Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I would actually give this album three-and-a-half stars. Even though this album peaked at a very strong #6 on the Hot 200 and was certified Platinum in sales, NEVER LET ME GO has since been unfairly labeled as one of Luther's lessor efforts. I've personally never understood this assessment. While the album may have a few weak moments (and honestly can't hold a candle to his fantastic eighties' records), it's actually quite good overall, and it has more than a fair share of standout moments. Artistically-speaking, much of the album is in the same early-'90's dance mode as THE POWER OF LOVE, however, when taken as a whole, NEVER LET ME GO is actually a bit better.
First of all, while it's no secret that Luther has a singing voice that is unmatched by anyone on a technical level, it is worth noting that Never Let Go features some of his finest recorded singing. The soaring ballads "Love Me Again" and "Too Far Down" are vocal tour de forces, and stand as pure examples of what Luther does best. The cleverly-arranged "Little Miracles" (#62 Pop, #10 R&B) and the kinetic "Heaven Knows" (#94 Pop, #24 R&B, #15 Dance) were both excellent single releases that deserved to be much bigger hits. The disc also concludes with a terrific medley of the Bee Gee's "How Deep Is Your Love" and Joe Scott's title track, and remains a reminder of the new spin Luther can bring to worn-out songs.
NEVER LET ME GO's biggest problem is that, aside from the cover medley, all of the disc's strongest tracks are included in the first half - which makes the album feel a little top-heavy. On the disc's second half, there are two dated techno tracks that sound like Power of Love outtakes ("Hustle," "Emotion"), both of which sound almost hysterically overwrought. Also, the song "Lady, Lady" steals the medley from Luther's own superior 1989 hit "She Won't Talk To Me" almost verbatim. However, all of this is perfectly listenable, and, in the end, it's the strong moments on NEVER LET ME GO that really stay fresh in the listener's mind. That's what makes this perhaps Luther's most underrated album. If you're already a fan of his, you won't be disappointed by picking this up.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Never Let Me Go
0 comments:
Post a Comment