Joe, the singer with the common name, makes slick soul that harks back to the sweet style of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Despite these clear references to early music, Joe ensures that his music appeals to the tastes of today's youth by incorporating elements of R&B and (occasionally) hip-hop into his music. It certainly does him no harm: his popularity is growing every day in 2001. On Better
… Days Joe sounds like a contemporary Michael Jackson, especially in the ballads. Where the latter lost sight of humanity on Invincible through all the production efforts, Joe's music sounds warm and organic. With guest appearances from Shaggy and Petey Pablo, Better Days is a record that is perfectly tailored to the tastes of the average consumer. (MS)more
