Donell JonesLife Goes OnReview

Time to set the mood, dim the lights and bring out the chilled wine because our favourite stateside crooner is back with his third album entitled Life Goes On. The Chicago-bred artist returns laden with more smooth and sexy tales of love and romance.

With his charming storytelling style and silky vocal cords, you'd be forgiven for dismissing him as just another ballad singer. But don't get it twisted Donell Jones is not your average run-of-the-mill soul singer belting out those sensual grooves we know so well. Apart from being an accomplished songwriter and producer, he stands slightly distanced from his peers, due to his innate ability to "keep it street" and produces an attractive cocktail made of raw hip-hop flavour mixed with heartfelt soul.

This album dishes up a balanced diet of mid tempo cruising in-your-car joints, alongside those dangerously suave seductive ballads; echoing the perfect 21st century life soundtrack. He provides a greater sense of musical sophistication with the apparent use of strings and live percussions, marking a refreshing change stylistically that is likely to appeal to the fans.

The first track released is "You Know That I Love You"; an ode to his long time girlfriend. It's an instant, summertime track, enticing you with its subtle soothing keyboard intro, a sure-fire way to draw the ladies in. However as first singles go it's not quite on level of the superb 1999 chartbuster "You Know What's Up." Another cruise-control track is "Put Me Down"where an impatient Mr Jones seems a little eager to take things to "that next level" (hmm enough said). Lyrically speaking the most noticeable track is "Life Goes On" where a pensive Donell sings of the consequences of imprisonment on his relationship. Other notable tracks include, "Guilty By Suspicion" and "Girls Friend" both comprise of that discernible Jones vocal trademark signature.

After winning an American music award for his 1999 sophomore album Where I Wanna Be, our mellow ghetto poet is out to prove that he can take us even further with Life Goes On. However, I'm not entirely convinced this is the one to do it. With the exception of "Girls Friend" it starts to falter towards the end of the album, and you can't help thinking you've eaten all your dessert before you've had the main meal. Nevertheless, for the sweet toothed amongst us its still a worthy album to have in your collection. No doubt dedicated R&B fans will be at the record store as you read this.