Libra Scale

Libra Scale
File:Ne-Yo Libra Scale.jpg
Studio album by Ne-Yo
Released	October 27, 2010 (2010-10-27) (see release history)
Recorded	2009–10
Genre	R&B europop
Length	41:24
Label	Def Jam, Compound
Producer	D. DoRohn Gough, Chuck Harmony, Rochad Holiday, Jackpot, Sixx Johnson, Ryan Leslie, Ne-Yo (exec.), Antonio "L.A." Reid, Sandy Vee, Stargate, Syience, Derrick White, Curtis Wilson Jesse "Corparal" Wilson
Ne-Yo chronology
Year of the Gentleman (2008)Year of the Gentleman2008 Libra Scale (2010) R.E.D. (2012)R.E.D.2012
Singles from Libra Scale
"Beautiful Monster" Released: June 8, 2010 "Champagne Life" Released: July 20, 2010 "One in a Million" Released: September 14, 2010

Libra Scale is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. It was released on October 27, 2010 in Japan, followed by a release in the United Kingdom on October 29, as well a release in North America on November 22, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings and Compound Entertainment. The album is preceded by three singles: its lead Europop-oriented single, and the UK number-one hit "Beautiful Monster", as well the R&B singles "Champagne Life" and "One in a Million".

Upon release, Libra Scale received favorable reviews from most music critics. The album opened at number 9 on the US Billboard 200, selling 112,000 copies in its first week sales, becoming his fourth consecutive top-ten album in the United States. It currently holds a 73 out of 100 on Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on fourteen reviews, and has attained three singles that have achieved moderate Billboard chart success.

Background and concept

According to Ne-Yo, the idea for the album emerged from three influences: his desire to do something different instead of a standard compilation; his interest in science fiction, comic books and Japanese animation; and inspiration from the works of Michael Jackson, particularly Thriller, Moonwalker, and Bad. Originally a short movie was to accompany the album, but such proved not to be viable given time and monetary constraints, so Ne-Yo chose to develop a series of six extended music videos instead. Nevertheless, the film concept continues to influence the work, as he has stated the songs on the album are inspired by the script of the film that he wrote. The album features a number of songs which follow the story of Jerome and Pretti Sinclair.

The album's concept explores a story questioning morality and both sides of the Libra Scale: the decision between money/power/fame versus love. The story follows three garbage men – Jerome, Clyde and Leroy – who are offered everything they have wanted in return for protecting the city against a forthcoming threat. However, there's a catch: they can never fall in love. When Jerome (Ne-Yo) falls for Pretti Sinclair (Galen Hooks) disaster ensues, and he has to choose between his love for her and the fame, power and money that he had been given, as he must choose between her life and his own.

Singles

"Beautiful Monster" was released as the lead single on June 8, 2010. It peaked at fifty-three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and sixty-one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It performed the best in the UK, where it became his third number-one hit. It also reached the top ten in Japan and Ireland, and achieved moderate success in other international markets. "Champagne Life"was released as the second North American single on July 20, 2010. It peaked at seventy-five on the Billboard Hot 100, eleven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and due to gaining strong digital sales, reached the top forty in Japan. "One in a Million" was released as the third North American and second international single on September 7, 2010. It peaked at eighty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has reached a current peak at twenty-one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also reached the top twenty in the UK and charted in Australia.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 112,000 copies in the United States.

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The A.V. Club	B+
BBC Music	(favorable)
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Guardian
HipHopDX
Los Angeles Times
PopMatters	(7/10)
Rolling Stone
Slant

