Customer Reviews

In My Songs

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The late Gerald Levert was an underrated R&B singer. His albums sold well, but he never garnered the high praise of many of his contemporaries. This posthumous release is a satisfying final testament to his smooth croon. His previous album found him reflecting on social issues, but In My Songs is a return to his wheelhouse. The songs focus on his trademark love and romance themes, but there is a underlying theme of ache. The title track finds him wishing he could find the love that he often sings about and "Deep As It Goes" (while being a bit of a double entendre) is about look for a truly deep love. "DJ Don't" lightens things up with a fun vibe and "M'Lady" harkens back to his father's, Eddie Levert, Philly Soul days as the songs was co-written with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The album closes with the poignant "Is There A Way To Heaven?" that has obvious extra meaning and gravitas given the circumstances.

Gerald LeVert was the standout example of the underrated soul singer. He had the pipes that could trump a number of his contemporaries, yet he didn't have the "contemporary" appeal that so many of today's youth look for from the R&B singer -- hip-hop. Throughout his career, the so-penned "Teddy Bear" made a couple of allusions to hip-hop, namely on his exceptional LOVE & CONSEQUENCES album where Layzie Bone appears. However, his hip-hop concessions aren't the real G, which is proved via two top twenty pop singles from LeVert including the innuendo filled "Thinkin' 'Bout It" (#12 on Billboard Hot 100) and the equally fantastic "Taking Everything" (#11 on Billboard Hot 100). Here, the retro-soul robust, raw vocals of LeVert convert to commercial success. What is true about the late Gerald LeVert is that when he was truly soulful without trying to appeal to a younger crowd he was at his best. What is also true is that no matter if he was singing a weaker, forgettable song, he alway sang the hell out of anything he sang. Sure STROKE OF GENIUS may not have been one of his top efforts, but he killed the songs he sang no matter whether it was truly inspired songwriting or not. What makes IN MY SONGS great is the fact that everything that has been successful and great about Gerald LeVert's career is pour into these memorable, sexy songs. While G is gone, he will never be forgotten, and he quite possibly left the "masterpiece" of his career via IN MY SONGS.

The album opens incredibly sadly as father Eddie LeVert pulls at any G fan's heart strings with his introduction commemorating his late (hard to believe Gerald's dead) son's career and giving some background behind IN MY SONGS. From the very beginning with "In My Songs" you can tell that Gerald really focused in the studio to make sure it was a quality album. I'm not dissing Gerald because personally he is one of my favorite R&B vocalists of all time, but STROKE OF GENIUS (to name one album out his discography) didn't feel as strong as his earlier material such as the exceptional FATHER AND SON or LOVE & CONSEQUENCES. However, this album and his prior one DO I SPEAK FOR THE WORLD? show(ed) to me a true resurgence in the 'real' "Teddy Bear". "In My Songs" stands up against his best performances and is a Grammy worthy performance in my eyes. Great too about "In My Songs" is that it proves not to be the only hit from IN MY SONGS.

IN MY SONGS proves to be laced with hits, as opposed to just a couple of standouts, a trap LeVert fell into a trap in his "middle" career albums. "I Don't Get Down Like That" is very potent, and the production feels more modern than some of his previous material. Sure, he is trying a bit to concede to the contemporary urban sound, but he doesn't concede complelely leaving his soulfulness ubiquitous throughout the track and all the tracks for that matter. "DJ Don't" is definitely an attempt to woo younger fans, but it does so where it doesn't drive away LeVert's key audience, the "baby boomers" and adult R&B fans. Cool about "DJ Don't" may be the fact that it is a truly succesful up-tempo G Track; LeVert's strongest past tracks tend to be ballads, which makes "DJ Don't" feel all that much more stronger. "Wanna Get Up With You" continues to keep the momentum up, making for four strong tracks in a row.

"Fall Back" isn't bad, but it doesn't quite allure as much as the previous four tracks, but the incredibly soulful "Deep As It Goes" makes up for any loss incurred via "Fall Back". "Hang In There" isn't bad either, but it is the exceptionally performed and written "Sweeter" that is perhaps the best G track that I've heard in years. It is incredibly touching and everytime you hear it it makes you sad to realize the "Teddy Bear" of R&B really is gone. "What 'Cha Think About That" isn't as strong as the strongest, but it is definitely above average. The remainder of the tracks ("To My Head", "M'Lady", and "Is This The Way To Heaven?") are all as strong as the strongest, making IN MY SONGS Gerald's most consistent album in years. After revitalized critical success via 2004's DO I SPEAK FOR THE WORLD, who would've thought that G's true return to form would come with IN MY SONGS, or on a sadder note, wouldn't be realized until his death?

With virtually no misses, IN MY SONGS is definitely one of the most energized R&B releases of 2007 and I hope that it does well on the charts. Sure Gerald is gone, but his legacy still lives with us and I think he's a voice that will never ever be forgotten in R&B or music in general. 4 stars, IN MY SONGS.

