The style of the Rat Pack - singers and actors such as Frank Sinatra who were Hollywood stars in the 50s - and Nat King Cole's soulful voice were the inspiration behind multiple Grammy-winning R'n'B artist Ne-Yo's third album Year of the Gentleman.
The album is a wonderful collection of inventive ballads, with an amazing level of musicianship and orchestration in each song.
Year of the Gentleman debuted at number two on both the Billboard 200 and UK Album Charts, with a quarter of a million copies sold in the US in the first few days after release.
The first single from the album, Closer, is enjoying top ten chart success around the world.
It's a pleasant ballad with a mellow dance/pop style. The catchy melody makes it a dancefloor hit. The second release from the album, Miss Independent, is an R'n'B track with a mixture of dance grooves that shake up the tune and saves if from being another bland R'n'B song.
The most musically inventive song is So You Can Cry with its 70s style and clever use of the harp and clarinet.