Sean Kingston Albums (2)
What The Critics Say
The good news is that with Tomorrow, the Jamaican-born, Miami-raised singer Sean Kingston has matured from the precocious 16-year-old found on his debut into the much cooler and natural 19-year-old found here. Musically, he hasn't evolved a lick. This means the highly polished, Island-flavored, hip-hop-influenced R&B of his debut is back, although this time the gimmicky ideas come off as more clever than cute. With Kingston adjusting his swagger accordingly, his patois shouts of "What a gwaan!!" make the electro-disco "Fire Burning" much more charming than the Flo Rida and Black Eyed Peas singles it apes, adding a teen-driven, multi-culti flair that's represented by the slick dancehall avatar on the cover. The glorious "My Girlfriend" could be passed off as a nu-disco bootleg remix of some classic lovers rock track, and while the infamous Auto-Tune device is used frequently, Kingston has it turned up so ridiculously high that it fits right in with all the other futuristic sounds. Right in line with the mash-up style, Good Charlotte's punk-pop chorus is a drastic and fun shift during "Shoulda Let U Go" but special guest Wyclef blends in much more naturally, bringing his mature tropical voice to "Ice Cream Girl" and making it sound like New Edition hanging with Robert Palmer. Anchoring it all are a humorous acknowledgement of his weight gain on "Face Drop," a handful of reggae-pop tracks that are bright and pleasant, plus some stripped-down, campfire-on-the-beach ballads where the waves roll in as the singer delivers his sweet nothings. Tomorrow proves Kingston can provide a whole album's worth of pool-side entertainment even without the "Beautiful Girls"-sized single. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Sean Kingston'
Release Date 7/31/2007
Tracks 15
Label Beluga Heights/Epic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
When the 16-year-old singer Sean Kingston came on the scene it was with the single "Colors 2007," a nightmare walkin'/psychopath talkin' type track with dramatic bells, hardcore swagger, and a couple shoutouts to his Jamaican homeland and homeboys. Then came "Beautiful Girls," a pop-rap tune that took a bit of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" and twisted into a pouty "she left me" lament that used the word "suicidal" as if it meant "kinda sad." If you thought "Beautiful Girls" was the greatest sin against urban music since "Fergalicious" then Kingston's self-titled debut is not for you. The album claims "Colors 2007" as a bonus track and then loads up on enough gimmicks, high-profile samples, hooks, and ridiculous lyrics that it's the textbook definition of love it or hate it and shouldn't be approached by anyone who considers themselves "hardcore." Good news is that a slick swagger suits Kingston much better than the hardcore baller stance, and that he's more at ease comes through loud and clear. The unexpected side effect of this move towards pop and polish is that the Jamaican roots pay off splendidly as he takes more of a dancehall attitude towards his vocals, and trades reverent for playful, and serious for exciting. "Me Love" reclaims Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er" for the island of Jamaica with finger-snaps and glitter. "Got No Shorty" bounces on the "I Ain't Got Nobody" melody and offers "I'm lookin for love/Not askin' for much/Just a fine little shorty/With a big ol butt" without any shame. Paula DeAnda does an excellent Mariah Carey impression on the sunshine-bright "There's Nothin" while "I Can Feel It" McGyvers a great puppy-love song out of everyday lyrics, a Phil Collins sample, and an air horn. Breezy, feel-good guilty pleasures abound on this lightweight pool-party of an album. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
