The-Dream’s new album hits the right notes

During a recent interview with Pop & Hiss about his new album IV Play, The-Dream seemed most excited by far about Too Early, a mournful electro-blues cut the influential R&B star recorded with Gary Clark Jr on guitar.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that for his gig on Friday on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The-Dream chose to play Too Early over the album’s title-track single.

Whatever his reasoning, we’re glad he did: Expertly backed by Clark and Fallon’s house band, the Roots, The-Dream brought a unique mixture of swagger and vulnerability to his performance; the moment near the end when his voice cracks is heartbreaking in all the right ways.

Despite typically strong material like Too Early and Turnt, a stark club jam featuring Beyonce, IV Play debuted rather weakly at No 16 on the Billboard 200 this week.

But don’t cry for The-Dream: According to Billboard, he’s due to appear on upcoming albums by Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West.