I've lost count of how many reviews we've posted of the album Fight for Love. This is a new one from Random J Pop, apparently prompted by the leak of Torn Down. It's a very good review: Something that is immediately obvious when you hear songs on this album is that Elliott can sing. He has a great tone to his voice, and a hoarseness which gives his voice a quality that makes you believe he's gone through it - enabling you to believe in what he's singing. The brilliant thing about this album however is that Elliott has been given a bunch of songs to match his vocals. His debut was decent enough, but it was boring because the songs on the whole didn't give him a great deal to work with. This time around Elliott has a collection of stand out songs, each one catchier than the last; putting his vocals to great use. Read the entire review here.

I managed to find a few positive words in this review: The whole thing is designed to showcase Mr. Yamin’s voice. He has a good voice, so this is okay If you want to read the rest, it's here.

They're liking the album over at MusicTalk's Blog: . . .songs like "Know Better," "Don't Be Afraid," "You Say," and "Apart From Me," make this record heady yet not crass. Just smooth enough without being coarse. It's just poppy enough not to be a sell-out.

Oh my. Reviewer Brandy McDonnell of NewsOK had to struggle to find one nice thing to say about the album. Perhaps this sentence gives you some insight into where she's coming from: "Fight for Love” practically serves as a 12-track standard bearer for what’s wrong with the music industry and the reality TV method of talent scouting. So apparently the problem is that Elliott got his start on American Idol. Read the review here.

'Listen Up' at the Sarasota Herald Tribune is a column that takes a second look at albums that "may have fallen through the cracks." Reviewer Marty Clear admits he was prepared to hate Fight for Love, But Yamin’s exquisite voice, inventive stylish arrangements and pleasing R&B melodies make it all go down very, very easily, with no unpleasant aftertaste. Read it here.

Tyrone Reid at Blogcritics has this to say about the new album: what makes his music both likable and memorable is the heart and raw emotion he pours into the songs. You never get tired of hearing him, which is a relief, believe me. You will be enthralled by the opening track "Let Love Be", a wonderful track to be savored and played repeatedly, and other cuts like the beautifully written cuts “You”, “This Step Alone” and “Someday”. With the sensitivity and consistency demonstrated throughout the album, the singer pulls you in. The entire review can be found here.

Soul Tracks says: It's funny. I wanted Yamin to become more his own singer than he was on a debut that overly relied on his vocal influences from the 70s soul legends of yore. Now I have a sophomore disc that vocally is uniquely his own, only it's not on a particularly unique project. Yamin delivers polished pop with solid, if nondescript vocals on predictable songs that fail to move me a single inch.

Do you want to strut down a Soul Train dance line? Then you’ve got to hear the retro R & B of “Cold Heart.” It’s a sweet surprise to hear Elliott sing some throwback soul, and it’s really stands out on the CD. Elliott tells some no-good woman, “You got a cold, cold heart? But a arm touch always gets you what you want/I just can’t get enough of this kind of dangerous love/I’ll keep your number but I know you got a cold, cold heart.” Sure, she may an icy minx, but Elliott will keep her mind...just in case. That's a little kernel from the review at Popcorn in My Bra.

John Moser of Lehigh Valley Music likes the cd: “Fight for Love” is a full display of the talent that Yamin’s debut and first hit “Wait for You” only hinted at, and was barely even seen on “American Idol.” If he had sung like this on the show, there is little question whose “Soul Patrol” would have won.

The Huh? is mine, not the MusicVixen reviewer's. Here's the reason I wonder which album she reviewed: Even with the horrible, trendy, Kanye-esque vocal processing, it’s clear that Yamin has a better voice than most of his contemporaries, making the effects unfortunate and unnecessary.
and The lack of identity is likely due to the fact that few of the songs were written by Yamin, making the album seem like it was tailored to have hits (the ballad, the soulful number, the upbeat dance track, etc) rather than to stand alone as a complete album. The album got 3 of of 5 stars.