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Feb 06, 2015 Web Exclusive By Danielle Sills

It may have taken a Rihanna hit to catapult him into the spotlight, but Mikky Ekko now has the platform he deserves. The gifted songwriter, who co-penned and co-starred in Rihanna’s “Stay,” does more than just fine on his own. From the gorgeous crooning of “Time,” where he slides through six notes every time he sings the title of the song to album opener, “Smile,” a simple feel-good pop song that’s sure to get him radio play, there’s plenty to hold our attention.

There’s nothing straightforward about Time, though. “Love You Crazy” has an R&B feel, which may make fans of Justin Timberlake diehards. And “Riot” goes to much darker places, with brooding guitars and harsher vocals that aren’t so focused on the clean, polished sound we hear in some of his more obvious singles.

It feels more like a mix of diverse songs than a cohesive album, but there’s enough here to keep fans of different genres happy. It’s great to see the focus on Ekko, letting him blossom into the limelight that he’s been just steps away from for years. (www.mikkyekko.com)

Author rating: 6/10