With the release of his new, eponymous album from Universal Records, Crowned Prince of R&B Jay R is more than ready to ascend the throne. Expected to be certified precious metal as it hits music outlets, the "Jay R" album contains 18 tracks, all of them sure winners and potential smash hit singles.

The carrier single "Just The Way You Are," is a refurbished version of the Billy Joel pop classic, complete with street-beat rap and Jay R's distinct R&B flavor. There is a second rendition of "Just The Way You Are", a duet with singer/actress Samantha Mumba, who is best remembered as lead star in "Time Machine".

All the Filipino numbers in the "Jay R" album are expected to lord it over the airlane the entire 2006. There's the Vehnee Saturno penned "Ngayo'y Narito" which Jay R co-produced with the consistent hitmaker and creator of his monster hits, "Bakit Pa Ba" and "Kung Mahal Mo Siya".

A pleasant surprise is DJ MOD's "Paalam". It's quite fantastic that this ace hip hop artist can dish out such a "senti" number, ably interpreted by Jay R. "Di Ko Sadya" is destined to be a Year of the Dog chart topper. This number produced by Jay R and Saturno, is co-produced by South Border musical wizard Jay Durias.

The song "I'd Rather" is not the Luther Van Dross blockbuster, but a different one yet as appealing, with Jay R's cool and sexy rendition. "How Many Times" is mellow R&B, simply touching. A grower, the song sounds more heartwarming as you repeatedly listen to it. There are groovy danceables in the Jay R album which can also be listened to on lazy afternoons or lonely evenings. With Jay R as company, he will surely lighten up any time of the day.

Most of the songs in the album are produced and mastered in the U.S.A. with American writers and producers like Eric Jackson, Jason Edmunds, Michael Jester doing the efficient works. The "Jay R" album from Universal Records is released in cooperation with Nu Life, Bench, Sun Cellular, UniSilver, Colgate Tropicana Twister and Skechers. Three bonus cuts in the "Jay R" album are "Sun Cellular Seasons" theme song, "Tropicana Fill The Thirst" jingle and the theme song from the "Colgate Make You Smile" commercial.