JMSN, Velvet | Album Review 💿

JMSN drops an enjoyable, well-rounded R&B album with ‘Velvet.’ “Levy,” “Talk is Cheap,” and “So Bad” rank among the crème de la crème of the LP.

Texas-born, Michigan-bred R&B singer Christian Berishaj – better known as JMSN – is back.  The last time we heard from Berishaj was in 2016, when he released his eight-track LP, Whatever Makes U Happy.  On his incredibly soulful, sexy new album Velvet, he spoils the listeners with 14 tracks, clocking in at north of an hour.  The results are compelling.

“Levy”

Velvet kicks off with a bang thanks to ✓ “Levy.” JMSN is on-point, singing about his dedication to the one he loves, and his willingness to endure any and everything for love.  The crowning achievement of the elite cut is the chorus, where he sings:

“Let the rain come down and wash it all away (come on wash everything away)
Let it overflow until the levy breaks (‘til the levy breaks).”

Keeping a good thing going, follow-up “Levy Pt. II” is shorter, contrasting the original.  There’s also something of a rawer nature, even if JMSN continues to sound pretty smooth.

“Talk is Cheap”

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, He’s silky smooth once he begins singing, 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.”

“Pose” is a captivating listen, featuring both a sick groove and an incredibly ripe falsetto from JMSN.  It’s still ‘old-school,’ but also keeps things pretty fresh. Things remain ‘hot as hell’ on “Inferno,” where the groove is ‘king,’ and it’s totally impossible to “yield not to temptation.” Then, Berishaj opts for lengthiest song of Velvet, “Got 2 B Erotic.”  Naturally, it lives up to its title:

“Below your panty line
You don’t seem satisfied
Baby tell me what you wanna do.”

Clearly, we know what JMSN has in mind.  The sexual innuendo is loud and clear, amplified by his distinct, harmonized vocals.

“Real Thing” 

“So, I’ve been wasting time on worldly pleasures / Forgetting what I really need… / Till I got a flash of the truth.”  That truth, on “Real Thing” is clearly his baby.  Once more thriving off of a throwback script, “Real Thing” sounds like it would’ve easily been at home in the 80s, given the sound of the drum programming and the adult contemporary, grown-folks R&B vibes. Despite the fact he follows up with the record “Explicit,” JMSN eschews profanity or being literally ‘explicit.’ Here, there’s some ‘trouble in paradise’ as his girlfriend seems to question his emotional investment into the relationship.  On the chorus, he sings:

“Tell me how come every time I wanna kick it
You just think I wanna get explicit
Once you tell me why you can’t ever get with it
When did you get everything so twisted?”

“So Badly”

JMSN keeps things incredibly soulful on ✓ “So Badly”.  This is authentic, legit, throwback R&B – more artists should try it sometimes.  He sings his face off, intriguing with his silky-smooth falsetto, fueled by the power of both love and sex.  Interestingly, on the first verse, he questions his abilities to please his lover because basically, she “got some real sex appeal, and I’m not a man of steel.” When he addresses his lover about his confidence concerns, she blames herself, but he’s still self-conscious.  Definitely deeper than sex and relatable to the nth degree. Even his concerns about being able to satisfy his lover is something that’s not explored nearly enough in popular music – he nails it.  It’s incredibly easy to get into one’s own feelings, thinking about that boy or girl you’re totally infatuated with, and only want to please.

✓ “Mind Playin’ Tricks” begins as an expressive, well-conceived slow-jam.  The record has more tricks up its sleeve however, even working with a slower tempo.  Like a number of songs from Velvet, the 80s influence is crystal clear.  “Mind Playin’ Tricks” incorporates some Michael Jackson and Prince elements, which is always #winning. The second ‘twosome’ of Velvet follows with “Drama” and “Drama Pt. II,” which combine for nearly 11 minutes of music.  “Drama” is mysterious, thanks to the vocal effects, sick synth bass line, and being arguably the quirkiest song off the album.  Fittingly, “Drama Pt. II” is a ‘dramatic’ follow-up, keeping the tempo slow, and the vocal effects abundant.  Hey, “Nothing but drama.”

“Sunshine”

Penultimate cut “Sunshine” picks up the pace while swapping the minor key of “Drama” and “Drama Pt. II” for good ole, happy major.  JMSN’s falsetto remains one of his best musical attributes. JMSN closes on a high note – a couple of them actually – on ✓ “Wet.” Yes, Berishaj could’ve opted for being filthy, but he simply let his falsetto handle that without being profane on one of his best vocals of Velvet.

“Really show me what it’s all about…
You take me upside down, yeah you turn me out
Love is falling down from the highest cloud
I’m wet…”

Final Thoughts

All in all, Velvet is a well-rounded R&B album.  Far too seldom does modern R&B/urban contemporary music get the same notoriety as other styles, or the same critical praise.  JMSN may not reinvent the wheel on Velvet, looking to the past to fuel his fire, but hey, the results are damn good.  Again, it can’t be stated how gifted Christian Berishaj is… he’s a beast!

✓ Gems: “Levy,” “Talk is Cheap,” “So Badly,” “Mind Playin’ Tricks” & “Wet”

JMSN • Velvet • White Room • Release: 9.21.18

Photo Credit: White Room