Mr. Houston

iTunes Review

While fans have bemoaned the use of auto-tune on Marques Houston’s fourth album, the consistency of Mr. Houston shows that the singer is interested in more than just trendy hits. At a time when R&B albums are usually built around two or three singles, it is a surprisingly strong set from front to back. The album is lightweight without being insubstantial, flirtatious without being insincere, and diverse without being overwrought. Like so many current R&B albums, Mr. Houston bears the influence of The-Dream, the multitalented producer whose futuristic arrangements and halftime tempos have become R&B’s flavor of the moment. Fortunately, Houston is a perfect match for this style. In “How I Do,” “Date” and “Restaurant” his falsetto blends into layers of pillowy synths and doubled vocals to form a delirious atmosphere. Those who prefer a more straightforward approach will appreciate the stripped-down settings of “Say My Name,” “Letter,” and “Sunset,” which put the focus solely on Houston’s velvety vocals.