Album Review: Jazmine Sullivan "Love Me Back"

Jazmine Sullivan blasted onto the scene two years ago with a #1 R&B single & multiple Grammy nominations. Now, to follow up her flawless debut Fearless, Jazmine has the soulful Love Me Back to offer. Her unique voice is immediately engaging, but with impeccable songwriting skills to go along with it, she is the definition of the complete package--& never has Jazmine displayed this fact more than on Love Me Back.

"Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles)": Upon first listen, the album's lead single still sounds like a song you've heard & loved all your life. The best part though is that there's something fresh about it too. 5/5

"10 Seconds": The attitude-driven second single is another one that will have you cast under its spell. 5/5

"Good Enough": Jazmine puts her heart & soul into this song, & you can sure feel it! 5/5

"Don't Make Me Wait": One of the lighter tracks on the album, Jazzy will have you lost in her "hoo-hoo"s in this tribute to the Prince-formed 80's girl group Vanity 6. 5/5

"Love You Long Time": She instantly had me with this brilliant jam! It's definitely one of my favorites on the album. 5/5

"Redemption": This one may surprise you. Jazmine tells a pair of dramatic stories by talk-singing through the verses that lead to the subjects begging for 'redemption' in the passionate chorus & the result, quite frankly, is absolutely incredible. 5/5

"Excuse Me": And you thought it was good BEFORE this song..! Jazzy moves away from singing about heartbreak for a moment to SANG one of the best love songs I have ever heard. It's retro, but somehow manages to feel fresh, which is the case of the whole album. I'm gonna go ahead & give the title of Best Song of the Year to "Excuse Me"! 5/5

"U Get On My Nerves" (ft. Ne-Yo): In the sequel to "Bust Your Windows", Jazmine's feelings toward her beau (& vice versa) don't appear to have changed. She's flawless here... the only problem with the track is Ne-Yo! 4.5/5

"Stuttering": It's possible that she has never put her particular voice to better use than she does here. Not only is she the peeerfeeect person to sing the "stu-stu-stuttering"s, but you really, really feel the emotion! Ah, I love it. 5/5

"Famous": Oh, honey! The soul! The passion! I can't get enough!!! 5/5

"Luv Back": Jazmine caps her brilliant sophomore effort off on a high note with this one. I dare you to sit still through this entire song. 5/5

I don't know how I lived without this woman's voice. There's something about this Love Me Back--the way it feels both retro & fresh at the same time--that I just can't wrap my head around. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before, honest, & all I want is more of it! If ever there were a perfect example of improving on perfection, it's this album.

Rating: 5/5 Stars