Customer Reviews

Left Of Center

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me start off by saying that Javier is one of the most slept on artists in the music business right now. His self-titled debut album is living proof of this. You want some jazz? A little flamenco? Maybe a sweet, yet soulful ballad? Or perhaps you're more into the classic r&b genre? He infuses all these styles - and then some!

I've been anticipating this cd for a while now. I heard about 5 songs from it before the actual release date. You could already tell from those tracks that he was attempting to change the pace up so-to-speak. While there is certainly less guitar playing, he does not stray too far from it. "Dance For Me" and "Lovin You" are songs that you could probably hear on his first record.

I admit that I was somewhat disappointed after my initial run-through. I was expecting the Javier that I was so accustomed to. As a whole, "Left of Center" has definitely grown on me. "Can I Talk To You" is definitely my favorite on the album. His vocals are on point - kinda like a Babyface/Brian Mcknight hybrid. Other standouts include "Wassup," "Count On Me," & "Once We Start." I would not hesitate to buy this album all over again.

First off, let me say Javier is my favorite artist. He's my inspiration to do everything that is music in terms of songwriting and singing. I absolutely loved his first album and it's the only cd that has not been changed out of my cd changer since it came out. That's 3 years and running. So would I take it out for his new album?

In a word, no.

These two albums are different animals. While Jav's crystal clear and amazingly expressive voice is the common denominator, the sound of the music is in effect, very different. His new album has much less guitar playing in my opinion and focuses more on the "r and b" and "soul" stylings. We all knew that Javier had this in his repertoire and he makes it shine through this album. There are a couple of tracks on this album that harkens back to his original album that makes use of his phenomenal guitar playing. His flamenco in the track "Dance for Me" is breathtaking to behold.

I never skipped or fast forwarded through his first cd. Will it be the same with this cd? Perhaps. I'm still getting to know it.

If you love r and b music but are sick of the "pop r and b" that is being put out these days and want something that is musically solid and lyrically golden, buy both of Javier's new cds.

And if you're lucky go catch hin on tour. I saw him this past December in DC and he sounded just as good live and was the most down to earth performer I've met.

I been waiting for a long time for the second coming of Javier and it's finally here. Was it worth the wait? Yes, in every sense. There aren't many people who can put an album together like Javier. Granted he took a different aspect on his sophomore production choosing to make a more R&b driven album as opposed to the jazzy feel that powered his first album. I think it's a refreshing album, much better then Ne-yo's album and even Jamie Foxx's much anticipated album. I highly recommend this album, it's worth the money.

Those of you who may have thought an artist couldn't rip it on their debut and then repeat it on their sophomore project will be proven wrong by Javier's "Left of Center". Certainly the latest of what is sure to be many more, this new offering from one of the most talented artists of this decade shows another side of Javier. Another good side, that is. The opening track "You're The One" is the funkiest thing I've heard in a while...what a great way to start the album. This cd focuses on the R&B in him than his self titled debut did, but he definitely puts his own stank on it! The guitar he plays on the latin flavored track "Dance For Me" (my favorite track) could give Carlos Santana a run for his money. And "The Answer Is Yes" will take you on a rollercoaster of emotion and in the end, take you to church! This song is an even better experience live, especially when the audience becomes part of the song! You'll have to go to a show to see what I'm talking about. "Is This Love" is like nothing you've heard before...you just have to hear it.

Simply put, this is yet another amazing effort put forth by an amazing artist who not only has a set of pipes that put all these "pop" artists to shame, but he writes and produces as well. Definitely not some cookie cutter one dimensional singer, he's the real deal, a true artist who clearly shows his love and respect for music by putting his all into what he does. Catch him live and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

The reason why I started paying attention to Javier a few years ago is because he had a really catchy song out called "Crazy". So I picked up his self-titled album and highly enjoyed it, but apparently I was one of the only people that bought it. I didn't even know he HAD a second album, but I came across Left of Center one day, and I find myself enjoying IT as well.

The album starts off on the right track with the funky "You're the One". After that you'll be introduced to other noteworthy selections, like "Ways I'm Feeling U", "Poetry" and the Anthony Hamilton duet, "Count on Me". And while some people might think "Lovin' U" is a little too simple, it suits ME just fine. Also, for those pondering the quality of the material, "The Answer Is Yes" is aptly titled.

