Customer Reviews

Stronger Everyday

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Jon B has been on the scene for awhile. Although I liked "Someone To Love" w/Babyface, I didn't buy any of his music until I heard "Don't Say" and "They Don't Know". Once I purchased "Cool Relax", I went back and purchased "Bonafide" and eventually "Pleasures U Like" once that CD was released. Jon B has been releasing quality music everytime that his CDs are released but for some reason he doesn't get the same quality with his marketing and A&R team.

First of all, anyone that has followed Jon B's CDs knows that this man knows how to make a slow jam. You can go from "Someone To Love" to Cool Relax's "They Don't Know", "Don't Say" and "I Do" to Pleasure U Like's "Overjoyed" w/Faith Evans, "Boy Is Not A Man", "Lonely Girl" and "Now That I'm With You". So if you know this is an artist's skill then he shouldn't be releasing uptempo tracks everytime he comes out with a CD. Although, Jon B has improved in that department.

With "Stronger Everyday", Jon B proves why he has been in the r&b game as long as he has. The CD starts off with a Just Blaze scorcher with "Everytime". Just Blaze shows why he has been on the Rocafella payroll for awhile. Jon B comes with the vocals and the late Dirt McGirt adds a nice verse to the track as well. "Lately" has Jon B on another uptempo track with notcieable background vocals from Tank. "Lately" has Jon B reminiscing on what used to happen in the Benz and in other places with a particular young lady. Mike City writes and produces "Hands On U" as Jon B shows that he has improved his uptempo skills. His strong points have always been on slow jams and on midtempo songs. "Part 2" is a sequel to Cool Relax's "Are U Still Down" with 2 Pac. Johnny "J" works the same magic on "Part 2" that he did with the original song. If 2 Pac was still alive then I am sure that him and Jon B may have actually done another sequel that would have been as hot as this track. The title track has Tank joining Jon B on an old school beat as the two talk about things that sound like may have happened in past relationships or even current ones. Scarface joins Jon B on "Thru The Fire" as Jon B tells a tale about the street life to go with Scarface's rap. Anyone who is familiar with Scarface knows that he is always bringing the heat on tracks. Jon B starts to finally slow the tempo down on "What In The World". With this track Jon B displays why he works with slow jams so well. He just has a knack of mixing the right tracks with the words that he writes most of the time. On this track, Jon B is trying to figure out what is really going on in this relationship. Women will definitely enjoy "Multiple". If you have problems understanding what Jon B is talking about on this track then you may have to just go back to elementary school. "What I Like About You" has Jon B paired with Babyface once again. Jon B sings all the lead vocals and Babyface is featured with Jon B on the background vocals. Although, it's hard to capture the success of "Someone To Love", if this song ever saw the light of the day, it would come close.

The only negative thing that I can say about "Stronger Everyday" honestly is to tell Jon B to stay off of the microphone when it comes to rapping. On "Patience" Jon B tries to rap on a verse and he just needs to stick to singing.

I know that Jon B is going through things because he is now on Sanctuary Urban, but when you have the talent that Jon B has why sign an artist that you're not going to market and try to promote. If you like past Jon B CDs then you will definitely like "Stronger Everyday". You can play the entire Cd without having to skip past a track. This CD is right up there with his last 2 CDs, "Cool Relax" and "Pleasures U Like".

James' Top 5

1) Are You Still Down Part 2 w/2 Pac
2) Everytime w/Dirt McGirt
3) Multiple
4) Thru The Fire w/Scarface
5) What In The World

Does Jon B. have to get a weave and become a member of (now defunct) Destiny's Child to get Matthew Knowles to promote this joint???? I'm very unhappy with Urban Contemporary Radio these days, when there are projects like this that go unnoticed while the same old tiredness is in heavy rotation...What's really goin' on in the industry when songs like "Lately" or "What In The World" get no love??? I could go on because nearly every track is worthy of airplay, but alas, the industry lets me down yet again...
12/17/05...Over a year later and I still play this like I just bought it...And wonder of wonders, while never a fan of ODB (rest in peace), I find myself no longer skipping "Everytime", the first track of the album on which he is featured...Still don't understand the business, just hope folks read reviews like this and decide to take chances on the reccomendations of true fans rather than rely on "heavy rotation" lists programmed by the unadventurous and truly unimaginative...

