Montell Jordan | Let It Rain

You know, its not easy to put together a solid traditional R&B project that, you would hope, gain the respect of the new urban music listener of the 2000’s. Maybe even the later part of the 90’s day & age. We are light years away from a time when older urban music listeners depended on the balladeering talents of Gerald Alston, Walter & Scotty, Paul Laurence & Kashif to get that sensitive, sensual or heartbroken point of view across. Luther Vandross did just that. And he was committed. His legacy remains with us every time we hear a new ballad approach the airwaves. Excuse me, the airwaves are not committed to playing it back for those listeners like they used to. I meant to say, when a true, honest balladeer steps up to the podium & introduce himself to an audience expecting to hear those streams of passionate ballads again.

It takes some time & effort to dream up a great love song. It conjures passion. It draws on personal experiences. It elevates the vocalist or songwriters ability to completely & intellectually craft a special poem into perennial musical magic.

Montell Jordan came a long way. Montells’ very 1st hit, “This Is How We Do It” will long stand as his mainstream classic hit. A long way from then till now, his 7th chance “Let It Rain“ from Higher Level Entertainment, brings in one startling deal: He plans to not go away without giving us his, what he believes to be, quality music.

Why do I feel that way? Most of his music best remembered ended up being the ballads as opposed to the wishful thinking of high octane club music. OK, has he done anything near the capacity of “This Is How We Do It”? Maybe the follow up “Something For The Honeyz”. The problem? Is it something you are going back to listen to, or do you want something that will stand a period of time. Longevity.

“Let It Rain” contains a great detail of slow ballads, while on the other hand services the new urban R&B crowd with tracks like “Let It Rain” & “Left Alone”. But it all changes aptitude when Montell decides to go with a different game plan. That plan was to generate slow songs parallel to the borders of the quiet storm. Maybe he did research himself and discovered a lack of compositions for the format. Or maybe he knew his hidden gifts resides prodigy to his true character for music. He wrote & composed ballads for many other big named talents in the industry. But what about his time?

Go to “Can’t Live Without You”. Pay attention to lyrics like ‘I gotta have you…..I Adore You….My Love Belongs to You…….Can’t Live Without You’. Its very simple & well doctored. “Stay With Me”, “I Like (The Way)”, “Not No More” & “I Cried” made sure of it. Delicate, evenly composed montage of songs that impressed me. I didn’t hear any profanities or vulgar lyrics neither.

A couple of mid beat songs made the cut: “I Need A Girl” & “Your Love (Crazy 4 You)” kept the interest going. “This is How We Roll” did the same. Good groove to it. Only slightly as I’m already biased by the slow ballads. The finishing touch of “Comatose” was quite interesting.

Only time will tell about this one. If Montell wants to take the torch off the hands of younger male R&B vocalists who are fooling around & partake into the atmosphere of slow songs, then I encourage him to go for his. It’s missing right now. And I rate Montells’ new music 4-. Not caring too much for his fast tracks. He kept it mellow, people. And that’s what counts. He’s still a young man & have accomplished much. Keep going.

George Strand
The Urban Music Scene