Jaheim was a brave soul to drop a new album on the same day that the band Sade dropped theirs after a ten-year hiatus. But, upon review, there was no need for him to be fearful. Vocally and production-wise, Jaheim's new CD Another Round is top-notch. This record is fun, energetic and a perfect vehicle to showcase the quality of his voice that conveys the tone of each song to the hilt.

My personal favorites were the upbeat "Her" and the sexy ballad "Finding My Way Back to You," which gets me excited to hear the return of the ballad that is not an assault on my femininity or a corny ass ode to smashing. "Ain't Leavin' Without You" is also a highlight, with Jaheim's back-up singers providing crisp vocal support and Jaheim bringing vocal thunder. A remix of the song featuring Jadakiss, the video for which we featured earlier in the week, is tacked onto the end of the album. I would quickly suggest that you listen to the original and skip the remix and clichéd video vixens and club setting truly undermine the musical quality of the song altogether. As you listen, you will find the bass on this joint is tight as well, lending the retro sound that you will certainly enjoy.

"Bed Is Listening" is hands down the best use of metaphor in song on the CD. In the song, Jaheim cautions his lover to reconsider being quick to tell her friends and family the bad things about their relationship because, ultimately, "the bed is listening." What a creative way to convey, rather than say that "if-you-tell-your-family-anymore-crap-about-our-business-then-you-will-be-missing-on-my-nook-nook-because-I'm-leaving-your-ass."

This album will definitely crossover into mainstream areas of Pop-ville if cuts like "Another Round," which is saturated in Usher-like tendencies, is released as a single. Like Crossover King Usher, Jaheim is really a vocalist, meaning, he can SANG. So, you can forgive him for "Another Round" when he so brilliantly presents "Till It Happens to You," which echoes with memories of Luther Vandross--who I would bet is one of his vocal idols. If one song on the disc had to be crowned the next "Just In Case," however, it would definitely be "Her". This song is hotness.

My biggest gripe about Another Round is that It's too short! Jaheim has a great voice and it would have been nice to have gotten at least 13 tracks from him that showcased him on more ballads like "Finding My Way Back."

Long-time fans of Jaheim will definitely enjoy this new album. Those not familiar with him or who only are familiar with songs like "Just in Case" will definitely find more to love about this artist. This is a solid yet standard R&B collection. What that means is that you will not get any type of cerebral massage as you are listening--no deep lyrics, creative instrumentation or out-of-the-box use of keys or notes. So, for musical elitists who debate the difference between Monk and Coltrane or are fed-up with R&B, this may not be the CD you would gravitate towards. But, it wouldn't hurt to give it a spin. You may have fun.

Jaheim Another Round [Amazon][iTunes]