Whoa! It's been a while but it certainly was worth the wait for me. I gotta say, the whole album is well produced and I certainly echo what others have said about the publicity team backing this album i.e. whats up with the poor publicity? Stronger Everyday is head and shoulders above today's so-called RnB offerings.

This year, Stronger Everyday has given Usher's Confessions good company in terms of contemporary beats with the exception that Jon's at the same time gives us the reminiscent grooves of the nineties, both vocals and beats. It's hard to pick any favourite track right now but while each song has contemporary equivalents they rise above a bit more because of the intimacy of the lyrics and the as usual amazing backing vocal harmony arrangements that only Babyface can do slightly better (and the work they do together on 'What I like About You' is just golden).

The production is excellent and the added juice provided by Just Blaze, Ol' Dirty Bastard (Dirt McGirt), Tupac, Scarface, Tank, Beenie Man and Farena, and the mandatory Babyface joint combined with Jon's smoky, silky vocals lace up all the tracks up tight and just right. The tracks are mostly up-tempo beats for your ride and the clubs, with a few slow seductive tracks of vintage Jon B that won't be out of place on his Pleasures U Like album.

If you've been a fan of Jon B's since 1995 with Bonafide then prepare for the new Jon and his stories in 2004. If theres one minor gripe, its that he didn't have a duet with a female star this time around like he did with Faith Evans the last time. If you've never seriously listened to Jon then this album is a great start but go back to the previous albums if you can to witness the evolution of this true-blue RnB groovemeister. Not only does Jon B belong to the elite list of today's RnB masters that include D'Angelo, Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq, R. Kelly, his talents in writing and producing means he leads with them too. This is one album you can't sleep on. Get this album and give Jon your props.

This is my new favorite Jon B album. This album is Jon B, being Jon B...smooth, laid back, passionate, natural, classy. His "ear" for quality music shines through, as it always does. This album is more mature overall; deeper lyrics, more substantial/better suited for his style beats and track order. I have loved all of his previous efforts, but this album is the best representation of him as an artist. Tracks range from up tempo to mid-slow tempo; this is not a ballad laden effort (ballad fans might be somewhat disappointed). Poor promotion; as usual, this album will have to promote itself. Coming at a time when RnB was in desperate need of a new leader, Jon's album demonstrates that quality music in this genre still exists.
Personal Favorites (In no order)
- I'm Right Here
- Patience
- Lay it down
- You can push play and walk away; basically...tracks melt together in a smooth easy to digest manner.

- This album is not like any other Jon B album; it is better...If you resist change, expect this album to disappoint.

Jon B is one of the greatest R&B artists of all time. And yet for some reason he keeps going unrecognized. This album is just and good as the others, showing that with time you can accomplish something amazing. It's sad that he does not have a steady single in heavy rotation on billboard, because the single "Everytime" is good! The hugest surprise was that he came out with a song with Tupac Shakur. I did not know they had recorded more than one song together, (or might this just be something Tupac sampled), but it is one of the stronger songs on the album. In his thank you's Jon gives shout out to the bay area, than you much I'm from S.F. so it's all good! This album is R&B classic, and even though it will not do as well as Usher's crap Confessions, it's just because Usher is all that glitter, Jon B is more tradional, with damn good writing ability. Buying this album will not be a waste, I picked it up the day it came out and yes, very much well worth it! "What I Like About You" featuring Babyface, is probably a favorite track on the album! Don't let Jon go unrecognized, he deserves more!

Jon B. is one of the most talented and most slept on musicians in the industry. From his beginnings with Babyface to his new more mellow/laid back vibe -- Jon is still putting it down with his new album STRONGER EVERYDAY. I haven't had much time to live with it, but I feel that people judging the album this early (the day of release) aren't giving it a fair chance.