Even though "Dance for Me" (and its reggaeton remix) are blatant attempts to get onto 106 & Park, the rest of the album is prize material. But I wonder what version of the album I have because I don't have "Can I Talk to You" on here. Oh, well; Javier's self-titled album is a tad better, but Left of Center is definitely worth the purchase.

Anthony Rupert

I've been having this CD since it came out but never wrote a review on it. The CD is GREAT! I'm just glad that, now that Javier has won "The Voice", the world knows what I've known all along...Javier Colon is one of the best Voices in the game! Soo happy for him!

I love this CD. I've been listening to Javier for a few years now and he has never once disappointed me. He's talented and very underrated. I actually got the chance to see him live at Umass dartmouth a few weeks ago. He was fantastic!! Iw was happy and sad at the same time about the concert. Sad because most the students there had never heard of him or his music. Happy because if he was huge star, I would have never gotten the chance to have a great one on one conversation with him. He is as sweet as he seems. Also, he played a song that I requested. He was actually very surprised that I had even heard of it. The song is on his new album, "when".

Anyway, back to the CD. I love all the songs on there and I have been listening to all them almost everyday.

Now this is what Javier is capable of. Now i was a little disappointed on his first album because of the lack of variety on it. Well he must have got the message because this one has all kinds of different music on it. Ever since i heard "Indecent Proposal" on his myspace i had my calender marked for when Left Of Center dropped. So on the day it came out i went to like five different stores to buy this album, Target, Walmart, FYE, Best Buy, you name it, i went there, but no one had this album. And it has always been a tradition for me to buy artists albums the day they come out. So at this point i was pissed because i had been waiting so long for this album to come out and now no one has it. Well when i stopped at FYE i talked to one of the clerks and he said the reason most stores did not have very many if any copies of it was because his first album sold so poorly. So most stores only got a copy or two, and those were gone almost right away. So it got to the point where i had to order it over the internet because no one had it. So i did as much as i did not want to. But i finnally got it and listened to it all the way through and it was flawless. Front to back it was a great album. He changed his sound a little bit, (Which is a good thing) from accoustic R&B to more of a contempary R&B sound. Which helped him alot. The single (that no one heard) "Indecent Proposal" sounds so much better than anything on his previous album. It almost sounds like it could have been produced by the Underdogs. But there are other great tracks like the more upbeat dance like song "Is This Love" which is like to cause some happy feet. Everything about the song is good, his melodies, the stomp-clap beat, everything. And then another great track is the more mid tempo feel good track "Can I Talk To You" which just has the most intresting beat out of anything on the album. He even brought in a couple of big name features on this album in the soul stud R&B singer Anthony Hamilton on the heart felt "Count On Me" and then the reggaeton star Luna on the "Dance For Me Remix". But even despite this almost flawless album, he still did not debut in the hot 200 albums... that is horrible, especially considering he is on a big name record label. That is the one thing the record label needs to do, they need to promote Javier much better. For someone on Capitol Records to release such a good album and not have it even break the top 200 albums of the week... there is something wrong with Capitol Records staff because if they promoted Javier right, this could at least be a top 50 ablum. But none the less this is a stellar album. Javier made a huge improvement over his debut album to the one. Its got something for everyone on it. BUY IT!


Grade:
A-

Found out about Javier through Listmania. First to what people would want to know first. Yes, this brother has some pipes on him. He sangs with great range. On some songs he sometimes sound like Lil G of Silk. Lyrics: These are some of the most well-written songs I have heard in a long time. Nothing is trite or corning, or just said to fill in space. Style: R and B, up-tempo Latin, old school. It is that old school 70's sound that Musiq recreates on his songs. "The Answer is Yes" is a wonderfully touching song in which Javier is allaying the fears of his girlfriend by asking all of those questions about weather he will always be there with a resounding YES that backed up by, what sounds like, a gospel choir. Really, this CD has a sampler of many things that a true r and b lover wants. It is one of those truly rare discs where every song is a keeper. Buy it and pass on the word about this talented brother!

I have read some of the review on Javier second and found them mixed unlike the review from his first CD. He second CD has a totally different feel than his first. I found it to sound very similar to the other R&B artists I hear played on the radio endlessly that I try hard to get away from. I don't know if he took this new approach by choice or pressure from his record label to make him fit in with the young Hip Hop crowd or not. None of the songs on this CD stuck with me. I felt the CD was just put together overnight and not much thought went into this project. I listened to it based on the bass-lines and not the lycis to the songs, through I found the vocals to be very good. I would recommend it for the bass-lines ONLY.