What took Universal Motown so long to release this attractive body of work? That's the question R&B aficionados may find themselves asking after one listen to Leslie's much-delayed self-titled debut. With its smooth melodies ("Just Right"), fresh beats ("Diamond Girl") and effortlessly suave lyrics ("Quicksand"), the album satisfies from beginning to end. Leslie isn't too macho to admit he's sprung over a girl on "Addiction," or that he still thinks about a past love on the thumping "How It Was Supposed to Be." On "Valentine," he croons about having his heart stolen by a woman, while confessing his fondness for a woman who doesn't speak his language on "I-R-I-N-A." And even when he ventures into new territory, as on "You're Fly," which finds him rapping, or on "Gibberish," where he literally sings about rubbish over a sleek piano pattern, Leslie proves it was worth the wait. —Mariel Concepcion