Track Listing

1. Because Of You
2. Crazy (feat. JAY-Z)
3. Can We Chill
4. Do You
5. Addicted
6. Leaving Tonight (feat. Jennifer Hudson)
7. Ain't Thinking About You
8. Sex With My Ex
9. Angel
10. Make It Work
11. Say It
12. Go On Girl

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9611 in Music
• Brand: NE-YO
• Released on: 2007-05-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
UK pressing of the 2007 sophomore album from this R&B star featuring one bonus track: 'That's What It Does'. Because Of You is the follow-up to his multi-million selling debut album In My Own Words (including the hits 'So Sick' and 'Sexy Love'). Last year, Ne-Yo also proved himself a masterful songwriter, penning such gems as Rihanna's top-ten hit 'Unfaithful', co-writing Beyonce's instant classic 'Irreplaceable' and writing Mario's 'Let Me Love You'. 13 tracks including the first single 'Because Of You'. Def Jam.

Amazon.com
Kelly Clarkson, kindly step aside: the title "Because of You" now belongs to Ne-Yo, who has done things with it no one with a pair of hands to clap will soon forget. And not just on the phenomenally appealing first single. Throughout Because of You, the sophomore disc by the songwriter responsible for such monster hits as Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Unfaithful," a flutter-voiced fluidity--the kind seldom heard since Michael Jackson's Off the Wall days--reigns. Jay-Z makes room to let it rip on "Crazy," and Jennifer Hudson wraps herself around it with restraint on "Leaving Tonight," a lovers' quarrel that could hold its own against anything Marilyn McCoo & Billy David Jr. cared to toss off in their heyday. If it's MJ who's lingered in Ne-Yo's ear longest, Prince hasn't gone silent, either: echoes poke up on the far-out "Sex with My Ex." Elsewhere, shades of contemporaries such as Nelly and Diddy show through. Overall, though, Ne-Yo's flammable hooks, flirty vibe, and flawless vocals reveal an R&B genius in the making. If the talent bar for up-and-comers is set impossibly high in the coming years, chances are it will be all because of him. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Just okay...
I am a Ne-Yo fan. Though I wouldn't argue that he is the most original artist out there, I will say that his songwriting is what sets him apart from any other R&B artist. With the mind-numbing "music" that is out there today, it's refreshing to remember that a song is not just about a hot beat but the actual lyrics.

With that said this album is overall disappointing. The single "Because of You" is a banger but when I initially heard it, I felt that it was a remix of some of his previous tracks. Jay-Z's rap on "Crazy" is completely gratuitous and does nothing but detract from an already mediocre song. The placement of the tracks is also peculiar as someone else pointed out as some of the best songs are placed in the middle or towards the end. (Note: A solid album doesn't really need to concentrate on placement b/c each track is so outstanding.) On the "Sex with My Ex" he is clearly channeling Prince (his idol) and on "Angel" he sounds like Michael Jackson (his other idol). Despite his blatant unoriginality, I still think the songs are good though I wouldn't arue with someone if they thought they were garbage.

The standout tracks are definitely "Leaving Tonight" with Jennifer Hudson, "Say It" which is my favorite song, and "Go On". Though I must say that "Go On" production sounds far too similar to Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" which we all know Ne-Yo wrote.

Overall, it's worth the $9.99, he'll most likely go platinum many times over, and as another writer mentioned, I hope he really brings it on his third album.

3 1/2 Stars 4 Effort but Definitely not as Good as his Debut
Ne-Yo coming back with his sophomore album "Because of You" in my opinion was a rushed album. If he would've took more time with the album, it would've probably came out stellar just like his debut. The album isn't terrible, but you do hear a lot of Prince-influenced vocals on "Addicted" and another track and that was disappointed because we all know that Ne-yo is original and some of that was missing from the album. The album was consistent enough with good tracks, you have to skip around to find them but he'll still pull in his numbers. 3 1/2 Stars...