At first listen the album's production is a little bit lacking, but only when compared to the phenominal PLEASURES U LIKE (probably his best, IMHO) and COOL RELAX. Apparently, Jon has stepped back from the boards this go-round and enlisted outside producers to handle the majority of the production, which may be the cause for the minor inconsistencies. Jon steps away from his formula to craft more uptempo joints on the first half of the album, as heard on the tremendously enjoyable feel-god cut "One More Dance", where Jon captializes on the recent step craze, but in a smoother form than R.Kelly. Songs like "Through the Fire" f/ Scarface, "What In the World", "Az U", the smooth-melodic "Part 2" f/ 2Pac, and "Multiple" cannot be denied as they flow right with the vibe Jon B. fans are looking for. Of course the title track, featuring another slept on vet, Tank, is a heat rock. I commend Jon for stepping away from his formula in an attempt to recreate his sound, especially in the midst of all the label drama.

Hopefully, folks at his label will recognize the talent and marketability of this cat and begin to back him more. This is just another huge step in the midst of Jon's incredible career. If you love smooth R&B/Soul, Jon knows the two genres better than most. I suggest you pick his new joint up immediately.

One

As usual, Jon B. has put out another gem. I love nearly every song. However, it was an adjustment as his voice has gotten a little deeper, but the man still sounds good. I'm a big fan and it's heartbreaking to know that this & his last album were both underpromoted. Tracks that definitely stick out are Multiple, Lay It Down, Everytime in which Dirt McGirt takes over singing duties at the end & the last track.

Jon B - Stronger Everyday (Sanctuary, 2004)

Fresh off of Epic Records (but still with Edmonds Record Group), Jon Buck releases Stronger Everyday on Sanctuary Records (Beyoncé's dad's label). Although Pleasures U Like is a tough album to follow, there are still many rewindable joints provided by Jon.

You know you're in for a treat if even the album intro is hot. It then leads into the Just Blaze-produced, Dirt McGirt-assisted "Everytime", which is another highlight. Like his last album, there are guest stars aplenty like Scarface on the interesting "Through the Fire" and Tank on the title track, which is actually my favorite song. 2Pac "appears" for part two of "Are U Still Down" called, well, "Part II", but anyone who bought Pac's Until the End of Time album knows that his verse was last heard on a song called "Happy Home", so I don't know who really should claim it.

Jon B knows what his fans want so he gives us "Multiple", "Lay It Down" and "Before It's Gone", which are all great baby-makers. He also loves to party, so there are songs like "One More Dance". But in the course of sixteen tracks, the material starts to wear thin once all of the women are approached in the club and sexed down. Like the reviewer below me said, all Jon mostly sings about is "girl, I saw you from across the room" and "you won't believe what I'm gonna do to you". This is why the second to last track, "What I Like About U" (featuring Babyface on the chorus), falters because by that point you've heard it all before.

The album also loses steam by including "What in the World", which has good lyrics but the song is dreary. Furthermore, the remix to "Everytime" is unnecessary. Still, Jon B proves to be in the game with this album (hey Jon, any chance on releasing that Jack Herrera album??). -EJR

I bought the CD not to long ago. I wasn't to sure what to expect from it. After "They Don't Know", I was hooked on this man. His lyrics could fit any mood. I must say though, I bought the CD for "What I Like About You". That song made me run out and buy the whole thing. That track sets this man apart from others. It talks about true, pure love. Most R&B artist these days don't understand that. But Jon B. with his old school background, gets down to the unscathed feelings. If you like Jon B. and have some of his other albums, GO OUT AND GET "STRONGER EVERYDAY". You won't be disappointed

I am a big Jon B fan. I own every one of his albums and watched this cat grow from the Bonifide album. He is such a great producer/writer/musician. This is a solid effort after the much liked Pleasure U Like which was also a solid effort. Stronger Everyday, like Pleasure U Like are CDs you can listen to non-stop. I love how Jon B has a hip-hop/R&B sound.

Every song on this album is a banger worthy of radio play, but I do love Multiple a lot, on this track he singing about how many times he can make his girl cum. I also like the track he did with Babyface, What I Like About You, that song is a throwback R&B joint that just sound great. Patience and AZ U are tracks also I seem to enjoy with great lyrics and awesome beats.

The guest appearances are on point R.I.P ODB (Dirt McGirt) and 2Pac.

Regardless of Jon B lack of promotion, Stronger Everyday is worth purchasing and should have been multi-platinum. I hope he keeps blessing his fans with more much needed music!