Search - Dramatics :: Look Inside

Their best set since "New Dimensions" in 1982

Barry | Hampshire United Kingdom | 07/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Look Inside" sees The Dramatics burst back onto the scene in a ...well...dramatic fashion!!! L.J. Reynolds and Ron Banks spearhead a mighty soulful assault onto the mediocre black music landscape with an album of 10 songs that are all soulful, bang-up-to-date and yet classic. For aficionados of their tenure with Stax, MCA, Capitol or Volt there will be something for you, whether you are 18 or 60 years old. This has to be one of my favourite albums this year (along with Will Downing, Remy Shand and Glenn Lewis). Chapter 8's Michael J. Powell has a hand on 3 KILLER ballads, "Looks Like Rain", with its sultry rain backdrop, the quality "Right In The Middle Of Heaven" and the AWESOME top-drawer ballad, "I'm So Alone" which, I must say, is my track of the year so far. Such a soulful, yearning song; L.J.s deep, impassioned vocals and Ron's phrasing make this a must have record. A number of songs, "Look Inside", "Pushin' Up On Ya" and the vocoder-spiced "Baby Boo" are funky gems and are very exciting indeed; the guys' harmonies are really up-front here. The foray into rap on the title song and "Pushin' Up On Ya" really does work in this context too and, yes, if like me you curse the day rap and hip-hop was invented, you will still LOVE these songs! The sax on "What Must I Do" complemented with the sound of the sea lapping onto the shore is magical. If only more soul artists today remembered that a saxophone here or there adds to the atmosphere of their music. OK, there are but 10 tracks, but who will argue for quantity when we have quality such as this? I am so impressed, and those who love real soul, modern R&B, whetever will love this album. No soul / R&B lover worth his salt should be without this album. More please!"

Welcome Back Home, Fellows

Detroit Dramatics Fan | Detroit, MI United States | 02/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thirty one years after the release of the Dramatics' debut album "What You See Is What You Get", they demonstrate with their new CD, "Look Inside", that they can still deliver the goods. True Dramatics fans have waited a long time for the group to come back home, bringing their gift of lush harmonies, strong interchangeable lead vocals, and great musical arrangements, qualities that the Dramatics shared back in the day with that other great Detroit quintet, The Temptations.On this CD, The Dramatics teamed with quality writers and producers, including Detroiter, Michael Powell, co-producer of Anita Baker's Rapture Album, who captured the Dramatics' talent to create "fresh", "up to date" songs, e.g., "Look Inside" and "Baby Boo", while also creating vintage old school style songs, e.g., "Looks like Rain", "What Must I Do", "I'm So All
Alone" (reminiscent of "I Can't Get Over You", with L. J. Reynolds' classic pleading and crying).If you are a Dramatics fan, or a fan of great music, you will want to add this CD to your collection. Yes, The Dramatics have come home, bringing us their music that we have come to love. Welcome Home, Fellows!!!"

The Best Album of 2002!!

Diane | Dramville | 12/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like many have said before, on "Look Inside", there is something for everyone. Whether you are a teenager or an elderly person, there will be at least one song that you will love. The Dramatics have always been a group in which all five members could carry the lead at any given time, and this CD is no exception. Some of my favorites are the catchy, L.J.-written "Got My Pride", the soulful classic "Looks Like Rain", the lovely, Lenny-led "Better Love as Friends", and the heartbreaking, strong "I'm So Alone". From the more modern songs, the best ones are message-themed "Look Inside" and "Baby Boo", written and led by newest member Winzell. This CD is excellent. You can clearly hear the top-quality voices of Ron, Willie, L.J., Lenny, and Winzell throughout the whole album. 2002 was a great year for these guys."