My wife is obsessed with Power on STARZ and I must admit it has become one of my guilty pleasures.
Obviously I'm not alone: DID YOU SEE how social media completely collapsed when the theme song, sung by the mighty Joe Thomas, was arbitrarily replaced by Trey Songz?
The reaction was so great that two weeks later, Joe sang again about life in a rich city.
But it's funny that Joe's legacy is so tied to a theme song. R&B fans know it's so much more. For more than 25 years he has been one of the most popular voices in R&B. So popular, in fact, that readers have been asking me to review his discography for years.
Don't wait any longer.
You know how we do it: let's take a look at Joe's LP series and sort them from bottom to top. Album quality, consistency and influence on the genre are as usual how the ranking is evaluated. And I will skip all Christmas albums and compilations.
Legal or illegal, baby, Joe's gotta make it...
12. My Name Is Joe Thomas (2016)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Read our review here
eddd says:Also known as #MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS. And man, my eyes hurt just looking at that. Said to be Joe's "last" album (although we know how withdrawal works in hip-hop and R&B), #MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS is quite a mix. On one hand, Joe sounds great, and it's theoretically great to hear him branch out into other genres. But on the other hand there is so much experimentation that the album loses a lot of cohesion. It feels more like an abbreviated encore than fans of high-end R&B might have expected.
Lieblingslieder: "No Chance", "Wear the Night", "Lay You Down"
11. Joe Thomas, New Man (2008)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 3 stars out of 5
eddd says:Well that was an album I guess. I don't mean that as an insult, everything here is well sung and solidly produced. But there's nothing here that pushes the boundaries or dares to stand out on its own. Everything is just... OK. And OK doesn't lend itself to being unforgettable.
Forgotten Favorites: "Definitely", "Why Just Be Friends", "Chameleon"
10. The Good, The Bad, The Sexy (2011)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
eddd says:Want to wear something to lift the mood? Joe has you This one is for baby makers ONLY. "This evening?" "Slow kisses?" "Pull my hair?" Yes, the theme of this one is obvious. The problem is that it sometimes feels a bit too dark. When things slow down some of the tracks feel a bit the same. But it's not a bad place.
Forgotten Favorites: "Losing", "Drink Up", "Tonight"
9.Bridges (2014)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
eddd says:On paper,bridgessounds like perfect tune: strong production, impeccable vocals, and themes that Joe's core audience can relate to. But where the album falls short is in the intangibles. It's a bit long and lacks the innovation needed to break the monotony. Joe sounds great as always, but there is little here that compels repeat listening.
Alte Favoriten: „Blame Her Broken Heart On Me“, „Mary Jane (Remix)“, „Till the Rope Gives Way“
8. And Then... (2003)
Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: And then...It's arguably Joe's last album to make a name for itself in the mainstream, and he's got the hits to prove it. Do you remember BET's Midnight Love? They used to wear out "more and more". But apart from a few decent album cuts, this one is a bit patchy overall.
Forgotten favorites: "So nicht", "Priceless", "Jeep"
7th company (2009)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:Ah, look at Joe's Easter Sunday attack on the cover of this album. One rarely hears discussions about Joe's eighth studio release, but that doesn't really reflect its quality. In this song, Joe is all about sex appeal, using his perfect voice to win over the listeners. It hasn't spawned any big hits, but it certainly gets the job done.businessgreat name for this one, it has its stamp all over it.
Forgotten Favorites: "Metaphor", "Very Special Friend", "Friends Leave Friends"
6. Nothing Like Me (2007)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:Joe has never been a stranger to the world of hip-hop - he's been the hook for some legitimate rap classics. he goes with everythingthere is nothing like me, an album showcasing everyone from Nas to A Tribe Called Quest. There's a lot more guests here than usual for Joe's signature album, but fear not, he's still the star of the show. Surprisingly, it's Joe's more traditional records that feel a little underwhelming this time. But it's proof that Joe has no problem being the center of the party.
Vergessene Favoriten: „Meet Me“, „Life of the Party“, „Just Chill Out“
5. At (1993)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:It's strange that one rarely hears discussions about Joe's debut. While the LP itself wasn't a big deal, Joe's first single "I'm in Luv" was a Top 10 R&B hit, and subsequent singles did pretty well too. To be fair, Joe has yet to find his signature sound - at times it sounds more like Aaron Hall Lite than the Joe we love. However,Allit is full of potential and is a very underrated listening pleasure.
Forgotten Favorites: "All or Nothing", "It's Okay", "If Loving You Is Wrong"
4. Doubleback: Evolution des R&B (2013)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:When I make these lists, the artist's most recent albums usually end up at the bottom. That's just the nature of the business, I think: it's hard to stay consistent 20 years later. But that's what's so excitingdouble back. Two decades after his debut, Joe found that spark again, resulting in one of his finest releases. The absolutely outstanding production really lets this one soar. He has shown that he still has it.
Forgotten Favorites: "Easy", "Baby", "More"
3. Better Days (2001)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:By 2001, Joe had four albums and still hadn't lost a step.better daysIt didn't have the chart success of its predecessors, but the quality was certainly still there. In fact, the first half of the album is some of Joe's strongest work. Things loosen up a bit in the middle, but that's not enough to derail another big project.
Forgotten Favorites: "Better Days", "Alone", "Lover's Prayer"
2. My Name Is Joe (2000)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:In 2000, Joe reached its commercial peak, and it was all thanks to that triple platinum success. Although it mainly features some of his most famous songs (the "Stutter" remix was EVER-ER-REY-WHERE in 2000 and "I Wanna Know" wasn't far behind),my name is joeI wouldn't rank this high just because of a bunch of hot singles. It's an extremely cohesive listening experience that's not afraid to mix soul and hip-hop. It's a formula he's used many times in his career, but never as effectively as here.
Vergessene Favoriten: „Table for Two“, „563“, „One Life Stand“
1. All I Am (1997)
Soul In Stereo Rating: 4 stars out of 5
eddd says:Yes, I know that was a #1 shoe. And it's pretty easy to see why.Everything I amis Joe's quintessential album, packed with the signature hits, memorable album cuts and honey-soaked vocals that have made Joe one of R&B's stalwarts.Everything I amIt's one of the most respected albums of its time and by far Joe's best work.
Vergessene Favoriten: „Good Girls“, „How Soon“, „Nobody Else Comes Close“
How would you rank Joe's catalogue? Let us know below.