While I am one to run around talking about how fantastic a song is, it is rare that I’m excited over an entire album. Especially in this day and age, where artists seem so focused on singles that the rest of the tracks on an album are just filler. However, one artist has managed to blow my musical mind for the first time in a long time. To get people prepared for his album “Ready,” set to drop in August, Trey Songz released a free mixtape at the end of June.

Yes, I said free. An entire album. For free. Someone really does understand that we are in a recession.

Trey Songz has released two previous albums (Gotta Make It & Trey Day). I did like about five songs from the second album, but I wouldn’t say I was a big fan. I am now. Anticipation (I hope this link still works) is… amazing, for lack of a better word. It’s 13 tracks and I mostly play the album all the way through. The last time I can remember doing that (key word - REMEMBER!) is Parachutes by Coldplay Graduation by Kanye West.* As for R&B, the genre is a bit of a mess right now. Usher’s, who was supposed to be the “king” or “prince” or “duke” at least, last album was blah. I wasn’t a fan. Songs like Birthday Sex rule the airwaves. DAY26 is running around talking about how they’re gonna “put it on ya,” instead of releasing beautiful songs like Perfectly Blind. They give Cassie a gorgeous song to butcher. And artists expect you to spend $9.99+ for this madness. Uh, no, sir.

So in anticipation of his new album, Trey Songz released this mixtape. I am no music critic. This much is clear. What I can do here is profess my love for this album. I listen to it about once a day. When I first heard it, I was at about twice a day. Since I’m back at home with the option of Guitar Hero, I’ve decreased that number. There are no features/collaborations. No frills, no extra. Just Trey and the music. It lacks fast or dance tracks, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might wanna reassess your expectations. Nothing on this album sounds remotely like “I Need a Girl.” For that, I am eternally grateful. It seems that what he’s releasing to make money and what he’s released for the pure pleasure of releasing it are two completely different things. My friend and I went back and forth on each other’s facebook wall writing paragraphs about how much we liked this album and what we liked about it. He suggested that the album could’ve been titled “The Definition of Sexy” and it would have worked perfectly. He also felt that it was as if Trey Songz woke up one day and just understood what R&B is supposed to be about, with Anticipation as the result of that epiphany. My prediction was that there is no way, or at least a very, very, very little chance, that Ready could be better, or even as good as, Anticipation.

Ok, this has turned into a much longer post than originally intended. It reads like a talent crush gush session. My apologies. But let me leave you with my final opinion: Anticipation is seamless. It is complete. It is fantastic. It is sexy. If you are any kind of fan of R&B music, you should download it. It won’t cost you anything but time.

Heavy Rotation:

1. Scratchin Me Up
2. Infidelity
3. You Belong to Me

Honorable Mention: Famous

Recycling Bin:

1. Showerlude
2. Successful (Live with Drake)
3. Yo Side of the Bed

*Sidenote: I just checked myself. There were only about two tracks on Graduation that I didn’t care for. Even so, I consider Kanye West a separate case. I love his music and think he’s a genius.

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I am coming to you now LIVE from an airplane. No, you didn’t read that incorrectly. I am indeed blogging while thousands of miles in the sky. Amazing, right?

Now when I say “God bless technology,” I’m talking about the good stuff. Not the nuclear weapons and things of that nature. But… things like the internet. And the internet on a PLANE. I mean, it’s amazing.

I don’t really have anything to say to you. I just wanted to share this wonderful experience. Being able to use the internet while I’m flying just adds another element to this fantastic mode of transportation. How much more amazing could it be?

You’ll get a real post eventually. But, not tonight. I’m going to see a Michael Jackson cover/tribute band. I’m thinking it’ll be amazing.

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For those of you who may not be aware, Jennnnifre and I are friends in the real world. We’ve known each other for too many years to count. Back when I first started on exciting, there was about a four month period when I didn’t post. And since then, I might skip a month… or two. Although, I’d like to point out that hasn’t happened in quite some time! Anyway, she would always nag me about posting. In the past year or two, I have been in a silent competition with her. It’s silent because I’m not sure she knows about it. I think I may have mentioned it once or twice. Because of this competition (that I am DETERMINED to win), I am most motivated to post if she’s posted. It’s even better if I’ve posted multiple times since her last post. This way I can nag her about posting. HA HA!

Oh, how the tables have turned.

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