Album review: R. Kelly's 'Love Letter'

In all the tumult surrounding R. Kelly -- his sex scandals, his court debacles, his way with a vegetable-as-romantic-stand-in metaphor -- one thing often gets lost. The man can sing. On recent albums, that fact got lost behind his daffy slow jams (“Sex Planet” or “The Zoo,” for instance) that disguised his melodicism and vocal powers. On “Love Letter,” he does away with the freakiness and lays down a full record of slow-simmered, grown-man emoting. And it feels like a wayward husband who’s finally come home for good.

Some of us also love the lusty, batty Kells whose come-ons could make Prince blush. But “Love Letter” isn’t that album. Instead, it’s steeped in vintage Stax and Motown. “When a Woman Loves” gracefully nods to Otis Redding’s “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” while giving Kells a smoky, tempered backdrop to tap decades of undeserving-man ballads. Wait for the pleading a capella bridge, which goes on three times as long as it needs to -- and it scorches. “Love Is” has a "Soul Train" pluck, and “Number One Hit” rides babymaking synthesizers worthy of Sade. Only a bonus cover of his Michael Jackson collaboration, “You Are Not Alone,” feels tacked on.

The rest are all misty-eyed jams to make Maxwell and Raphael Saadiq feel topped. “Lost in Your Love” asks the album’s central question: “Can I bring love songs back to the radio?” Yes, Kells, you can. And it’s been far too long.

-- August Brown

R. Kelly
“Love Letter"
Jive Records
Three and a half stars

Comments

[Karen H.]

Wow, what an awful album cover.

[kwhy8strm]

is he trying to do a Stevie Wonder/Ray Charles homage???

[Kenny]

Ray Charles called, and...nah, nevermind-it's just too easy.

[Lady Tee]

I purchase the CD today. I absolutely love it. This cd is for the grown folks. These are the sounds and beats that my mama would have listened to. As far as the album cover, BRILLANT - the Motown feel - 1950 & 1960 sway. The younger generation does think the Marvin Gayes of the music industry have sway but they created Gentleman-Like-Sway.

My favorites songs are: Love Letter, Radio Message, Love Is but the entire cd you can see Marvin and Tammy, Stevie, Otis. S-e-x-y Romantic Music is back. I felt like having a house party and slow dancing in the living room.

Good Job R Kelly!!

[sheryl]

Tremendous talent, R. Kelly. Love Letter left me speechless and lost in the music. Congratulations R. Kelly for a wonderful album!

Fan for life.

Sheryl

[Benson Amire]

wow!i av been searching for an avenue to commend ur style of song.Big talent,Big treasure{BIG R KELLY} your album is too good.no matter what in life,do the right thing and keep your heads up and b heavenly focused.God Almighty will see u 2tru.
I remember ur Albums like,"PRAYER CHANGE","YOU SAVED ME" AND "THE STORM IS OVER" are all inspirational.keep it up.
shalom!!!

[Benson Amire]

keep flying cos I BELIEVE YOU CAN FLY.

[DJ Eric D]

I have worked the Club Sceene Since I was 16 I started DJing at 14, Now almost 21 years later of working through Burbank, San Diego, The San Fernando Valley, Hollywood and Dowtown L.A. I have heard so much music, One album that has alway stuck in my Playlist weather at the clubs or even a good old family backyard jam session has been the Chocolate Factory, amognst other R-Kelly tracks that have made people want to or actually have babies. Yes he has issue, yes he has had some hard times that almost derailed him. Trying to come back in the mix and joining up with some of this new "So called Artists" was a mistake. Remember, you are R & B, these new artist, they grew up listening to your tracks, they wanted to make music, sing songs, make women sway the way you did, and now you have found your roots once again.

This Album is who you are, this is what we were all waiting for, this is what R & B was missing. Real Soul, Real Music, Heart felt deep words, real words, not the same "I'm smoking out, got a GU$% bull$%@^#$ that everyone else says in every other hook or lyric. That is not real music, that is not talent, Love Letters is real music, I applaud you for this album, I am happy you came back and gave us R-Kelly. I kept saying for years you neede to drop a true R & B album and you finally did.

Wait, Listen, do you here that? R & B is finaly coming back to the radio....What a way to start...

[toddler2kid]

Smooth and Sexy. The number one. Highly recommend...

[abrbmusi]

One of the best R Kelly albums to date and I have all of them!