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RECORDINGS Quick Spins
(By Allan Messer)
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IN MY SONGS
Gerald Levert
Of the many charms possessed by Gerald Levert, who passed away in November, foremost was his effortless way of connecting contemporary and old-school soul. The teddy bear crooner favored classic R&B vocals but peppered his records with enough timely slang and cultural references to keep the kids interested. His ability to perform a song such as "Wilding Me Out" in an earnest retro tone without sounding campy is unmatched.
The posthumous "In My Songs" is likely to be Levert's last feat of era-straddling (though one never knows what other recordings might be found). Throughout, he sounds like a hipper incarnation of a '70s soul man and a classier version of his lewder R&B peers.
The title track is a ballad about ballads, with Levert wondering why he hasn't found the sort of love portrayed in his music. He shows Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and others how a meta-love record should be done: The clever, indignant lyrics ("I'm the special guy I sing about!") make Levert seem witty and vulnerable, rather than just whiny and horny.
"Wanna Get Up With You" delivers the sound of the new jack swing that ruled Levert's early records, but with updated vernacular, while "What Cha Think About That" derives its edge from a trance track. The presence of electronic elements keeps things current even when Levert uses his best vintage voice. The strange blend somehow works -- and makes one wonder what else Levert might have concocted if given a little more time.
DOWNLOAD THESE: "In My Songs," "What Cha Think About That"
-- Sarah Godfrey
