Customer Reviews

LSG 2

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, and Johnny Gill reunite for another album six years after their platinum collaboration. The end result, an album that is leaps and bounds above the first album. This time around, Gerald Levert takes the bulk of the writing and production instead of Keith Sweat. Gerald ends up sounding alot better because obviously he is writing to his strengths. Listen to "Cry and Make Love" and you'll hear one of the best Gerald leads I've ever heard.

Another strength is that this album isn't overflowing with rappers and attempts to be hip like before. Loon is on the first single "Just Friends" and there is another reapper on "Wide open" but he isn't a major one.

Johnny Gill give another set of astounding vocal performances, but doesn't overshadow the others. Actually songs like "Yesterday" and "Cry and Make Love" Gill sounds the best on and he doesn't sing that much in either. Can't wait for this man to put out another solo album. The New Edition reunion can't happen soon enough.

Keith Sweat's voice is still annoying and his vocal technique isn't great, but he still sings his heart out despite that. A couple of times on this album, he sounds so normal, I didn't know it was him. He still has potential.

In the end, even though a few songs come out average like "Fa-Free" and "Wide Open" This is a great album for R&B fans, fans of any of their solo work, or fans of New Edition.

When I heard that the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill) was coming with something new, I had to have it. So I went to the only record store that is open at 12:01 this morning in my city and picked it up. LSG2 is what the doctor ordered. With so many bubblegum and bump-N-grind groups out there who are more about style, dancing, and pseudo-freaking instead of real singing, it is refreshing to hear someone really singing. Of course the mid-tempos and ballads are standout such as Lessons Learned. The catchy names for songs such are Wide Open written by Gerald's brother Sean are great because it is great singing with street appeal since Wide Open is one of the popular phrases in street vernacular. Fa Free (or For Free) is in the same vein at Wide Open. But for myself, the ultimate jam on this latest rendition of LSG is All I Want. Once you hear this song, all you can say is Whew!!! Nice instrument arrangement with the drum and guitar work and song written by Jason Coffey. Though it would be easy for Levert and Gill to overshadow Sweat, the voices blend well together. You also get the familiar sounds and shrills of each artist that endeared them to us over the years.

For those of us who remember real music, if you don't get this CD, you will be missing something that doesn't come along much in this age of flash and dash. Thank God LSG remembers what real music is.

Listen, y'all. LSG2 is an obvious throw-together of industry pressure or greed motivation. Taking advantage of the success and reputation of the first album has hurt their most important customers: the true fans. This album certainly was not prepared with quality, fans, or true music lovers in mind. I have studied Johnny Gill since pre-Chemistry, opened for Keith Sweat as a singer/performer, and grown to respect and enjoy Gerald Levert's talent. (The first LSG album did that last thing for me.) With this follow-up fumble, I have never even heard amateur music sound this "canned" and empty. I know what's missing because I know what's present in the first album. First, where are the fellas on the background vocals, and who is doing them in their place? The first album was rich with the presence of these legendary voices in the leads, backgrounds, and adlibs. You can almost hear the care and feeling put into each second of sound. This one sounds as though the songs were previously recorded as demos or for other purposes (possibly for Gerald or the background vocalist(s) next solo project) and that pieces were stripped out so that Johnny and Keith could do just enough to say it's an LSG project. There is nothing wrong with Gerald's prominent role on the album, but this isn't the way it should have been done. And the question is why? Why would this happen from three of the most talented, repsected, and adored R&B icons there ever was? What circumstances caused them to disregard their anxiously waiting fans? Only rarely does any act have something so hotly anticipated. The only thing greater than that anticipation is LSG2's head-hanging disappointment. As these independently established RULERS of what they do juggle multiple projects, age-old advice screams throughout this careless, thoughtless, soul-less release: Do alot of things mediocre or do one thing and do it very well. Words obviously not heeded this time around. Let's only hope Johnny's solo album or the New Edition release don't repeat this mistake.

I thought that LSG 2 sounded mediocre as a whole. It sounded like throwaway tracks left in the studio that could have been on a Gerald Levert album. I hate to say this, but the Gerald Levert-produced songs on LSG2 are some of the worst I've ever heard from him for this trio. Most of the album is disjointed and Keith Sweat doesn't sound his best on here. Johnny Gill sounds disconnected from the songs. And Gerald sounds like he wants to lead the group, because he's the only good singer on this album. Even the guest appearances by Loon and another rapper don't blend well with the group. I can tell why this album flopped. I can't believe their label delayed their group's album so much, because people were excited for it. LSG's superior 1997 album was far, far better than this mediocre effort.

