Departure - Taio Cruz > Reviews > ALL ABOARD

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Near - perfect
Disadvantages:	International success will require more

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

===ADETAYOR AYOWALE CRUZ ONILE-ERE===

Going unknown to many, Taio Cruz is emerging as one of the UK's biggest exports, as despite his lack of exposure meaning he can hardly even get mobbed at small-time concerts in public parks, as a producer and songwriter there are few to challenge him. Born to a Nigerian father and a Brazilian mother, Taio has no lack of cultural background to turn to for inspiration, even though he was nurtured in the concrete playground of London, England. Taio is closing in on his twenty-sixth birthday in late April, and after sticking to releasing about a single a year, he must have finally decided that as the founder and CEO of Rokstarr Music, his debut album would finally get a release. One things for sure, you should not take this artist on face value as there is much more to him than medicore vocals.

'Departure' was released in mid-March, and with a lack of promotion has only peaked at #17 in the UK album charts.

"A STYLISH, INVENTIVE DEBUT" - THE GUARDIAN

• 01, I'll Never Love Again (3.51), 3*
• 02, I Just Wanna Know (4.00), 3*
• 03, I Can Be (3.54), 4*
• 04, I Don't Wanna Fall in Love (3.24), 3*
• 05, So Cold (3.29), 4*
• 06, Fly Away (4.05), 3*
• 07, Driving Me Crazy (3.16), 5*
• 08, Moving On (3.53), 5*
• 09, Come on Girl ft Luciana (3.36), 4*
• 10, Never Gonna Get Us (3.54), 2*
• 11, She's Like a Star (3.39), 5*
• 12, Can't Say Go (3.23), 5*

Many would deem Taio Cruz to be an American-inspired artist, especially considering that he has worked as a producer across the pond, and whilst there are a lot of tracks named on the album similar to well-known tracks released by 'bigger' name artists, what Taio does well is add his own unique take to each track. Take for example his debut single, 'I Just Wanna Know', which is the opposite to a Mario Winans track ('I Don't Wanna Know'). This was the first track released from Taio, and whilst it was well receive it did not really get him known as a bigname to look out for in the music industry. When released in 2006 it peaked on the UK charts at #29, however with a slightly 'underground' fanbase the track did manage to stay charted for a total of six weeks. Two years on the track does feel like a dated version of the song by Mario, his american-counterpart, however it is a track that no artist would disagree with having on their discography.

2007 would see Taio's second single release, 'Moving On', that had a more individual message that his previous down-tempo release and mixed a more exciting beat with an emotional message. With the artists songwriting ability beginning to emerge, this song was reminiscent of what a British version of Ne-Yo ('So sick of love songs') might do. The track charted at #26 in the charts, and was all about having the ability to move on from a relationship, probably making it one of the easiest tracks on the album to relate to. Anything that could earn the artist a tag similar to that of Ne-Yo's must be worthy of five stars as well, and whilst I hope I haven't been overly generous with my stars in this review, the amount of different objectives Taio pulls off on one album makes this seem as though it should be at least his third album rather than his debut.

"I JUST WANNA TURN YOU, ME, INTO AN US" - TAIO CRUZ

2008 an up-tempo song would be launched to get some radio play and accompany the release of the album, this was 'Come on Girl', the only track on the album to feature another British artist, or any sort of artist for that matter. This has became Taio's biggest release to date, peaking at #5, however this is not indicative of it being his best single. I have quickly grown tired of the track and its American car-chase video, however Luciana's dirty vocals do add an extra take to the song that will keep you listening at least up until her verse. After three listens you will probably think this is the perfect track, but after thirty you will be more tiresome of the whole robotic undercurrent.

'Driving Me Crazy' is one of those tracks that I was talking about being named after similar tracks from American artists (think Britney Spears) and this track is the closest Taio comes to sounding like he could be Justin Timberlake, and if there was to be a track to launch him into the mainstream American market I would imagine it should be this. 'She's like a Star' (similar to a Corrine Bailey Rae release) has an introduction that could be straight out of that other artists release, however Taio makes the track his own, and in the sunny weather I was more than happy to have this pumpin' out this afternoon. 'Can't Say Go' is a track I loved before I'd heard because I thought the title was incredibly clever, and I think it is amazing that at the end of the album Taio is still churning out grade A tracks. It makes me wonder how Taio is ever going to be able to select his next single release.

An album that never drops below three stars, no wonder Taio Cruz is becoming so critically acclaimed, and this is probably going to end up being one of the most underestimated albums of the year. Maybe one day someone will stumble across 'Never Gonna Get Us' thinking it's the Russian girls T.A.T.U., or think 'So Cold' is as icey as an Omarion track and wonder how they ever did without "C'mon girl, c'mon" Taio Cruz.