After the well-received 'Love Letter' album, R. Kelly has continued with that throw-back feel onto this album, after changing his plans to release 'Black Panties' and go back to his sexually themed lyrics. The album begins with a fast tempo track with Kells giving off a strong Barry White vibe. While 'Love Letter' was paying homage to the '60s for the most part, this album perhaps goes to the following decade with '70s R&B themes.
Apart from a song or two like 'Clipped Wings', overall the production is more upbeat than Love Letter. Once again the vocals are brilliant, as we expect from R. Kelly album after album. 'When a Man Lies' is one such song, with the lyrics feeling a bit more like some of Kell's best ballads. As Love Letter had, this album contains a song that was written for Michael Jackson. 'You Are My World' is that song with R doing his best MJ impersonation and it comes off well, even pulling off the famous ad-libs - the two should have hooked up for a whole album together.
Overall, there isn't a bad song here, and the consistency is what you want from an album. However, I think that it lacks the brilliant tunes that R has created in the past to take it to the next level. After this and Love Letter, I hope that Kells switches it up again and gives us some of those unique R. Kelly joints such as the Ignitions and Trapped in the Closest type of tracks on his next album.
Best Tracks: Love Is, Feelin' Single, When a Man Lies, Believe in Me, Share My Love, You Are My World