The One (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Frankie J (vocals, background vocals); Frankie J; Steve Russell (various instruments, background vocals); Bryan-Michael Cox, Mario Winans (various instruments); Happy Perez (guitar, acoustic guitar); Steve Valdez (keyboards); Filiberto Lara Bautista, Night and Day (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Steve Valdez.

Audio Mixers: Happy Perez; Milwaukee "Protools King" Buck; James Hoover; Jean-Marie Horvat; Jim Beeman; Soulshock.

Recording information: Big3 Studios, St. Petersburg, FL; Black Room, Atlanta, GA; C.H. Studios; Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Criteria-Hit Factory, Miami, FL; Digital Services, Houston, TX; Logictone Studio, Chula Vista, CA; Mischkemusic, Los Angeles, CA; Soulpower Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Soulsick Lab, Houston, TX.

Ensemble: Night and Day.

Photographer: Jonathan Mannion.

Translator: Filiberto Lara Bautista.

Arrangers: Karlin; James Galvez; Filiberto Lara Bautista; Soulshock.

"Don't Wanna Try," a single that wound up cracking the Top 20 in 2003, is probably responsible for allowing Frankie J to bring in the likes of songwriters/producers Bryan-Michael Cox and Mario Winans, along with features from Baby Bash and Swisha House heavyweight Paul Wall, for follow-up The One. The singer continues to work closely with Happy Perez, but Cox's presence on not one but three tracks -- including "How to Deal," a clone of Usher's Cox-penned "Burn" in both sound and sentiment -- adds significant heft to his catalog. What's a Man to Do? tended to falter whenever J broke from his sweet, yearning (not whining) manner to adopt a tougher tone, but he smartly leaves that for Bash's and Wall's guest spots here. The One is a step forward in every aspect. Lead single "Obsession (No Es Amor)" shot up to the Top Ten upon release, only solidifying J's mainstream presence. ~ Andy Kellman

For Frankie J's 2005 album, THE ONE, the Mexican-born crooner offers up an impressive collection of songs helmed by a noteworthy array of producers, including Mario Winans and Irv Gotti. And while these established music-makers could have turned out an Usher clone, the man born Francisco Javier Bautista maintained enough creative control to craft more of a sensitive, balladeer persona for himself. The singer's style is exemplified by the lush "Story of My Life," with acoustic-guitar accompaniment and a pleading tone that's more yearning than desperate. Throughout THE ONE, however, J's Latin roots are never far away, as he croons Spanish couplets amid the snappy beats of the R&B-flavored remake of Aventura's bachata hit "Obsession (No Es Amor)," which features rapper Baby Bash. J's falsetto rings convincingly on the Winans-produced Jodeci-like jam "Can't Say It's Love" and the title track, with its perfect blend of clavinet, strings, and backing vocals. Even when the vibe gets a bit rougher, as with "On the Floor," Frankie J holds his own. As a bonus, THE ONE tacks on extra cuts, including an all-Spanish reading of "Obsession (No Es Amor)." minimize