ONE AND ONLY ME has its strengths and weaknesses. The material, on balance, is good, with the strongest material, interestingly enough, coming in the second half of the CD. "Bad Girl" is a standout track, a caveat to a friend about a Siren who is nothing but trouble but who nonetheless seems irresistible. The refrain, " I'm trying to warn you/you've got to watch your back/what she won't do/is give you a bit a slack"over the hypnotic rhythm and spare arrangement is one that will echo and resound long after the CD is over. We all have known this woman, at one point or another, haven't we, gentlemen, the one who had our sets of brains, the ones above and below the belt, in a diametric opposition? "Step Back" follows "Bad Girl;" it's about a friendship that suddenly appears to become much more than that, with some fairly dramatic revelations. "I had to take a step back/I didn't know you were freaky like that/I never thought I would hit that/Now let me see your hands if you feel that." "Step Back" demonstrates that, where eroticism is concerned, less can be more; this song is as erotic as anything Prince every did, without the pottymouth juvenility. "After Midnight" --- not the Eric Clapton tune --- highlights a real world concern. There are people who actually work for a living, who have to squeeze those good things that result form a relationship into a schedule. While it doesn't do much for spontaneity, it does quite a bit for anticipation. "Waiting for You" takes a page from the Del-Phonics school of styling, a definite old-school arrangement and sentiment that, in Tunji's hands, still sounds fresh.

The major problem with ONE AND ONLY ME is that Tunji's solo vocals, surprisingly enough, leave a bit to desire. I say that this is surprising because his background vocals, which he handles himself, are mostly right on target; it's not like he's incapable of carrying a tune. He can. The sad truth is that his lead vocals just aren't up to the material, which, for the most part, is instantly likable.

Hopefully a copy of ONE AND ONLY ME will find its way to major artist, most of whom would kill for material of this caliber. And Tunji, I am sure, will continue to hone his vocal and songwriting chops until the time that he reaches that selfsame pinnacle. Ignore the occasional vocal clunker and check him out at this early stage.