Although I thought the first one was better (just listen to Johnny turn it out on Round and Round and My Side of the Bed) this album did have some high points. If you want to get the full effect of the vocals and ad libs, listen to this album with a good set of headphones.

This album has been much anticipated and everyone knew it even the record industry. It had to rushed to only have 13 songs, but that is probably to see how the sales would be. Anyway, if your a lover and long time fan of the three gentlemen, you wouldn't really care anyway. The music is hot and the men did the same thing they did the last time and that is make hits.

Fan forever!!!!

this new release to me is better than the first project. they are doing what they do best; slow-tempo and ballads.. i would rather hear more of JG and less of Keith Sweat - my personal preference. all and all it's a solid Soph. release. i can't wait for the New Edition release on Bad Boy...

This was a great idea. The first version of this trio was nice and one of the first times I remember artist coming together like this. Now everybody is tryin to do the "superalbum", especially in hip hop. Well after 6 years they hit us with the second part to their first classic. This..this is not a classic. It starts off with the lead single "Just Friends", which of course uses the Whodini sample "Friends". Decent cut. They actually enhanced the track a lill bit and sound good on top of it. Loon is unnecessary but then again very rarely is the hip hop verse on the R&B track necessary in today's world. The second track is decent also, entitled "Wide Open". The lyrical arrangement is cool. Johnny sounds great and it takes you back to the old LeVert tracks. After this cut is where the CD takes a turn for the worse. The key element in it's demise is Keith Sweat. I own every Keith CD up until '98. At that point the record label had grabbed him and tried to "cross him over". At that point I was out. Now dude has just lost his edge. Every now and then on this CD his voice ,which is an acquired taste, is ok but for the most part he's struggling through it. Track 3 "Shakedown" is embarrassing actually. The next 3 tracks follow the same pattern actually, Keith being unimpressive with Gerald and JG unable to save the tracks. Track 4 "fa free" starts good with JG crooning. Just a little too much Keith. Track 5 "Yesterday" is a nice Gerald selection but the track does nothing to keep you with it. Next. Another "Keith has lost it" cut "Play with Fire". Track 7 "What About Me" starts to bring the CD back. It's a mix between Stevie Wonders "All I do" and Carl Thomas "I wish". Keith is decent here. Track 8 is my favorite on the CD, "All I Know". Great song. Listening to it the chorus doesn't really sound like them but I love it. Has a definitely 70's feel with a funky drum program. The last cut on the CD "Cry and make Love" is a typical Gerald LeVert headboard banger. Overall I liked cuts 1,2,7,8 and 11. The magic is gone from this supergroup. I guess nothing last forever.........

LSG - LSG 2 (Elektra, 2003)

It took seven years for Gerald Levert, Johnny Gill, and Keith Sweat to come back as LSG and release a followup to the superb Levert, Sweat, Gill album. But what's the real reason why they made this album? Was it to fulfill their contract and get outta dodge from Elektra Records? Or was it just for the sake of shutting up the fans who have been waiting forever for this?

Whatever the case, the project as a whole feels halfhearted. If you're one of the few people who bought this album, you'll notice that upon reading through the liner notes--there are none. There are hardly any shout outs; only a few people are thanked by the group as a whole, not individually. The CD sleeve doesn't have many pages in it either. As for the album, the songs aren't bad; in fact, the songs written and produced by Gerald (i.e., "Yesterday", "Cry and Make Love") are better than the songs he provided for his own album, Stroke of Genius. But you wish that he wrote more songs because the album is very short (around 45 minutes). Sadly, Keith Sweat doesn't contribute one track to the album. Moreover, "All I Know" sounds a little like SWV's "Rain".

However, it was nice to see Johnny Gill get work again, since that New Edition reunion STILL hasn't happened yet. He uses his vocal prowess on songs like "Cry and Make Love" and "What About Me" (not to be confused with the 1998 Gerald Levert song of the same name). A good album, just not great. Will there be an LSG 3? Don't hold your breath. -EJR

This CD has been underrated by some reviewers on here. This CD is great. LSG has came back together again to make a compilation of soulful ballads... BUY IT! The only problem that I had was that there were only 11 tracks on it.... I wanted more!