After the greatest-hits collection
Back to Front disappeared without a trace in 1992,
Lionel Richie spent four years making
Louder Than Words, his first album for Mercury Records. Although there are some slight attempts to incorporate new jack and hip-hop influences into
Richie's sound,
Louder Than Words relies on his trademark balladeering, which remains his forte. All of the weak moments on
Louder Than Words are ill-advised forays into rap -- to put it bluntly, he can rap about as well as
Snoop Dogg can sing. Although the ballads aren't as strong as his late-'70s and early-'80s standards, they are nevertheless pleasant, which makes the record a worthwhile purchase for fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine