R&B artist Christian Berishaj, better known as JMSN, returns with a prudent, soulful new, neo-soul single, “Talk is Cheap.”

“Everybody’s got somethin’ to say / But they ain’t never shown me nothing.” Preach JMSN – preach! The last we heard from the Texas-born, Michigan-bred R&B singer (Christian Berishaj) was in 2016, when he released his eight-track LP, Whatever Makes U Happy.  After a brief hiatus, he’s back with a brand-new single, and a familiar saying, “Talk is Cheap.”  Thematically, it’s that simple, but prudent phrase that the record centers on.

JMSN takes his time setting up “Talk is Cheap” – that’s a blessing to the ears. The groovy, soulful instrumental dominates the first minute and fifteen seconds of the record.  The sound is delightful and refreshing, hearkening back to the smooth R&B of old.  Neo-soul is supposedly dead and gone, but man, oh man, does a record as celestial as “Talk is Cheap” call for a resurgence – a resurrection. Speaking of smooth, JMSN is silky smooth once he begins singing.  Incredibly underrated, he’s chocked-full of soul and talent.  His falsetto is commanding and ripe on the background vocals of the chorus.  He superbly ad-libs and riffs using his chest voice (regular voice), providing a superb contrast.  The chorus is the centerpiece.

“Talk is cheap / You got to show me it’s real / ‘Cause I ain’t got time to waste, no / I don’t sleep / I think you know what the deal is / So don’t you feed that stuff to me / Talk is cheap.”

Final Thoughts

I’d like to personally thank JMSN for keeping the soul alive on “Talk is Cheap.” No, the theme or songwriting are anything new or particularly flashy, but the nostalgic vibes are everything.  This is a well-rounded, relatively simple record that packs plenty of punch.  Plain and simple, good stuff. Christian Berishaj definitely adheres to a different saying – “actions speak louder than words.”

JMSN • Talk Is Cheap – Single • White Room • Release: 6.19.18

Photo Credit: White Room