Trey Songz, 'Chapter V' aims to please

This CD cover image released by Atlantic Records shows "Chapter... — This CD cover image released by Atlantic Records shows "Chapter V," the latest release by Trey Songz. Credit: AP

August 20, 2012

Trey Songz seemingly wants to please everyone on "Chapter V" (Atlantic). He's got his well-crafted swaggering songs that show off most of his A-level guests, including Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and Diddy, but end up kind of demeaning. (In "2 Reasons," which features T.I., Songz repeats a derogatory term for women so many times it's like a mantra.) And he's got his soaring soul ballads designed to win those women back -- including the '70s throwback "Without a Woman" and the rockish anthem "Simply Amazing." It's the kind of pandering you'd expect from a newbie on "Chapter 1," but for "Chapter 5," it's just lame hedging.