CD Review by Startribune

Not the best review, but not bad either...

"This British R&B-pop star's U.S. debut mostly features songs from his first two British albums, released in 2008 and 2009. Cruz, who produced every track on this album save one, works at the intersection of R&B and electronic music, taking the digital soul of T-Pain and The-Dream to extremes that make even borglike competitors like Jason Derulo appear earthy.

But the older songs here are gentler in subject matter, attitude and volume than the more recent ones, which have made Cruz something of an instant pop star. "Break Your Heart," which has already reached No. 1, manages to be airy while abusive synths descend from every corner. It's probably the most optimistic song about romantic malfeasance in recent memory.

Most of "Rokstarr" chugs along like this, though with less cynicism, fully mechanized and overflowing with empty calories. It's exhilarating and exhausting, and ultimately memory-depleting. Harsh, bombastic synths imported from megaclub trance music give these songs (particularly "Take Me Back" and "No Other One") motion and heft, and Cruz, or his voice box approximant, brings sweetness. There are vapid lyrics to navigate but they don't disrupt the mood, which is emphatic and rarely sensual: Turns out Cruz has no off switch."

Source: http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/95805609.html?page=2&c=y