Upon its release, Libra Scale received generally favorable reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone awarded the album with four stars out of five, commenting that "the real concept here is: Michael Jackson tribute album. And a damn good one." Andy Kellman of Allmusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars, stating that "Ne-Yo remains a premier source of R&B that is both traditional and contemporary." Todd Martens of Los Angeles Times gave the album two and a half out of four stars, commenting that "Ultimately it's admirable that Ne-Yo felt the need to take listeners on a out-of-this-world ride, but he's at his best when sticking closer to home." Elysa Gardner of USA Today gave the album a score of three stars out of four and said, "This electro-savvy song cycle, involving a squad of superheroes and a love interest with a femme fatale alter ego, may not boast Ne-Yo's strongest hooks to date. But Libra Scales [sic] does confirm his affinity for balancing old-school romance with a youthful, fluid sensuality."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Champagne Life"	Shaffer Smith, David Gough	Gough	5:23
2.	"Makin' a Movie"	Smith, Derrick White	White	3:52
3.	"Know Your Name"	Smith, Sixx Johnson, Rochad Holiday, Curtis Wilson	Holiday, Johnson, Wilson	4:07
4.	"Telekinesis"	Smith, Jesse Wilson, Anthony Reyes	Jesse "Corparal" Wilson	4:22
5.	"Crazy Love" (featuring Fabolous)	Smith, Ryan Leslie, John Jackson	Leslie	3:50
6.	"One in a Million"	Smith, Charles Harmon	Chuck Harmony	4:03
7.	"Genuine Only"	Smith, Reginald Perry, Samuel Jean	Syience	3:56
8.	"Cause I Said So"	Smith, Joel Augustin, Alain Biamby	Jackpot	3:49
9.	"Beautiful Monster"	Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm	StarGate, Sandy Vee	4:11
10.	"What Have I Done?"	Smith, Gough	Gough	3:51
Total length:				41:24

Japan bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
11.	"Beautiful Monster" (Tony Moran Edit)			4:33

Deluxe edition bonus DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Life on the Libra Scale"	9:38
2.	"Libra Scale (trailer)"	1:54
3.	"Beautiful Monster (video)"	8:09
4.	"Champagne Life (video)"	8:10
5.	"One in a Million (video)"	9:38

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits for Libra Scale adapted from Allmusic.

• Hollywood Hot Sauce – Additional Production, Keyboards
• Kristen Yiengst – Art Coordinator, Photo Coordination
• Will Ragland – Art Direction, Design
• Leesa D. Brunson – A&R
• Q. Nicole Jackson – A&R
• Reynell "Tango" Hay – A&R
• Terese Joseph – A&R
• Dwayne Thomas, Jr. – Bass
• Erik "Baby Jesus" Coomes – Bass
• Anthony Reyes – Bass, Composer, Guitar
• Chuck Harmony – Composer, Producer
• Jesse "Corparal" Wilson – Composer, Musician, Producer, Programming
• Mikkel Storleer Eriksen – Composer, Engineer, Instrumentation, Production
• Tor Erik Hermansen – Composer, Instrumentation, Production
• Tyler Coomes – Drums
• Carlos Oyanedel – Engineer
• Damien Lewis – Engineer
• Jaymz Hardy-Martin III – Engineer, Mixing, Vocal Engineer

• Antonio "L.A." Reid – Executive Producer
• Ne-Yo – Executive Producer, Vocals
• Brent Paschke – Guitar
• Sandy Vee – Instrumentation, Mixing, Producer
• Chris Atlas – Marketing
• Tom Coyne – Mastering
• Kevin "KD" Davis – Mixing
• Phil Tan – Mixing
• Jerel Lake – Mixing Assistant
• Josh Houghkirk – Mixing Assistant
• Doug Joswick – Package Production
• Sacha Waldman – Photography
• Jackpot – Producer
• Rochad Holiday – Producer
• Ryan Leslie – Producer
• Syience – Producer
• Sixx Johnson – Producer, Programming
• Rachel Johnson – Stylist
• Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson – Vocal Engineer

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	36
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)	28
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)	60
Dutch Albums Chart	48
European Top 100 Albums	20
French Albums Chart	45
German Albums Chart	53
Irish Albums Chart	24
Italian Album Chart	15
South African Albums Chart	10
Swiss Albums Chart	15
UK Albums Chart	11
UK R&B Chart	1
US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	4
US Billboard 200	9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Italy (FIMI)	Gold	30,000
Japan (RIAJ)	Gold	100,000
United States (RIAA)	Gold	500,000
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Japan	October 27, 2010	Standard edition (CD, digital download) Deluxe edition (CD + DVD)	Universal Music Japan
Germany	October 29, 2010		Universal Music
United Kingdom		Standard edition (CD, digital download)	Mercury Records
Hong Kong	November 1, 2010		Def Jam Records
Australia	November 5, 2010		Universal Music
Brazil	November 9, 2010
United States	November 22, 2010		Def Jam Records