The most versatile and underrated item in
Moore's often overlooked catalog,
Read My Lips runs the gamut from funky R&B radio numbers to quietly passionate ballads to rock-stenciled up-tempo fare.
Moore packs a tight-lipped, defiant punch on kinetic affairs such as "Mind Over Matter" and "Winner." Meanwhile, she's pure and sultry on the slow burn of "To Those Who Wait" and the emotional intensity of "I Can't Believe It (It's Over)." Having plenty of able assistance on hand doesn't hurt her case, either: producers
Keith Diamond and
Paul Laurence bring a meld of jazz, funk, pop, and soul influences to the fold, and intertwine them with remarkable consistency. This resourceful approach results in material that far surpasses earlier hits like "Love's Comin' at Ya" and "Keepin' My Lover Satisfied"; and it also turns out a surprising remake of
Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." With arrangements that are always on the dot, solid songs, and stellar vocals,
Read My Lips is a must for every
Moore fan's collection. ~ Justin M. Kantor