Just Me

Just Me review

McKnight’s new product is a massive labor

There is no sense in lay out one more time the main events in Brian McKnight’s biography, flooding him with epithets once again and describe features of his music style. Those who have been following the singer’s artistic life know all of it in detail. They must be also aware that in summer 2011 the artist was going to and eventually has released his new album, number fourteen, by the way. The record bears a very short and somewhat banal title, Just Me; but the content is far longer and sports Brian’s well-known supreme quality. The man’s new offer is a double CD, the first part presenting his freshly penned songs to a total of ten pieces, and the second restoring his amazing show given as part of promotion for the said album. Both components of Just Me are good in their own ways. McKnight could hardly have prepared a more beautiful and generous present to his fans, for what can be better than getting new songs from your favorite on the one hand, and having a collection of concert versions of his best works?

Each CD has its high value

OK, the first CD is actually the album Just Me itself bringing the whole selection of tricks and treats from R&B maestro Brian McKnight. As he has warmed up on the opener Temptation, executed in his trademark manner, the singer offers you’re the second song, Fall 5.0, as the main candidate to the album’s brightest highlight. A catchy melody makes this one a genuine pop-hit right from the start. Throughout the whole record, Brian recollects what gave him inspiration and music guidance when he started off. The singing style of Without You raises immediately comparisons with Stevie Wonder, while Careless Whisper is a nice entertainment with jazzy core. Surprising is the highly rhythmic, almost rock and roll track Husband 2.1. Still, all the songs on Just Me are united by a charming harmony of music sentimentality and vocal masculinity. The second CD resurrects a hypnotizing atmosphere of Brian McKnight’s acoustic gig arranged shortly before this release. Here you get most of the singer and least of everything else. The thirty tracks include his own best efforts as well covers to the songs by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and some other stars.

Wish master

It is not a rare occasion when musicians fill in the big gap between two studio releases with a concert record. Long and hard times of waiting shared by their listeners turn into disappointment and sometimes even anger, which is not so weird: the CD is new, but the content is not. There are situations when concert records are so nicely made that even known songs sound fresh and regain their power and influence. Brian McKnight did it even better. He recorded an excellent studio album without a single filler, and prepared a CD with an unsurpassed live performance where he gave the audience everything he could. It should not be forgotten that this big double effort is available only two years after McKnight’s previous release done in 2009, also a studio record. This is how much the singer cares about his audience never leaving them too long without new offers. No wonder, that apart from numerous official rewards that are earned with his huge talent, Brian McKnight earned the love of his listeners with his professionalism.