JOURNEY OF A GEMINI - DONELL JONES
Musically, Donell Jones is that humble, standup guy who’s always overshadowed by the superstar bad boys (Usher, R. Kelly). His fourth album, “Journey of a Gemini,” continues down that familiar path with soulful cuts that favor tasteful insight over tacky truisms. For Jones, it’s all about getting things right, particularly in love (”Special Girl,” “My Apology”), though he strays from relationship issues in “Cry,” a poignant commentary about American ghettos. As with his first two singles, “Better Start Talking” featuring Jermaine Dupri and “I’m Gonna Be,” his wavering tenor conveys the precise amount of urgency. Even the cliched tracks (”Ohh Na Na,” “Feelin U”) sound refreshing. Some faulty production notwithstanding, “Gemini” delivers Jones’ much-needed brand of soothing R&B, which may not give him superstar status but is always in good taste. Billboard
