Album Review

Trey Songz – Passion, Pain & Pleasure

• 8th Nov 2010

Trey Songz aka the Panty Droppa returns with his fourth studio album Passion, Pain and Pleasure. This follows a very successful 2009; his commercial breakthrough album Ready was Grammy nominated, he toured with hip-hop megastars Jay-Z and Jeezy, beat Usher as best R&B act in the BET Awards and his reality TV show Trey Songz: My Moment was a ratings hit in the USA.

Relatively unknown on these shores, Trey is undoubtedly the most exciting R&B prospect since R. Kelly and just like R. Kelly, Trey is a very versatile artist; whether that is a ballad, straight R&B or Hip-Hop he adapts his style well. However with that being said on this album he concentrates on wooing the ladies.

The album begins with a heavy helping of Romance on tracks ‘Love Faces’, ‘Message’ and ‘Alone’ before moving onto party banger ‘Bottoms Up’ featuring the woman of the moment, Hip-Hop’s Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj; one to definitely get your head bobbing.

“Pain” follows and sets the tone for the next section of the album. ‘Can’t Be Friend’s’ is a tragic love story about how Trey cannot be friends with an ex-girlfriend. Written together with Marion Winans (remember him) this song is a sweet ballad and has reached number 1 in the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard Chart. ‘Please Return My Call’ is a pretty bland song but is a staple of any contemporary R&B album. ‘Made To Be Together’ is another love song about pain and Trey croons his way through this track which sounds like a classic R. Kelly type love song.

“Pleasure” starts the sexy section of the album. ‘Red Lipstick’ is a gritty and steamy track and an archetypal Trey Songz track which has seen a legion of female fans follow his every step. ‘Unusual’ featuring a great rap from long time friend Drake continues with the gritty up-tempo sound and is a single in waiting. ‘Doorbell’ continues Trey’s evolution as an artist as he brings a more grown up sound to the table.

“Passion” brings the last section of the album around with a smooth finish. This is my favourite section of the album and ‘Unfortunate’, which is a beautifully produced melodic song from Canadian producer Noah “40” Shebib is my highlight of the album, real grown up R&B. ‘Blind’ produced by upcoming US star Bei Maejor and talks about how passionate sex can make a man go blind (honest!) Despite this, the track really showcases Trey’s vocal abilities and would not sit out of place on an indie album. The final track ‘You Just Need Me’ is a Pop/Dance song but is a fitting end to Trey’s most complete and consistent album to date.

With Passion, Pain & Pleasure released in the UK on November 1st and his upcoming tour with Usher in January 2011, the UK should get ourselves ready for the invasion of this talented R&B lothario.