Journey of a Gemini

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With Journey of a Gemini, R&B smoothie Donell Jones bounces back after a four-year lapse famously littered with personal and professional fiascos. Where a lot of artists might overthink such a momentous return to the spotlight, though, he displays an astrologically correct tendency to let his instincts guide him, and the result is a disc that sounds both tight stitched and effortless. The song cycle follows a beguiling pattern: when Jones isn't seducing somebody, a la the shamelessly sexed-up "Apple Pie," "Can't Wait," or "Ooh Na Na," he's emptying his heart into a dusky ballad like "Portrait of a Woman." Or else he's just reminding the world that he can crank out a hit and have a near-criminally good time doing it. While "Better Start Talking" gets backing from Jermaine Dupri and the other standout selections here boast top-tier production talent--Tim & Bob hook him up on "I'm Gonna Be" and Ryan Leslie lubes up the Bun B number "If You Want" till it's perfectly squeakless--Jones commands a distinctive kind of cool throughout. This journey may not lead him where his last disc did, which would be to the No. 3 position on the Billboard 200, but it's way worth following his trail markers anyway. --Tammy La Gorce