Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. The veering eclecticism of the album suggests that he's still figuring out his sound though, and he won't have untilled Imogen Heap samples, like on the inescapable "Whatcha Say," to work off of forever. Nonetheless, it's a pleasure-packed debut.
  2. As a performer, the smooth Derulo--made even smoother by Auto-Tune--delivers it all so effortlessly that none of that persuasive debut hunger comes through, making this stylish and short set one to admire rather than advocate.
  3. The busy production feels impersonal, though, and producer JR Rotem has made far too free with the Auto-Tune, robbing DerĂ¼lo of the idiosyncrasies that make an album worth hearing.
  4. The nine-song album's softer ballads--like the piano-driven "What If"--distract from Derulo's powerhouse vocals. His talent is somewhat misused on the tune, blanketed beneath equal parts Auto-Tune and lyrical vagueness. However, the inclusion of club bangers like "The Sky's the Limit" and "Love Hangover" boost the set's energy.
  5. On Jason Derulo, though, Derulo has trouble making an impression.
  6. Derulo's desperation to cover all commercial bases is only matched by an inability to stamp his own personality on them.
  7. This is music that rings shrilly with a deafening hollowness, an unashamed fakery akin to a dream-state where fantasy and reality have become mixed and hopelessly muddied.
User Score
4.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 53
  2. Negative: 27 out of 53
  1. Jan 7, 2016
    4
    this album it's noisy, it's a Electropop/R&B album with a lot of samples. I think that Derulo for this album misuse too many samples, thethis album it's noisy, it's a Electropop/R&B album with a lot of samples. I think that Derulo for this album misuse too many samples, the perfect example it's "Love Hangover" a horrible pop track where he samples "Who can it be Now". n this album there are only 9 tracks, however there are good songs, like "In My Head", a really good 'synth rock' song, very original, but also bad songs like "Fallen" and "Blind" where he try to made R&B, but he fail. Generally there are few tracks, with a lot of bad samples, but some songs are original and good, i give 4 to this album because i wanna be kind Full Review »
  2. Mar 16, 2022
    4
    Jason Derulo had the potential to make a great R&B/pop album. But he never did one. Maybe he couldn't, or maybe he cared more about easyJason Derulo had the potential to make a great R&B/pop album. But he never did one. Maybe he couldn't, or maybe he cared more about easy sales. This album shows a mixture of these two options. Oversold / horrific piano ballads ("Blind", "What If"), terribly commercial electropop garbage ("Love Hangover" is unbelievably bad), half-hearted pop/R&B tracks (most notably "Whatcha Say").

    "The Sky's The Limit" is engaging, and showed that this kid had something good in him. "In My Head" is a catchy mixture of pop rock with R&B, but the prodcution is a bit lifeless, and Derulo mimicks Chris Brown way too much on this song. I've read that "Ridin 'Solo" original version used a sampling of Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony", but the group didn't allow the sampling. Well Jason, maybe if you decided to make good music some more musicians would've told you yes to this kind of proposal. But instead you chose the money-grabbing way. If I can't sample "Bittersweet Symphony", I'll sample the TikTok jingle.

    This guy is the ultimate waste of talent, and his self titled debut album (ironically) represents it perfectly
    Full Review »
  3. Oct 4, 2020
    0
    Generic crap from a generic western artist surviving more with bought radioplay than actual sales.