Director

Avant

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: April 25, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000EGEJM0
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,762 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Avant has been trying to climb out from under comparisons with R. Kelly--his brother in bettering the average guy's chance at a booty call--since he arrived on the R&B scene nearly a decade ago. Director, his fourth disc, is his shot at shifting the effort into overdrive: The title refers not only to his executive-producer turn here, but to the overall reigning in of career disillusionment. Prior management was ditched in favor of the current team, which brought with it the top-tier production of Jermaine Dupri and Rodney Jerkins. And on came the collaborators: Lil' Wayne, the Pussycat Dolls, Lloyd Banks, and Dupri himself turn in memorable tokens of support. Hard to ignore, though, is the fact that Avant still sounds like R. Kelly, whether it's when he's cramming too many syllables into a single line (the future ladies' man anthem "This Is Your Night") or, more often, when he's just doing his Avant thing, which is spinning a smooth-soul vocal into pure velvet ("Lie About Us," "Now You Got Someone"). So the campaign for distinction is a bust, but a little stylistic copycatting can go a long way: "Exclusive," the Lloyd Banks number, bumps along to a flashy-cool beat that urban radio ought not to ignore, and "You Know What" is a dirty-sweet knee-weakener. The rest rolls along like a carriage ride before a romantic dinner, which is another way of saying that R&B fans will want to linger over Director's every last cut. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I'm Your Director, It's Getting Deep", May 26, 2006

By	Kalie A. Gipson "Word" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll be honest. The very first Avant song I heard was "Don't Take Your Love Away", which came out a couple of years ago. This was released on his third album "Private Room". I thought the song was alot better than most R&B out at the time (even Usher, for I didn't like his "Confessions" that much). So I decided to check out the album, and also his previous works. "Private Room" was great, "My Thoughts", which was his very first album, was probably his best, while "Ecstasy", his second album, could've used more work. Now Avant has released his fourth album, entitled "Director". I can see where others may say that he sounds too much like R. Kelly; however, I believe that Avant comes into his own on this album. I also believe that Avant is really underrated. Not too many people will say Avant when they're asked who are some of the best singers today. He may not be one of the best, but he's definitely a good singer/artist. "Director" proves it.

The album starts off strong with the opener "So Many Ways". "This Is Your Night" is the perfect jam for the bedroom. Avant slows things down as he tells us ladies that he knows we're tired of some of the things guys may do and say but tonight is our night and he's going to make up for it. Avant's sexy vocals almost make this track perfect. "You Know What" is the single off the album, featuring Lil Wayne. This cut may not appeal to everyone, as it seems to have that cliche, upbeat R&B sound to it (especially since it features a rapper, which most R&B singles nowadays do). I usually don't like too many tracks like this but I love this one. Even Lil Wayne (who I'm not that big of a fan of) doesn't keep me from listening to it. Good choice for a single too, in my opinion. "Four Minutes" is the typical song about needing just a little bit of time to convince your partner to stay before they move on to someone else. The track is nice, but there are many songs on the album that are better than it. "Exclusive" is a nice uptempo track featuring G-Unit artist Lloyd Banks. The beat is nice and Banks drops a good verse (even though I am not a G-Unit fan). "Right Place, Wrong Time" has got to be one of my favorites on the album. Avant slows things down again, and I just love the chorus ("Right place, wrong time, I'm sitting here stuck in the middle of a masquerade with you"). The next track "Grown A$$ Man" keeps the good tracks coming, as Avant definitely proves he is a grown man. The cut is very sexy and the vocals are sure to make any woman's knees buckle (mine did). This is another one of my favorites (If not my favorite). "Director" makes for two straight sexy cuts. You can hear the chorus to this track at the beginning of the album and a couple more times throughout, but it works best here. Avant again lets us ladies know that he doesn't need a video tape or camera to make a love scene. "Lie About Us", a duet with Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, is a smooth track with a very nice chorus. "Imagination" is a very solid tune. It's probably one of the best tracks on here. The chorus is great and this could be a possible choice for the next single. "Now You Got Someone" is pleasing to the ears and "GPSA (Ghetto Public Service Announcement)" is a decent track to end the album with. It's a collaboration with Jermain Dupri, who portrays a gangbanger and Avant is trying to tell him to do better things with his life before it's gone.

There are only a few suspect tracks on this release. They start with the "Stickwitu Urban Remix" with the Pussycat Dolls of course. I'm not a fan of the original, or the PCD's as artists for that matter (I've never been a big fan of female singers in general, with the exception of a few). So this track is skip material for me, but if you like the original, you'll probably like this one as well. The very next song is also skip material, called "With You". The production is lackluster and the album could've done better without it. The only other song that can be considered mediocre (atleast to me) is "Mr. Dream". The beat kind of threw me off a bit; especially with the track coming in right after "Imagination". It's got a Hip-Hop vibe to it, but I don't like it. I can kind of relate to the woman he's talking to, but this cut just doesn't sound right to me.

Other than the afforementioned tracks, this album is great. I think this is his best since "My Thoughts". The lyrics do not lack, the production is fine for an R&B album, and the guest appearences add even more to it. As I've said, Lil Wayne, Lloyd Banks, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jermain Dupri all come correct. Avant fans and R&B fans alike will love this album. Avant has the ability to be a superstar and it's too bad he hasn't broke out yet (other than a few hits he's had, he's been practically unheard of). So I say go ahead and support Avant and pick this up because you won't be disappointed at all. 4 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best album yet , April 25, 2006

By	G. Diddy "R.Kelly Fan" (essex, co. new jersey) - See all my reviews

Ive always been a big Avant fan. His singles are always good and he's always been smooth and a good singer. The knock on him though was he sounded too much like R.Kelly and his albums were subpar. Well people im here to tell you this new album is incredible. Im so glad he's working with the underdogs and darkchild. The album has stellar production and some really good songwriting. This album sets a mood and I wish he put "Can't wait" on this gem. If you like "4 minutes" you ll love this album..


Favorite joints so far are "Director" "Now you got someone" "Grown Ass Man" :)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Album, Not His Best!, May 14, 2006

By	Rayford C. Kelley Jr. (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good album, but his last two were better. The title doesn't really make sense and the song don't follow the title either. The song with J.D isn't that great and the stickwitu remix doesn't belong on the album, especially not in the middle (should have been a bonus track).

4 minutes is nothing unique, and has been done about a million times already and it won't translate into record sales

I'm a loyal fan, but I was little dissapointed.

Hopefully he get's better production the next go round, the promotion was good, but the album is ok. You can't fool the listeners!