Year of the Gentleman

Infobox Album
Name = Year of the Gentleman
Type = studio
Artist = Ne-Yo


Released = Start date|2008|9|11
(see release history)
Recorded = 2007–2008
Genre = Pop, R&B, dance pop
Length = 48:38
Label = Def Jam
Producer = Ne-Yo (exec.) Stargate, Chuck Harmony, Polow da Don, Kirven Arrington, Shea Taylor, Stereotypes, Shomari "Sho" Wilson, Reggie "Scyience" Perry, J. R. Rotem, Butter Beats
Reviews = * About.com rating|3.5|5 [http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/NeYoGentleman.htm 2008]
* Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hjfoxz9jldhe 2008]
* "Entertainment Weekly" (B+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20225095,00.html 2008]
* "The Guardian" rating|4|5 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/12/urbanreview.neyo?gusrc=rss&feed=culture 2008]
* "Los Angeles Times" rating|3.5|4 [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-recordrack16-2008sep16,0,7536833.story 2008]
* "Newsday" (A-) [http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etdrops5843860sep16a,0,1346623.story 2008]
* "Rolling Stone" rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/22723958/review/22787161/year_of_the_gentleman 2008]
* "The Village Voice" (Positive) [http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-09-17/music/ne-yo-s-fantastic-r-b-finds-strength-in-vulnerability/ 2008]
* Virgin Media rating|2.5|5 [http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/albumreviews/neyo-yearofthegentleman.php 2008]
* "The Washington Times" (Negative) [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/16/music-review-ne-yos-year-of-the-gentleman-1/ 2008]
Last album = "Because of You"
(2007)
This album = "Year of the Gentleman"
(2008)
Next album =Singles
Name = Year of the Gentleman
Type = Studio
single 1 = Closer
single 1 date = April 15, 2008
single 2 = Miss Independent
single 2 date = August 11, 2008
single 3 = Mad
single 3 date = October 14, 2008

"Year of the Gentleman" is the third album by American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo released on September 16, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.defjam.com/site/artist_home.php?artist_id=593|title=Neyo: Year of the Gentleman|work=Def Jam|accessdate=2008-06-30]

ingles

The first single, "Closer", was released on April 15. The song debuted at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart, and later reached number one. On Billboard's Hot 100, the song peaked at number seven, while it has reached number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3099178&cdi=9890386&cid=09%2F06%2F2008 The Billboard Hot 100 - Closer - Ne-Yo] "Billboard". Accessed September 14, 2008.]

The second single, "Miss Independent", was released on August 11. [http://www.yearofthegentleman.com/?p=85 New Ne-Yo Music - "Miss Independent"] The album released September 1 in UK according to Amazon.co.uk and September 16 for the USA!] The physical release will be accompanied by a video which premiered on August 21 on "Access Granted". [ [http://www.yearofthegentleman.com/?p=101 My "Miss Independent" Video Is Gonna Be Hot!] ] Both these songs are produced and co-written by Stargate.

The third single is confirmed to be "Mad" and goes for adds on Urban/Rhythmic on October 14, 2008. [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16687]

A video has been made for song "She Got Her Own" and is the official international single.

Background

"Year of the Gentleman" was named in honor of Ne-Yo's artistic influences. Ne-Yo cited the 1960s American group Rat Pack, particularly members Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra as influences, whose style inspired his clothes and music. [cite web|url=http://www.defjam.com/site/artist_bio.php?artist_id=593|title=Ne-Yo: Year of the Gentleman|work=Island Def Jam|accessdate=2008-06-30] cite news|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i2878075a82ab00a5bfdc752d77544b30|title=Ne-Yo's 'Gentleman' Inspired By Davis, Sinatra|last=Concepcion|first=Mariel|date=2008-03-27|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|accessdate=2008-03-28] Explaining the album's title, he said he was "trying to take it back to where you couldn't walk out of the house unless you looked your best".cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583619/20080318/ne_yo.jhtml|title=Ne-Yo, Hard At Work On Third LP, Makes Time For Lindsay Lohan 'Challenge' |last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=2008-03-18|work=MTV News|accessdate=2008-06-30] Commenting on the likes of the Rat Pack and Nat King Cole he commented that "they're suited and everything is right from top to bottom. Not saying it has to be a suit, 'cause clothes don't make the man — it's the attitude and person. The music needs to personify that.". No featurings are present on the album, as previously announced, though "Single" also features as a version with New Kids on the Block on their album, "The Block".

Although Ne-Yo has claimed that he wanted to "take a different direction" on the album by not making R&B sounds, however, according to "Billboard" magazine, "it seems he still has a heavy—yet welcome—case of the (rhythm and) blues on the finished product". [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3i4bd22674ba7598a8c118a73c5f21e250|title=Year of the Gentleman: Ne-Yo|last=Concepcion|first=Mariel|month=September|year=2008|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|accessdate=2008-09-23]

Reception

Reviews for the album have been positive. Caryn Ganz of "Rolling Stone" magazine said "The 28-year-old singer-songwriter says his latest collection of heartfelt love songs is a tribute to the Rat Pack's pressed-suit style, but it's actually a superb concept album about what a great boyfriend he can be." [Caryn Ganz (September 18, 2008). [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/22723958/review/22787161/year_of_the_gentleman Year of the Gentleman : Ne-Yo : Review] "Rolling Stone". Accessed September 24, 2008.]

"Year of the Gentleman" debuted at number two on the "Billboard" 200 with 250,000 copies sold.Katie Hasty (September 24, 2008). [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003854245 Metallica Edges Ne-Yo, Nelly To Remain No. 1] "Billboard". Accessed September 24, 2008.] The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, giving Ne-Yo his highest-charting album in the UK, beating "Because of You," which debuted at number six in 2007. In Japan, the album debuted at number two. [http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ea/w/] ] [http://wiki.theppn.org/Oricon_Weekly_for_2008_week_38] ] In its second week sales, the album sold 82,000 copies in the United States, bringing the total to 333,215 copies. [Allen Jacobs (October 1, 2008). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7808/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-9-28-08 Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/28/08] "HipHopDX". Accessed October 2, 2008.]

Track listing

Release history

References