Jamie Foxx – Best Night Of My Life – Review

Release Date: December 17th, 2010
Record Label: J Records
Genre: R&B

After a quaint holiday that was filled with nicely wrapped gifts, warmed fireplace sit-downs, and plenty of smooth R&B opportunities, I thought it would be a perfect time to give one of the best entertainers out there his respective spin time before the new year. After launching himself as a daffy comedian, moonlighting with his piano and hearty voice, as well as blossoming as a serious actor, Eric Bishop, more popularly known as Jamie Foxx, has shown us that he is of the more talented entertainers of this last century; even if he insists on using his talent to sing songs about getting sloshed (most of his last record “Intuition”). However, with the success of club-hits such as “Blame It,” “Digital Girl,” and “Weekend Lover,” the release of Jamie’s newest effort entitled “Best Night Of My Life,” was highly anticipated despite the high probability of formulaic club tracks.

To the contrary though, this new effort doesn’t remain stuck in a drunken stupor or focus mainly on shallow one-night stands (all that much.) Sure Jamie does plant his feet squarely where he’s comfortable at first. But after the improvised tribute of Natalie Cole‘s “This Will Be,” which happens to be filled with sexed-up lyrics, and the cluby, light-footed, echoed keys of the albums title track — the album really opens up to new things. Most of it either being the featured artist on the track, ie. Justin Timberlake‘s always impressive wide vocal range on the hype-heavy song “Winner,” that un-ironically sounds like it was lifted straight from a Timbaland record (seeing as he helped produced much of the record, this isn’t a surprise); or the undeniably catchy beats that intoxicate the listener with every spin, such as the suave, beat-box friendly track, “Freak.”

The most even song (and best in my opinion) on the album surfaced about half way through, as Jamie and Drake collaborate to form a proper R&B song with “Fall For Your Type,” which closely mimics Drake’s style of slow hazy keys and competent rhyming. It was about this point that I noticed that, for the most part, this effort feels less like a Jamie Foxx album and more like Jamie being featured on several different artist’s albums. “Best Night Of My Life” flexes and stretches into different sounds as each feature (ie. Rico Love, Rick Ross, T.I.) emerges and while that isn’t necessarily a game-ending issue, when you know someone has several levels of talent, it comes off a little disingenuous when the albums direction isn’t guided by the person whose name is on the album cover.

This doesn’t mean that Jamie Foxx has lost any vocal dexterity; if anything his voice is stronger than it has been for some time. This is why the sensual track ”15 Minutes,” in which Foxx is alone and belts out hearty diaphragm candy, complete with sex-heavy lyrics that rival R-Kelly, is so enjoyable. So if you are in need of an effort that jumps from catchy dance tracks, to R&B influenced romantic ballads, to down-and-dirty baby-making music, Jamie Foxx has a hodgepodge of soul for you with “Best Night Of My Life” – even if I know the simple “put your cups up” or “bring that booty over here” tracks are beneath his ability, sometimes a carefree, sauced up, night out is what the Docter ordered. And you are listening to Dr. Love on this effort. ~Staff

Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:
1. This Will Be (Intro)
2. Best Night Of My Life
3. Living Better Now
4. Winner
5. Freak
6. Hit It Like This
7. Yep Dat’s Me
8. Fall For Your Type
9. Gorgeous
10. Let Me Get You On Your Toes
11. 15 Minutes
12. Sleeping Pill
13. Rejoice
14. All Said And Done
15. Sex On The Beach