Standout tracks: "Because of You", "Do You","Leaving Tonight feat. J-Hud, "Work It Out"

Not Quite A Sophmore Slump, But Not Far From it!
Ne-yo is definately one of my favorite artist. For the most part he is very orginial, writes his own music, and has a very soulful R&B Voice, and I admire him for that! But, his lastest album "Because Of You" is a medicore performance of what he is capable of. I will rate every song on the album one by one, and explain my opinion.

1. Because Of You-First single, everyone knows it. I personally love the song to death! I was so happy when i heard this song, because in my mind I thought "If because of you is this good, The album will be excellent!" I was 50% Correct on that statement. But most definately one of the best songs on the album, also the video is great too! :) 10/10.

2. Crazy Feat. Jay Z-This song is actually pretty catchy before you actually get to the chorus, then it just goes downhill from there. I must admit that the verses to the song are very good, and creative. I actually like the melody to the song quite a bit, but the chorus can become repetitve after awhile. 7/10

3. Can We Chill-Can we chill kind of starts off with the sounds of church music, and then ne-yo's melodic voice over it, which creates a very good intro. Also the beat and the chorus are very catchy. Very good song, and one of the best on the album. 9/10

4. Do You- I have three big problems with this song. 1)The placement of of the song on the album, I beleive it should have been the last. 2) The song is very boring and vague, the lyrics are sub-par and ne-yo's voice is just very mono-tone through the entire song. And he shows no excitement. 3) The beat to this song is extremely good! And, I am kind of mad that, this song was wasted on this beat. Probably the most boring song on this album. Definately a filler. 5/10

5. Addicted- I absolutely love this song! This is definately ne-yo's style right here. It is just extremely catchy, and I really like the lyrics and were he is going with this song. I would love to hear this song as a single! Probably my favorite song on the album! 10/10

6. Leaving tonight Feat. Jennifer Hudson- I Love this song! and it features the beautiful and talented Jennifer Hudson.(She is my blood cousin by the way), but this song is extremely soulful, and catchy. I could listen to it over and over again, its just extremely soulful, and a good song just to relax to. 10/10

7. Ain't thinking about you- The song is not very good, the beat is extremely! repetitive. And the song gets old very quick. This is definately an album filler, and easily a skipper. 4/10

8. Sex with ym Ex-To be honest, I have no clue where to go with this song. It totally sounds like a michael Jackson song. It's no doubt about it. The song is not bad though, I will give him that. But this style has already been done many times before. I just consider this as an average effort. And its not a very memorable song at all. 7/10

9. Angel- I think this song is very beautiful! I wont sya that its really catchy or anything, but it most definately a beautiful song. It's really meaningful too, I would love for this song to be released as a single, I think it could skyrocket his sales. 10/10

10. Make it work-Alot of people like this song, but I am not a huge fan of it at all. I don't like the lyrics, the beat or anything. The Constant "AYO" "AYO" During the chorus is just really repetitive, and not really needed. This song is also a filler track as well, and can be passed. 3/10

11. Say it- WOW! This song is like Mirror from his first album, but more sensual and slower! I absolutely love it. The song is just so sensual and just so melodic. This is what you call baby making music! It's just such a good song, words cant describe how good this song is! Love it!!! 10/10

12. Go on Girl-This is suppose to be the second single, and I must say what a good choice it is! Go on girl deifantely is up there as the best song on the album. The lyrics and the overall sound of the song is just extremely addictive, and you wont stop listening to this one! 10/10

Overall this album scored 94/120=78% Which is a C+ Rating! Ne-yo definately could have done better on this album. There are a few songs on this album that will just blow you away, while others are just repetive, and your fast to hit the skip button on your MP3 Player. I still think that Ne-yo will have a bright future ahead of him, and he'll keep writing great songs for other artist! If his record label pick the correct singles off of this album, his sales should be as good as his first album.