The follow-up to
SoMo's self-titled album -- which reached number six on the Billboard 200 in 2014 -- is a sequel to his debut mixtape. Over half of its songs were made with early collaborator Cody Tarpley, while Mick Schultz, the dominant partner on
SoMo, is out of the picture. This is another set of slick, R&B-inspired pop that alternates between everyday romantic gestures and frank come-ons. The latter can be easy to miss due to
SoMo's conversational, mid-wattage delivery; "Spin around, drop it down, do it now, fuck me on the floor, I'll never ask for more," for instance, doesn't sound nearly as desperate as it scans.
Trey Songz appears on "Hide & Freak," a duly raunchy track. Still ideal for high schoolers and collegiates who have tuned out
Justin Bieber and find
the Weeknd too scary,
SoMo continues to have a very specific part of the market cornered. ~ Andy Kellman