| Where I Wanna Be Artist Donell Jones Album Title Where I Wanna Be Date of Release Jun 15, 1999 (approx.) inprint AMG Rating (Best-of-Artist) Genre Rock Styles Contemporary R&B, Urban, Hip-Hop Time 56:45 AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Donell Jones first gained attention as a songwriter and producer for such smooth urban soul groups as Usher, Silk, Brownstone, and 702, which led Babyface to sign the singer/songwriter to LaFace. His debut album was a solid R&B hit, sketching out a jazzy, soulful variation on Babyface's smooth urban-pop, which he fills in with his second album, Where I Wanna Be. On the surface of things, Jones may sound similar to a lot of his peers, but there's a greater sense of musical sophistication in his music. There are light touches of jazz, suave electric pianos, and an easy seductiveness to the entire production. Where I Wanna Be is actually a savvy update of early-'80s quiet storm -- it's a little sexier and a little sleeker, but the spirit is more reminiscent of that era than the late '90s (with the noticeable exception of Jones' tendency to oversell his vocals slightly). At times, the album relies more on style than substance, but it's crafted well, so the slips into filler aren't painful at all. Actually, the very fact that the infrequent bits of filler are enjoyable is a testament to Jones' talents as a performer and record-maker -- he knows how to deliver the weaker moments with elegance. And those moments don't arrive all that often on Where I Wanna Be. For much of the album, Jones hits the right tone -- balancing mood, song, and performance quite alluringly. It gets him and the listener where they wanna be. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine Herb Powers - Mastering Donell Jones - Vocals, Producer 1999 CD La Face 26060 Artist: Donell Jones Genre: R&B/Soul Where I Wanna Be Release date: 10/12/1999 Original release date: 1999 Label: LaFace Guest Artists: Left-Eye Studio Pieces in Set: 1 Catalog#: 26060 Distributor: BMG Desc: Performer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Notes: Personnel includes: Donell Jones (vocals, various instruments, drum programming); Eddie Ferrell, Darren Lightly (various instruments); Sheldon Goode (acoustic guitar); Serban Ghenea (electric guitar); Tomi Martin (guitar); Kyle West (keyboards); Omar Phillips (percussion); Wesley Hogges, Scott Gaddy (drum programming); Left-Eye. ma PENIS hard timez back up again from da Y-O. y'all know Timez iz creepin on ah cum up on up ya mom'z. 330 for lyfe. Producers: Donell Jones, Eddie "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lightly, Wesley Hogges, Eric Williams. Engineers include: Mike Alvord, Rich Keller, Andrew Cardenas. The man most known for penning the Usher hit single "Think of You," Donell Jones returns to the R&B music scene with his second effort WHERE I WANNA BE. His blend of smooth harmonies and mid-tempo grooves places him among an elite class of R&B artists. With his first album, Donell Jones maintained a low profile with songs made strictly for the clubs. But on "U Know What's Up," Jones keeps that underground feel, while managing to put a commercial spin on his music. Other songs like "Think About It (Don't Call My Crib)" and "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" showcase Donell's unique songwriting talent. With a sound reminiscent of the '80s R&B group Loose Ends, WHERE I WANNA BE is neo-soul meets bump-n-grind music. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES Date: June 15, 1999 Length: 56:45 minutes Label: BMG/ARISTA/LA FACE Genre: ROCK Category: Soul/R & B CREDITS Performers Donell Jones : Vocals Production Credits Donell Jones : Main Performer, Producer Herb Powers : Mastering |
