Jesse McCartney
DEPARTURE
Hollywood
Risk and pop music hardly ever go together. Why take a chance when there’s money to be made?
That’s what makes Jesse McCartney’s new album, “Departure” (Hollywood), so remarkable. The first single “Leavin’” is an irresistible smash, with the reggae-and- R&B tinges and the cell-phone bleeps making the big pop chorus that much more memorable. But that’s only the beginning of
“Departure’s” wild ride.
Working with a who’s who of hot producers, McCartney zooms all over the musical map with reckless abandon, seemingly willing to try anything except the pretty “Beautiful Soul” pop that he was previously known for. Sometimes it works. Sean Garrett’s “How Do You Sleep?” is an update of those unstoppable boy band hits of a decade ago, while “Runnin’,” from up-and-comers The Clutch, gives McCartney a stylish R&B beat tailor-made for today’s radio playlists.
But even when it doesn’t quite work - in the crazy-eyed hip-hop of “Rock You” or the in-your-face R&B of “Freaky” - McCartney’s delivery and the slick production still keep it entertaining.
After co-writing Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” and voicing Theodore in “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and its surprisingly popular soundtrack, McCartney has already had quite a big year behind the scenes. With “Departure,” McCartney shows that sometimes all these chances pay off. (Grade: B)
