CD Review
Title: Departure
Artist: Jesse McCartney
Label: Universal Music
Release Date: 

Reviewed by Leah Mertz (Edmonton Correspondent - Canada) 

After a two year hiatus, Jesse McCartney has finally returned to the music scene with the release of his third album, Departure. His first single 'Leavin' is a Top 40 hit that has been climbing the charts ever since its debut last month. Despite his previous projects being mostly geared toward the tweeny-bopper generation, Jesse has officially graduated into a more grown-up sound. Although his lyrics are simply rhymed and generally innocent, his voice has undoubtedly matured. Still, I am confident his transformation will still allow for legions of female fans to swoon over the one thing that remains the same: his charming good looks.

Besides what we see on the album cover, Departure is a fun and upbeat mix that is arguably the new frontier of pop music. McCartney combines synthetic techno sounds with an array of smooth rhythmic beats to create a fresh, fluid and edgier sound than his previous releases. ‘How Do You Sleep' and ‘Freaky' are funky tracks that are assured to be hits on the dance floor. Mellower songs like ‘It's Over' and ‘Told You So' take the musical form of teenage drama as it plays out through the eyes of young love. I am sure all of his songs will each take their turn relating to some teenage crisis somewhere in the world.  

The only hiccup in Departure is the chaotic whispers and overall messiness of ‘Makeup'. His voice is almost unrecognizable among the odd lyrics about natural beauty. Good message, but strained past the point of musical sense. Furthermore, he seems to echo Justin Timberlake's hit ‘My Love' on the groovy track ‘My Baby'. Their voices sound eerily similar; however, McCartney still has a youthful edge that thankfully, for now, falls short of Mr. Timberlake's sexually infused ballads.

My new guilty pleasure? Absolutely. Enlightened? Hardly. On the bright side, Departure is fun to listen to and is sure to be a hit among fans. From the moment he stepped onto the scene in 2004 with ‘Beautiful Soul', McCartney has been building up his artistry as both singer and songwriter. His talents are apparent on this album but it will be interesting to see what level he takes it to next. This album has great potential for future radio domination and further acceptance of Jesse McCartney as a respectable artist.
 

Track listing
1) Leavin'
2) It's Over
3) Rock You
4) How Do You Sleep?
5) Into Ya
6) Makeup
7) My Baby
8) Told You So
9) Relapse
10) Runnin'
11) Freaky
12) Not Your Enemy