ALBUM - TAIO CRUZ: ROKSTARR

ABOVE: Rokstarr marks Taio's shift to dance/pop mainstream

12th October 2009

By Sarah-Louise James

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TALENTED tunesmith, singer and producer, Mr Cruz, has really taken off since we here at the Star first flew the flag for him back in 2007.

A clutch of Top 10 and No 1 singles under his studded belt, this is the sound of the quiet London lad finally bursting out in to the dance/pop mainstream and shouting: “Look at me, I’m not just a talented behind-the-scenes artist - I’m a serious pop proposition.”

And he’s full of extra swagger these days as evidenced by his recent chart-topper Break Your Heart in which he apologises to a gal in advance for making her fall in love with him while admitting he has no intention of giving up his player ways.

You want more of the swaggery stuff? Dirty Picture has it by the bucketload. “Take a dirty picture/ Just send a dirty picture,” Taio urges over euphoric rave before a boom-bastic bassline that would make Dizzee Rascal jealous, wallops in.

Dirty Picture is a number one in waiting and with its female singer interlude, it sounds like one of those fabulously filthy duets Prince used to put out in the 90s.

Meanwhile, Best Girl makes no secret of the fact it’s all about sex, sex, sex. “Even when you’re tired, girl/ You wanna go twice.” Lucky Taio.

There are a few flat points, however. Taio should stick to the beats and the balls and leave Take That-style pop-rock – as on Falling In Love – to the manbands.