I have every Gerald Levert cd so I know Gerald Levert! Close friends might say I am/was a little obsessed with him. This album is vintage GERALD LEVERT. My favorites are Wanna Get Up With You, Deep As It Goes and What Cha Think About That. The album is truly a Masterpiece but that what I expect from him. One of the few performers who deliver on an entire cd. Definately a MUST have!!!! RIP Mr Levert- You will truly be missed!!!

This cd is one of Gerald Levert's best works. This will definitely be a classic.

Well, as many would say that I am biased towards G since he is by far the ONLY man in the music industry that can touch my soul they way he does/did. In my opinion, there is no other R&B singer(past or present)that could do it like him (not even Luther) - no pun intended, I just wasn't a big Luther fan. I'm all about G!

Although, I am a HUGE G fan, I have recognized that sometimes Gerald can go a little off on the deep in...especially when he attempted the "up-tempo" music or his featured Rap Artist...although, there were a few that I enjoyed like "Didn't We (up tempo on Stroke of Genious) & No Sense (fea. Lazy Bone on Love & Cons), it was clear that this was not the GERALD that I needed. I must be honest to say that I was relieved when I heard "In My Songs", as it seemed that Gerald had returned to his "comfort" zone and fulfilled his reputation of the "ballardeer". While "Do I Speak For the World" was a different approach than what we were used to with Gerald, I still found pleasure in listening to that project. But like other CDs of his, there were a few songs that I had to skip...but generally, I am satisfied with enjoying 6-7 tracks of 13 track disk...I feel like I've gotten my monies worth. Therefore, I've never been disappointed with ANY of Gerald's CDs because i've always enjoyed a good 60% of his music.

As for "In My Songs", I absolutely LOVE the CD...to me it's by far his greatest! Personally, I've found great listening please in 11 of the 13 tracks in which one of the 2 songs (M'Lady & Wanna Get Up With You) that I originally did not care for has started to grow on me (M'Lady). I'm am in pure bliss when I hear "Deep As It Goes", "Hang In There", "Is This The Way To Heaven", "If It Takes All Night", "Fall Back", "Don't Get Down Like That", "Sweeter", "To My Head", "DJ Don't", and "What Cha Think About That"....Finally i've gotten a project that I can almost listen to throughout it's entirety!

My baby has done it again!!!! I'm sure we will not be disappointed in his upcoming releases as well! Like Eddie said, Gerald has enough music for 10 more years...so this is NOT the last CD from Gerald...HOWEVER, it was the last STUDIO recorded CD by him.

If you haven't gotten it just yet, make it a priority to get it! I promise you - you will NOT be disappointed unless you are a straight Rap or GoGo fan...then maybe G is not for you!

I am a big fan of Gerald Levert. But, I can say that a few of his CDs were rather disappointing, with only one or two really catchy songs. However, I am LOVING In My Songs... outstanding!! I'm sorry he's not here to receive the accolades. But, to his family... we love Gerald and still appreciate his creativity and legacy. R~

The R&B World lost another balladeer a few short months ago when Gerald Levert passed away at the early age of 40. Although we will miss him, he left behind a extensive music library including an album that he had just completed at the time of his passing. In My Songs is a 12-song collection that encompasses the diverse array of sounds that we have come to love from Gerald Levert. The upbeat tracks that stand out the most are the happy-go-lucky song "Wanna Get Up With You," the charismatic "DJ Don't," and the bouncy "What Cha Think About That." His best mid-tempo songs would have to be "I Don't Get Down Like That" and "M'Lady" although "Fall Back" and "To My Head" are also respectable. But Gerald still gives the ladies a couple slow jams to cuddle up with. The title track "In My Songs" has to be one of his best ballads to date with all of the compassion that you hear from him while he's belting out his feelings. "Is This The Way To Heaven?" and "Deep As It Goes" are smooth love songs that will put anybody in the mood for some extra-curricular activity. "Hang In There" and "Sweeter" are more romantic in their approach than the other slow cuts. Gerald Levert definitely proved himself time and time again that he more than just Eddie Levert's son. He stood the test of time and garnered fans from across the globe. In My Songs is a great complement to his already huge discography. Even if no more albums are released, the world has many great songs and great memories of the man they called 'Teddy Bear'...R.I.P.

This will be the last recording for Gerald Levert and he went out in grand style. He left behind some great music for us to enjoy and to always remember him by. This CD is no different from the previous ones. They were all great and this one lives up to what is expected from him.

I love all songs and music by this Man! I have tried to get everything of his I can. This is a good CD I like this one alot. I was heart broken when I heard that he was gone.

Everything from the purchase to the playing of the Cd was great. I did not have to stand in line at the store, i got the review of what was on the Cd online, ordered it and have been enjoying it ever since.