Review Summary: The "I Still Feel Her" saga finally ends but Jonny Craig still struggles to put his vocal talent to good use.
Despite falling out of love with Jonny Craig a few years ago I always find myself playing through his new material in the hope that he will release something that doesn’t suck. Here we have “The Le Cube Sessions”, a 10-track R&B album featuring 5 new songs and 5 remixes, which Craig himself has described as containing “raw emotion” and “no bull***”.
Everyone with an opinion on Jonny Craig, whether it is positive or negative, can agree that the guy can sing. “The Le Cube Sessions” is a stripped back affair, which allows Craig’s voice to take the lead without it seeming forced or egotistical like in some of his other projects. Craig’s voice is exceptional throughout the entirety of the EP and as expected he showcases his impressive range and control. As described there is an element of rawness, especially in “Stand” - a lightly produced ballad consisting of only twinkling reverberated guitar and Craig’s vocals.
So the vocals are enough to make this an enjoyable listen however, as a whole, the EP lacks an awful lot. Like with his earlier material, the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. Each track is laden with clichés that don’t quite deliver the emotion Craig promised. Closing track “Crossing The Ocean” is just a few steps too far and ends up being cringe-worthy thanks to lines like “I’d cross the ocean floor just to see your pretty face” alongside an irritating synth-string and piano accompaniment. Unfortunately it’s very difficult to take Craig’s “raw emotion” seriously since his deceitful past somewhat robs his songs of their sincerity.
For the most part it’s same old Jonny Craig but with glimmers of hope in “Stand” and “California Winters”. This EP is unlikely to change many people’s opinions on Craig, however it does feel like a small step away from his last release “Find What You Love and Let It Kill You”, which can only be a step in the right direction.
