Six albums deep and countless songwriting credits to his name, Tank is as established as they come in rhythm and blues.  He may, however, be experiencing the musical example of a mid-life crisis with his latest effort, Stronger.  Leading off the album is “You’re My Star”, which acted as the album’s first single.  Driven by glorious horns, Tank issues a love declaration to the object of his affection.  He continues on, listing the numerous traits he adores about her, positioning his veteran penmanship skills at the forefront.  Tank adopts a Sinatra-esque persona from the onset, which acts as an unfortunate harbinger of what is to come.

His transition from R&B babymaker specialist to dance floor enthusiast, similar to Usher’s Looking For Myself effort, continues as the album proceeds.  Tank plays with tempo throughout and finds some success with “Nobody Better”, a club tune that will hearken back to his 2007 Timbaland-produced banger, “I Love Them Girls”.  However, Tank’s trademark falsetto misses the mark on the all too evident “Dance With Me”, an energy infused dance floor number.  It finds him out of his jurisdiction, especially once the tempo shifts and he senselessly scats till the song’s conclusion.

Fortunately, the latter half of Stronger is reminiscent of the music Tank’s fanbase has come to expect from him.  The album peaks at its conclusion with “If That’s What It Takes“.  “Takes” is a gentle, poignant look at an unconditional and unselfish love, portraying a man at the end of his rope, desperate and willingly to sacrifice everything for his woman.  Tank’s attempts to expand his audience (and his pockets) notwithstanding, Stronger lands as a mixed bag, with Tank torn between new prospects and the music he was born to create.

Highlights—If That’s What It Takes/Missing You/Stronger/You’re My Star

Skip—Dance With Me/Hope This Makes You Love Me/I Gotta Have It