Where I Wanna Be is one such release: Donell's only record to ever go platinum, and a fascinating look into the ambivalence of a player in an over-saturated mythos at the turn of the century. Certain albums showcase this balance with such grace that it's tragic when they don't make their way through the cultural game of Telephone we all play. But, when done well, these same elements elevate r&b to some of the highest heights music can reach. Combine that with heavy use of melisma, same-y production, and lyrics that are often forgettable (at times, even trite!) and you've got yourself a recipe for some valid criticism. This can make it feel exhausting to sift through, even for music digging enthusiasts. The genre has suffered from commercial over-saturation since it started gaining traction in the 1990s, resulting in a near omnipresent body of music that heavily favors the single over the LP format. It's not difficult to sympathize with detractors of contemporary r&b. Review Summary: Many consider the arena of modern r&b and soul to be a cliche, but Donell Jones challenges that notion on Where I Wanna Be, serving up underrated neo-soul just a couple of months before y2k yielded a new wave of the amalgam genre.

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