Taken from the tree of a Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole’s strongest material comes from the pain and suffering she has experienced in her lifetime via loving and learning.  Following 2008’s A Different Me, she fell in love and went on to marry NBA player Boobie Gibson and her music reflected her newfound happiness.  It led to two underwhelming albums (2010’s Calling All Hearts and 2012’s Woman to Woman respectfully), but  the moment whispers crept up about a split, newfound hope arose for her musically.

The album opening “Intro [Last Tango]” is soaked in heartbreak, often the greatest reflection of an artist’s greatest work.  Cole is both weary, burnt out and fed up with the trials she has experienced in the name of love.  Lead single “Next Time” is a double take of both a wounded woman as well as a cautious one, hell bent on never being duped nor taken advantage of again.  “She” finds her experimenting with a same sex lover in search of anything to halt her grief.  Unfortunately, a bevy of guest features hinders Point of No Return’s momentum, contributing little, if anything, to the album.

“Party Ain’t a Party” and “Love Letter” are both well-structured  and would do well as solo cuts, but Gavyn Rhone and Future Mercury’s overemphasized singing threatens to ruin the party (pun intended).  Titled after the controversial musician, the ode “Rick James” was a revenge-founded mess that even Juicy J’s consistent string of guest appearances couldn’t save.  Cole has never been the strongest vocalist, but she manages to stay within her vocal range throughout Point Of No Return.  Point is far from Keyshia Cole’s best work, but it exists as a semblance of Cole’s correct lane in the rhythm and blues genre.

Highlights—Believer/Next Time [Won’t Give My Heart Away]/Remember, Pt. 2/She

Skip It—Heat Of Passion/New Nu/Rick James