Stevie Wonder: A Time to Love
CML call number: CD/ROCK/Wonder
Ben Greenman wrote in the New Yorker: "'A Time to Love' (Motown), his first collection of new material in a decade, starts off with the darkly powerful 'If Your Love Cannot Be Moved,' a duet with Kim Burrell that also includes human beat-boxing and ominous strings. From there, the album rarely slows down — or rather, it slows down plenty, but in the best way possible. There are … sophisticated rhythmic workouts like 'My Love Is on Fire,' which features the great flutist Hubert Laws, part of a long, ecumenical guest list that includes Wonder's daughter Aisha, who supplies two delicate duet vocals. Wonder has always insisted, with the bravery and naivete of a great artist, on engaging every aspect of the world around him, both politically and emotionally. This can expose his flaws … but his gaudiest excesses are kept in check this time out. 'Please Don't Hurt My Baby' wraps a snaky, viciously funky synth line around a sharply sung tale of infidelity and tattling. … 'Positivity,' goofy, upbeat, and highly prolix, takes its song title from Prince, just minutes after Prince donates a guitar part on 'So What the Fuss'" ("Pop Notes," 10/17/05, p. 32).
Ben Greenman wrote in the New Yorker: "'A Time to Love' (Motown), his first collection of new material in a decade, starts off with the darkly powerful 'If Your Love Cannot Be Moved,' a duet with Kim Burrell that also includes human beat-boxing and ominous strings. From there, the album rarely slows down — or rather, it slows down plenty, but in the best way possible. There are … sophisticated rhythmic workouts like 'My Love Is on Fire,' which features the great flutist Hubert Laws, part of a long, ecumenical guest list that includes Wonder's daughter Aisha, who supplies two delicate duet vocals. Wonder has always insisted, with the bravery and naivete of a great artist, on engaging every aspect of the world around him, both politically and emotionally. This can expose his flaws … but his gaudiest excesses are kept in check this time out. 'Please Don't Hurt My Baby' wraps a snaky, viciously funky synth line around a sharply sung tale of infidelity and tattling. … 'Positivity,' goofy, upbeat, and highly prolix, takes its song title from Prince, just minutes after Prince donates a guitar part on 'So What the Fuss'" ("Pop Notes," 10/17/05, p. 32).
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