MUSIC REVIEW : NE-YO 'YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN' INCLUDING 3 EXCLUSIVE TRACKS

When Ne-Yo said he was tired of "straight urban music" and started name-checking The Beatles and Billy Joel as influences for "The Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam), it shook up some people. After all, he helped build that sound - writing "Irreplaceable" for Beyoncé and "Hate That I Love You" for Rihanna, as well as "So Sick" for himself.

The alarm was unnecessary, even as two release delays compounded fears. Yes, he expands the boundaries of urban music slightly, adding some Euro-influenced beats for the first danceable single, "Closer," and some upbeat synths for the bouncy "Miss Independent." But for the bulk of the album, Ne-Yo has simply honed his hit-making skills, churning out one memorable melody after another, building an album that finally lives up to the potential he only hinted at on his first two releases, both lyrically and vocally.

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