R&B singer-songwriter Brian McKnight returns to the scene with his latest release Exodus on The SoNo Recording Group. Serving as his sixteenth album in a twenty-eight-year career, McKnight has hinted that it will be his last album of original material. McKnight opens the album with “Unbelievable,” before transitioning into the singles from the album, which all appear at the beginning of the album.
“Neva Get Enuf of U” is up first and opens up with similar production to Tim & Bob. McKnight guides through the song with ease, and I can see this song being remixed with EDM production for fans of that sound.
“’42 (Grown Up Tipsy)” is up next and is more of a slow jam than the preceding song. Naturally, given the title, one would expect McKnight to venture into a sound to cater to today’s youth. Still, the singer keeps the mood grown and sexy. “Nobody” is a classic wedding ballad that McKnight is known for, while “Bad” is a nice steppers groove.
“When I’m Gone” seems like McKnight’s farewell song to his fans as he uses a lost love as a motif to bid farewell to his fans. McKnight has always excelled more at ballads and slow jams, and his latest release is no different. “Stay on Your Mind” and “Sexy” are better songs than some of the 2020’s releases from other singers.
Listening to the album, it’s clear that McKnight’s new marriage to Dr, Leilani Malia Mendoza played a part in his writing process. The songs “Hula Girl (Leilani)” and “My Baby” are clearly about her. I also commend McKnight for the album’s closing track, a cover one of Sting’s classic songs, Fragile, and giving it some R&B flavor.
Brian McKnight has had a fantastic career that any singer, no matter what the genre would love to have. While McKnight has sixteen albums, it’s surprising that he’s still releasing new music. He could easily make a living touring off his old material. If Exodus does prove to be the singer’s swan song, not only is the album a decent addition to an already impressive catalog, it’s also a great closer.
Best Tracks: “Stay On You Mind,” “Sexy,” “’42 (Grown Up Tipsy)” “Neva Get Enuf of U
Final Grade B
This past Friday marked the 40th anniversary of “The Voice,” a.k.a. Whiney Houston’s self-titled debut album hitting stores. So, in that regard, it was only right to give Nippy her flowers for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
For this weekend’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to take a trip to Motor City and show some love to soul singer Dwele. It was 2005, and I was living in the UK as part of my Air Force enlistment. Dwele had just released his second album, “Some Kinda,” enjoying some chart success with the lead single “I Think I Love U,” by Mike City.
The remainder of the album maintains a classic R&B vibe, showcasing the group’s signature sound. One of the standout tracks is “Maybe Tomorrow,” featuring the iconic Phyllis Hyman. It transforms difficult circumstances into positive outcomes—essentially making lemonade from lemons.
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