Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 10/15/2002
This modern
R&B stalwart has always offered the perfect blend of dreamy old-school
soul textures; jangly, guitar-driven atmospheres; and slick, modern
funk grooves. And oh, that voice -- mellow and sexy, seductive to the core. The best "come to beddy bye" tone since
Barry White, and so steeped in that era. The vibe on
"Too Much Room" artfully merges all of those things and sounds like a modern twist on
the O'Jays (where his dad,
Eddie Levert, still holds court), but he gets a little ambitious with the sometimes-annoying scowl/screech of guest artist
Mystical.
"Since You Ain't Around" is all bedroom-eyes fun, his vocals almost a plea.
"Wilding Me Out" has a sparse production (mostly just Fender Rhodes and a rhythm track) which allows for one of the clearest vocal tracks on the recording.
Levert will hopefully educate some of his fans to the art of
jazz with the inclusion of
Roy Ayers' vibes on
"Oh What a Night." Levert's scatting duet with
Ayers is a highlight.
~Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide