Search - Lsg :: LSG 2

Leaps and Bounds

R. Tolliver | Grand Rapids, MI USA | 07/30/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, and Johnny Gill reunite for another album six years after their platinum collaboration. The end result, an album that is leaps and bounds above the first album. This time around, Gerald Levert takes the bulk of the writing and production instead of Keith Sweat. Gerald ends up sounding alot better because obviously he is writing to his strengths. Listen to "Cry and Make Love" and you'll hear one of the best Gerald leads I've ever heard.Another strength is that this album isn't overflowing with rappers and attempts to be hip like before. Loon is on the first single "Just Friends" and there is another reapper on "Wide open" but he isn't a major one. Johnny Gill give another set of astounding vocal performances, but doesn't overshadow the others. Actually songs like "Yesterday" and "Cry and Make Love" Gill sounds the best on and he doesn't sing that much in either. Can't wait for this man to put out another solo album. The New Edition reunion can't happen soon enough. Keith Sweat's voice is still annoying and his vocal technique isn't great, but he still sings his heart out despite that. A couple of times on this album, he sounds so normal, I didn't know it was him. He still has potential.In the end, even though a few songs come out average like "Fa-Free" and "Wide Open" This is a great album for R&B fans, fans of any of their solo work, or fans of New Edition."

A little too much Sweat>>>>

Adrian G | Dallas, Tx | 11/11/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This was a great idea. The first version of this trio was nice and one of the first times I remember artist coming together like this. Now everybody is tryin to do the "superalbum", especially in hip hop. Well after 6 years they hit us with the second part to their first classic. This..this is not a classic. It starts off with the lead single "Just Friends", which of course uses the Whodini sample "Friends". Decent cut. They actually enhanced the track a lill bit and sound good on top of it. Loon is unnecessary but then again very rarely is the hip hop verse on the R&B track necessary in today's world. The second track is decent also, entitled "Wide Open". The lyrical arrangement is cool. Johnny sounds great and it takes you back to the old LeVert tracks. After this cut is where the CD takes a turn for the worse. The key element in it's demise is Keith Sweat. I own every Keith CD up until '98. At that point the record label had grabbed him and tried to "cross him over". At that point I was out. Now dude has just lost his edge. Every now and then on this CD his voice ,which is an acquired taste, is ok but for the most part he's struggling through it. Track 3 "Shakedown" is embarrassing actually. The next 3 tracks follow the same pattern actually, Keith being unimpressive with Gerald and JG unable to save the tracks. Track 4 "fa free" starts good with JG crooning. Just a little too much Keith. Track 5 "Yesterday" is a nice Gerald selection but the track does nothing to keep you with it. Next. Another "Keith has lost it" cut "Play with Fire". Track 7 "What About Me" starts to bring the CD back. It's a mix between Stevie Wonders "All I do" and Carl Thomas "I wish". Keith is decent here. Track 8 is my favorite on the CD, "All I Know". Great song. Listening to it the chorus doesn't really sound like them but I love it. Has a definitely 70's feel with a funky drum program. The last cut on the CD "Cry and make Love" is a typical Gerald LeVert headboard banger. Overall I liked cuts 1,2,7,8 and 11. The magic is gone from this supergroup. I guess nothing last forever........."

Thank God for Some Real R&B

The CD Jazz Man of STL | Saint Louis, MO United States | 07/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I heard that the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill) was coming with something new, I had to have it. So I went to the only record store that is open at 12:01 this morning in my city and picked it up. LSG2 is what the doctor ordered. With so many bubblegum and bump-N-grind groups out there who are more about style, dancing, and pseudo-freaking instead of real singing, it is refreshing to hear someone really singing. Of course the mid-tempos and ballads are standout such as Lessons Learned. The catchy names for songs such are Wide Open written by Gerald's brother Sean are great because it is great singing with street appeal since Wide Open is one of the popular phrases in street vernacular. Fa Free (or For Free) is in the same vein at Wide Open. But for myself, the ultimate jam on this latest rendition of LSG is All I Want. Once you hear this song, all you can say is Whew!!! Nice instrument arrangement with the drum and guitar work and song written by Jason Coffey. Though it would be easy for Levert and Gill to overshadow Sweat, the voices blend well together. You also get the familiar sounds and shrills of each artist that endeared them to us over the years.For those of us who remember real music, if you don't get this CD, you will be missing something that doesn't come along much in this age of flash and dash. Thank God LSG remembers what real music is."