Letoya Luckett – Lady Love Album Review

Artist: letoya Luckett

Album: Lady Love

Release Date: 8.25.09

Lady Love is the sophomore release, and follow up to the certified platinum self title solo debut, from the H-town resident. With this album the ASCAP and Grammy award winning singer/songwriter proves that she has what it takes to remain a force in the world of female R & B.

Track listing review below:

Lady Love – The first track is an upbeat tune introducing you to her vocal ability and setting the tone for the rest for the rest of the album. (3/5)

She Ain’t Got – This rock infused track is the second officially released single. The instrumental is something that could easily get airplay on top 40, pop & R & B stations as well as urban outlets. Think Lady Gaga or Fergie type track. Even though it’s not a typical R & B track she holds her own as she sings of a cheating lover’s taste in a mistress. (4/5)

Not Anymore – This ballad is the first official single and my one of my favorites. The instrumental is light and piano based allowing her voice to shine on the melody. She sings of being tired of her relationship and not dealing with it anymore. (5/5)

Lazy – Here she sings of not wanting to be in another relationship because she feels she can’t handle it after having so many bad relationships in the past. ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ type of message. She once again matches the instrumental vocally, though the track seems kind of big. (3.5/5)

Good To Me – This track reminds me of some prince in his Purple Rain or Under the Cherry Moon phase. Slow, with repetitive piano chords throughout and heavy drum loop. She sings of the things she wants in a man with him just being good to her as the undertone. (4/5)

Over – This is another favorite of mine. On this slow ballad she sings of ending it with a cheating boyfriend in a ‘what if’ scenario of all the things that he actually did. The echo in the hook of “Over” is really well done and fits perfectly. (4.5/5)

Regret Feat. Ludacris – With an assist from Ludacris on the third official single Letoya sings of how her Ex is regretting leaving her and wants to be back with her. This slow melody really suits her. The track is very similar and sounds like a slowed version of Mary Mary’s God in Me. Ludacris didn’t seem to do his best on this one but nonetheless it’s a great collaboration. (3.5/5)

I Need A U – This is a sexy ballad. She whispers the melody over a slow organ infused track as she sings of her fantasy guy to come and “ease her pain” of loneliness. The Guitar solo on the bridge puts this over the top. (5/5)

Take Away Love Feat. Estelle – On this mid tempo track she has some real talk with Estelle about a guy that just doesn’t seem to understand that she can’t be with him right now. They decide that she should take her love away. Not one of my favorites but it’s still a great track and the Estelle collaboration works. (3/5)

After Party – An up-tempo track compared to the rest of the album. She sings of the after party being the next relationship because the one she’s in isn’t working. The instrumental is simple, allowing her to do her thing. (3/5)

Drained – I like this one. The instrumental reminds me of an old school Nintendo game though. Here she admits to draining the love from the relationship, breaking his heart and possibly ruining future relationships. (3.5/5)

Tears – She glides over this sultry ballad and sings of how love has brought her to tears of joys. This is something that she hasn’t experienced before and can’t understand why she feels so wonderful yet she is in tears. (4/5)

Matter – On this simple drum heavy ballad she sings of how her ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend doesn’t matter because she can’t do the things that she was able to do. A classic song of love lost and regret. (4/5)

Love Rollercoaster Feat. Mims – Mims seems to shine a little more as Letoya is relegated to the chorus and bridge. The mid tempo instrumental is one of the busier tracks on the album. She seems to easily groove though as she sings of love’s ups and downs. (3.5/5)

Don’t Need U – On this Beat box driven instrumental, Letoya sings of realizing that she must move on and that she doesn’t need her ex in her life anymore. (3.5/5)

This album solidifies that not all artists suffer from the “sophomore jinx” musically. Her talent is undeniable and the production is simple and not overdone, allowing her voice to shine and carry the song as opposed to the music carrying her voice. The tone for this album seems to be of a relationship lost. This is definitely worth the purchase price.

Overall I give this album 4 out of 5.

W.O.W. Night Of The Mind

“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.” – Confucius

Ignorance – 1) The condition of being ignorant; lack of knowledge or learning. 2) The condition of being uninformed or unaware.

Everyone is ignorant to some aspect of life. No one person knows everything about everything. I consider ignorance the shadow of knowledge. While some people are fine with standing in the shadow, knowledge is usually only a passage of a book or a google search away. Though the shadow may seem cool for a while it will only last for so long before moving on and exposing your lack of knowledge to the world.

I say enjoy the sun (knowledge) and don’t forget the sunblock (education)!

Peace

Sincere