More...

Personnel: Montell Jordan, Shaunta (vocals); Slick Rick (rap vocals); DeVante, Schappel Crawford (various instruments, background vocals); Professor Funk (guitar, bass); Brian Wilson (keyboards); Derick "D Man" McElveen (programming); Kelly Jones, Marvee, Troy Arline, Andre Wilson, Fulfillment Community Choir, Kadence (background vocals). Producers include: James Earl Jones, DeVante, Derrick "D Man" McElveen, Schappel Crawford, Montell Jordan. Engineers include: Bill Esses, Brian Carrigan, Big Bob Morse. Personnel: Montell Jordan (vocals, background vocals); Shaunta (vocals); Professor Funk (guitar); Shapelle Crawford, Brian Wilson (keyboards); Derick "D Man" McElveen (drum programming); Andre Wilson (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Conley Abrams; DeVante Swing. Recording information: Cherry Beach Studios, Toronto, CA; Dajhelon, Rochester, NY; Echo Sound, L.A., CA; Enterprise Studios, L.A., CA; Paramount Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Soundtrack Studios, N.Y.C., NY; WEstlake STudios, L.A., CA. Photographer: Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica. Arrangers: DeVante Swing; Professor Funk; Shapelle Crawford; Montell Jordan; Tony Dofat; James Earl Jones. To comprehend Montell Jordan's high estimate of himself as both a modern R&B singer and sexual smoothie, one needs only to hear the opening one-two salvo on MORE, his sophomore effort. "Non-Believers," a lusty, funky rap by a female MC named Shaunta, glides on a smooth guitar sample and strut-worthy bassline, and comes to the lyrical conclusion that Jordan is the "king of hip-hop soul." After which, Montell introduces himself via a mid-tempo come-on called "Superlover Man." Where could any mortal male go after two such proclamations? Jordan, to his credit, changes out of his cape and goes in search of romance and a good time. The rest of MORE features knowingly light-hearted bravado and likable light funk. Though the tracks are constructed with an obvious eye toward harder hip-hop, the beats rely more on smooth rims and hi-hats than on thick snares, furthering the notion that Jordan is more nice-guy casanova than ruffneck. The piano-vocal interplay on "Falling" is good-time soulful a la Stevie Wonder. "I Like" rocks things up a bit, with its dirty beat and a Slick Rick cameo. But MORE succeeds mostly because Jordan exudes gentle loverman qualities, presenting a shoulder when another guy might have presented his libido. Then again, when you're a superlover man, you can afford to be kind.