Liberty X

At 16 tracks long, you certainly get value for money from Liberty X's sophomore effort. It's just a shame a little quality control wasn't exercised, as there's a decent album trying to get out of here, but you have to wade through several aimless dirges and retreads of past hits to find it. The Richard X-produced "Being Nobody" is the standout, a rare example of a mash-up, in this case, Human League's "Being Boiled" and Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody," that works perfectly and makes you wonder why the two songs haven't been sewn together before. "Everybody Cries" is a close second. A sweeping ballad with soaring strings, it's their most grandiose song to date, and the best showcase for their underrated vocals so far. But they are not the only highlights. "Watcha Doin' Tonight," with its opening motorcycle riff, is a funky answer to Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty"; "Forever" is a lovely tribal-inspired ballad; and "Close Your Eyes" is the kind of effortlessly slick pop that worked so well on their debut. But while half of the album is bursting with ideas, the other half seems stuck in a rut as several samey, watered-down R&B tracks start to merge into one another and the likes of "Jumpin'," a live favorite on their 2003 tour, gets lost amidst "everything but the kitchen sink" over-production. Being Somebody will certainly establish their credentials as songwriters, having penned ten of the tracks here, but they certainly need reining in a little for album number three if they're going to fulfill their early potential. [This edition features two bonus tracks.] ~ Jon O'Brien, All Music Guide