Gerald Levert (Elektra)
On his standout sixth solo album, Levert harks back to the soulful Sound of Philadelphia that his father, founding O'Jays member Eddie Levert, helped popularize in the '70s. To capture that classic Philly vibe, Levert recorded the entire disc in the City of Brotherly Love, using mostly live instrumentation, including lots of real strings and a vintage Wurlitzer keyboard that his dad gave him more than 20 years ago. The singer also gives props to Pop on the midtempo bopper "All That Matters," which interpolates from the O'Jays' 1975 hit "Family Reunion." Another track, "Your Smile," borrows from the 1967 Nickolas Ashford-Valerie Simpson tune "Your Precious Love." Levert even keeps it retro when he brings in rapper Mystikal for a James Brownish turn on the funky "Too Much Room." But it's emotive ballads like "Closure"—on which the normally gruff-voiced Levert shows off his silky upper register—that really hit the spot.
Bottom Line: All herald Gerald
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