Avant

Like R. Kelly, Avant is a Chicago-based crooner with a knack for high-pitched vocal serenades and bedroom-centric lyrics. Unlike the R, his tracks leave more room for the imagination. This is Avant's third album, and it's brimming with slickly produced R&B ballads. Check out "AV" and "Phone Sex (That's What's Up)."

The production here is jumpier and more varied than you'll find on most neosoul records,
but the assembly-line tunes and Avant's drab lady-baiting are plenty tedious. CHRISTIAN
HOARD AND BARRY WALTERS (RS 936, November 27, 2003)