Two of Ike's best disco takes -- "Zeke the Freak," with its ultra-funky bassline, and the ear-buzzing "Shaft II" -- act as adrenaline for the slower tracks here; also upbeat is the inspiring "If We Ever Needed Love." The rest of the songs are slow, romantic items, with Ike's traditional raps inserted in just the right spots. He tacks a rap onto the beginning of
Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are," slows it to a rush-hour crawl, and drains it for every drop of emotion he can; he uses the same technique on "Believe in Me" and the best performance -- a slow, heartfelt rendition of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." This is the best album from Ike in some time. ~ Andrew Hamilton