
2) Life Goes On
3) Journey Of A Gemini
4) My Heart

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Classic...Best Male R&B of the Year already!, June 20, 2006

By 

Enlightened "Both Eyes Closed, see what u don... (Atlanta Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Journey of a Gemini (Audio CD)

Donell Jones, after a 4 year hiatus and recovering from a drinking problem, returns with his 4th eagerly anticipated studio album. With ten years in the game, Donell Jones is most known for his smooth production style and unique songwriting. With many hits under his belt such as Where I Wanna Be, Shorty Got Her Eyes On Me, Still, and U Know What's Up, he looks to shake up the industry again this time around.

New singer Ne-Yo can thank Donell Jones for his success because their styles are very similar but now Donell is back to reclaim his throne. His first single BETTER START TALKING is a masterpiece and it is completely baffling to me how that song flew under the radar of TV and radio. With its light airy summertime instrumental courtesy of Ryan Leslie (Next Selection...Cassie...they bout to blow!) and surprisingly nice rapping from Jermaine Dupri as well as Donell Jones sounding better than ever; this song should have been HUGE! I don't know what happened with the promotion but it may be because he's on JIVE records...so he's pretty much on his own. Whatever the reason, it's a complete tragedy that this song is not bigger than it is.

Continuing on, Donell Jones returns with classic tunes. Every song is nice and the cd can be played the whole way through. I won't hesitate to say that this album is the best of the year so far and will certainly be the best R&B of the summer unless something else comes along that is completely amazing (which I doubt). Songs such as Special Girl (which has been out since last year but still sounds good), Spend The Night, Portrait of A Woman, Cry, Ooh Na Na, and Cuttin Me Off are all stellar tracks. And with production by Ryan Leslie, The Underdogs ( most recently on Chris Brown's album), Mike City, Tim & Bob (Bobby Valentino album), as well as puttin his own signature production touch on tracks, writing most of the lyrics on the album, and his smooth voice; Donell Jones is poised to make some noise with this album. It will be a complete tragedy if this album doesn't do well because Donell has released the best cd of his career and deserves credit and recognition. 5 Stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Awaited Return By Donell Jones, July 2, 2006

By 

chakasworld "chakasworld" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Journey of a Gemini (Audio CD)

I'm in total agreement with most of the 5 star reviews here, but fans are also urged to
invest in the Circuit City Edition of Donell's new CD, which includes 2 HOT BONUS TRACKS....

16. Baby, It's You (featuring Rico Love)
17. Apple Pie (Featuring Clipse)

*Also, try to locate the mid 2005 Promo CD by Donell Jones. This was an earlier version of his 'Journey Of A Gemini' CD, but it includes the following tracks, which were left off of the 2006 Edition...

1. Lovin' U
2. Marry Me
3. September Love
4. U Make Me Feel
5. Azzville
6. Treat U Right
7. Shut U Down
8. You Didn't Love Me

Welcome back Donell, and thanks for the great CD!! Sorry your record company
refuses to promote you properly...
You deserve MUCH BETTER!!
Peace, SD
(of 'Chaka's World')