Urban music preview: Ne-Yo, on tour

For someone in a smooth genre, Ne-Yo is one of the smoothest. An R&B artist who doesn't particularly care for R&B any more, his collaborations with noted Norwegian pop producers Stargate have seen him tone down any hint of raunchiness, and develop a repertoire of pop songs so polite they could escort elderly ladies across busy roads. It's a move that's characterized by his album Gentleman, on which the Las Vegas native claims to have been inspired by Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack - not to become a womanizing alcoholic, but to dress smart and have his music do the same. A nice idea, certainly, but it's worth noting that the classic Ne-Yo tune - the all-conquering Closer a feisty exception to the rule - is generally a very soppy thing indeed. Ne-Yo's flawless vocals and can-do attitude, however, may charm you into submission.