The London’s ‘Hospital Club’ venue in Covent Garden was the scene for Ne-Yo’s exclusive ‘Libra Scale’ listening session to an audience of select UK media outlets.
After dinning on some wine and fish and chips courtesy of the label I proceeded to my seat in anticipation of one the most talented R&B stars in recent years.
The playback started fashionably late with Ne-Yo dressed in all black everything. After being introduced to us by DJ Semtex, Ne-Yo pulled out his blackberry and read out what seemed to an in depth synopsis for the concept of his album.
CONCEPT
The concept takes the characters of three bin cleaners Clyde, Leroy, and Jerome (who plays Ne-Yo). The three men are bored with their ordinary life and have a encounter with a form of a higher power who gives the men now known as The Gentleman most males fantasy in the form of women, money, cars and superpowers. However, with this comes three rules
1) They cannot tell people how they got their powers
2) They must protect the people of the city by fighting crime
3) They’re not allowed to fall in love
This agreement sits well with Clyde and Leroy, they are all game for it and have no problem signing there life away to this higher power. However, it is Ne-Yo’s character, Jerome, who struggles with the 3rd rule after falling for Pretty Sinclair.
The repercussions of breaking the rules for The Gentleman and Jerome in particular are severe with Pretty Sinclair now transformed in to Diamond Eyes (her eyes are physically diamonds). Pretty Sinclair blames Jerome for this transformation and is hell bent on destroying all that Jerome loves and cares about and to match she now has some of Jerome Super Human powers( the worst case of a woman scorned). Diamond Eyes goes on a tirade by destroying the city and murdering innocent people, Jerome can only stand back powerless and watch as he consumed with guilt in what he has turned Diamond Eyes Into.
The higher power that granted Jerome the power delivers an ultimatum, Kill Diamond Eyes and time will be reversed rectifying all the damage Diamond Eyes has caused or Let Diamond Eyes live and time will be reversed but Jerome himself will Die and with that there is The Libra scale, The Love of life vs Love of his life.
The songs
Champagne Life
The instrumentation of this track grabs you immediately the song is a celebration of the lifestyle The Gentleman are now living. This Track is sure to be a banger throughout the summer and the audience in attendance had their bopping to this infectious beat.
What have I done
All I can say is MJ inspired! The song has Jerome pondering his regret at what he has inadvertently done to Pretty Sinclair. Good song but repetitive chorus and left me just wanting a bit more imagination on the hook.
Beautiful Monster
Ne-Yo’s current single and has the European club land sound that is being experimented by the majority of U.S artists currently. Beautiful Monster is not my cup of tea but it’s a cert to perform well on radio, it’s a grower.
One in a Million
Has Jerome at the point of being sprung on Pretty Sinclair. The track is a detour from the sound we’re used to hearing Ne-Yo on with heavy drums kicks and a strong base giving it that tribal feel to it.
Cause I said so
This track is Diamond Eyes theme song. This is a club banger, expect it to be big on the club scene.
She is
Jerome is at the point of being full blown in Love. The song represents what most of us know Ne-Yo for musically and is reminiscent of previous songs like Mad and So Sick where Ne-Yo digs deep on the emotional tip.
Conclusion
The album concept is a refreshing pull away from the wooden spoon fed music we have been littered with in the past two years from R&B. However, the album has the potential to go over many peoples head with the eccentric nature of the storyline plot and the short attention span of many music consumers nowadays. What will be key is how they transcend these innovative and complex thoughts into the visuals, with Ne-Yo has stated that all the music videos will be 6-10 Minutes long. Ne-Yo himself did reveal he is currently struggling to come to terms with how to bring all of these ideas to a live performance but assured us that he will have it figured out by the time he starts he’s tour.
Other points that came out in the Q&A Segment
Release date September 21st
Only confirmed feature Fabolous
Contemplating publishing a comic for the story
Music in the states has been on the decline for the past 5 years
Will continue Michael Jackson legacy of what he stood for musically even if he has to carry on with this himself.
Has an issue with artists using auto-tune and getting more recognition than him
The music business has parts attached to it that make it that you can’t be in love with someone
Superpowers in the concept are the metaphor for Celebrities
Words by: Amaru Wilcox
