Gerald LeVert,
Keith Sweat,
Johnny Gill -- three vocalists who have sustained successful careers in urban R&B. They've hit the top of the charts, but they never quite became superstars. They were never washouts, either -- they stuck around for years, continually racking up hits without drawing attention themselves. In short, they're R&B journeymen -- you can always rely on them to deliver the goods. And that's what makes their supergroup
LSG's first album -- called
Levert Sweat Gill, funnily enough -- so enjoyable: these guys know how to pick a good song and deliver it memorably. There are a few weak cuts scattered throughout the album, but they're so well crafted, they're easy to enjoy. But the true moments to treasure occur when everything falls into place -- when they have a strong melody and lush production,
LSG's voices blend in thrilling harmony and produce some truly affecting smooth R&B. And while its roots are certainly in old-fashioned, lover-man R&B, there's a distinct new flavor to the music, thanks to contributions from such producers as Sean "Puffy" Combs and
Jermaine Dupri. That helps make
LSG's first album a satisfying debut indeed. ~ Leo Stanley