Love & Consequences [Import]

Let me just open this up by saying, BUY THIS ALBUM! I know I'm pretty late reviewing this album because Gerald is about to release another great one for us. But it's never to late to tell anybody that this is a truly wonderful, mature album. Many of todays so-called R&B wannabes can take a lesson from Gerald Levert. This is pure soul with those same elements that Gerald's father (Eddie Levert to all of you who've been on Mars the last 10-12 years, since the group LEVERT'S extinction) has given us for so many years. To all of you, please by this album if not for the great cut Thinkin' About It alone. That is definitely a classic in the making, also one of my personal favorite songs EVER! But listen, the whole album is A SHEER, BONOFIDE, TOUR-DE-FORCE of great music. Other great cuts from the album are MEN LIKE US, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT CHA' (WITH MARY J. BLIGE) and of course TAKING EVERYTHING. But, my favorite in my opinion is the truly underrated IT'S YOUR TURN! I wish someone, anyone can tell me why,why,why this song did not make it to a national audience. It is truly a REMARKABLE PIECE OF WORK! I mean just that one song alone makes me want to just say " Gerald if nobody or no one person recognize, than you can best believe that I sure do. Just like his father, Gerald gives us that firm, gritty sweet soul sound that he inherited from his father. You just feel that he really went through some thing in a relationship that none of us will ever understand. Gerald sings it with such force. But like Marvin, Stevie, and of course Eddie before him, we are all blessed with the gifts that he can give us through his music. I don't know what else to say about that cut, but all I can do is tell you to buy it. Maybe it's the fact that in some way, shape or form if you've experieced being a part of that someone in your life that you will do anything for them and at least expect SOMTHING in return without asking too much, you can be able to relate to what the artist is feeling, that it just hits home. Have you ever heard an album that you wish that at that very moment all of Black America ( and also White, Spanish or even Chinese) were listening with you, just to feel what your feeling. There have been a lot of great albums out there over the years that each and everyone of us can listen to and enjoy, especially us Young and Old Black Americans, who really must support our African-American Artist who continiously give us those precious gifts known as a truly GREAT PIECE OF MUSIC THAT RELATE IN SOME WAY TO OUR MUSICAL CULTURE that we just keep missing the boat, and STOP supporting this other stuff that these other kids these days are calling music, known as RAP. I thought that Rap was what my other great musical genius, Isaac Hayes invented. Now back in my time, THAT was real Rap! Granted I have nothing against any of todays Rap Artist, but when a Sean Combs breaks out with what he calls "original" music by sampling some of the best cuts that have ever been recorded and makes millions off of it, I'm sorry but that just turns my stomach. When a great album like Truth or Consequences comes along and we don't give it the recognition that it deserves, than I think R&B is in some real trouble. And that, in it self makes me nervous for the future of our musical heritage.

Gerald hardly ever disappoints, and though this album is dark in subject matter (he himself was going through marriage problems during the making of this album, which spawns off a couple of worthy tracks), this is still one of his best albums. Even the song with Mo Thugs ("No Sense") works well. But my favorites are the duet with Mary J. Blige (Bobby Womack's "That's the Way I Feel About You"), "What About Me", the R. Kelly-produced "Men Like Us", and "Taking Everything". A classic that gets better with each listen.

Gerald Levert, son of the legendary Eddie Levert (a member of the seminal R&B group the O'Jays) and one third of the double-platinum-selling group LSG, has delivered a thoughtful and earnest solo effort. With Love & Consequences, the third solo album in his Levert's canon, Levert covers issues dealing with matters of the heart--pleasure, the pain, urgent desire, reconciliation, hope--with a forthright and honest voice that has become even sexier and more full-bodied with maturity.

Past efforts from Levert were decidedly funky, designed for getting one's groove on, but with Love & Consequences Levert is delivering his personal take on the ebb and flow of male/ female relationships. This is particularly evident in the sensuous and silky duet with Mary J. Blige titled "That's The Way I Feel About You," one of the album's best tracks. All 12 songs were written and produced by Levert, with the exception of "Thinkin' 'Bout It," the playfully sexy first single, which was produced by Deelite (who produced "My Body" for LSG). Love & Consequences also features the wonderfully clever and disjointed rap style of Bone Thugs N Harmony on "No Sense," and "No Man's Land" enlists the artistry of Wyclef Jean from the Fugees.

Love & Consequences delivers the grooves and the funk and is a worthy addition if you like your R&B straight-up.