Total Attention

Album Review

The boys from 21:03 learned their lesson: it pays to not mimic bygone mainstream trends too closely. Their second album, Total Attention, sees them for the most part steering clear of the B2Kisms that were all too prevalent in their debut offering, opting instead for a more personalized vibe that's in step with the new wave in urban pop, namely Chris Brown, Omarion, and Ne-Yo. 21:03 aren't as autonomous as those teen heartthrobs — they're still under the yoke of urban gospel impresarios PAJAM — but they're noticeably more seasoned here, singing with more conviction and assurance than when they were first put together. The PAJAM factor also means there's a fair share of name-dropping and overdone, over-tracked vocals, but outside of that the clear center of attention is the trio, which appears in control while seesawing between futuristic, buzzed-out bangers ("You," "U Got Me Through") and heartfelt balladry ("Now," "Holding on to You"). A few throwaway tracks are clearly aimed at the contemporary gospel contingent ("Riverside," "Cover Me"), but 21:03 are almost out of character on those. Since they're young, have great voices, and love to dance, they thrive on bangers like "Talkin' About" and "Brace Up," not syrupy, lighters-in-the-air altar calls like "Power of Christ." That said, Total Attention is still a testament to the threesome's growth spurt. God willing, it's only a matter of time before they're comfortable in their own skin to the extent that they're able to call the shots and assert themselves as true power players in urban gospel. For the time being, all eyes are on them.