Ryan Leslie

With its smooth melodies ("Just Right"), fresh beats ("Diamond Girl") and effortlessly suave lyrics ("Quicksand"), the album satisfies from beginning to end.

With its smooth melodies ("Just Right"), fresh beats ("Diamond Girl") and effortlessly suave lyrics ("Quicksand"), the album satisfies from beginning to end.

The pedestrian vocal performance allows his true strengths--in arrangement and melody--to be showcased without intrusion, and it's a testament to his ability that the thrills run far deeper than surface level.

The pedestrian vocal performance allows his true strengths--in arrangement and melody--to be showcased without intrusion, and it’s a testament to his ability that the thrills run far deeper than surface level.

It's a testament to Leslie's extraordinary melodic instincts that the disc has as much replay value as it does.

It's a testament to Leslie's extraordinary melodic instincts that the disc has as much replay value as it does.

The tracks are tuneful and bounce in all the right fluffy ways. But the songs--most are three minutes--are unmemorable, and Leslie, who comfortably shifts from lower register to a sweet falsetto, isn't a commanding vocalist.

The tracks are tuneful and bounce in all the right fluffy ways. But the songs--most are three minutes--are unmemorable, and Leslie, who comfortably shifts from lower register to a sweet falsetto, isn't a commanding vocalist.

Inevitably, Ryan Leslie is a producer's record; its cutest moments--neo-New Jack bounces, lonely electro loops, nursery-rhyme Auto-Tunes--studio gold.

Inevitably, Ryan Leslie is a producer's record; its cutest moments--neo-New Jack bounces, lonely electro loops, nursery-rhyme Auto-Tunes--studio gold.