Whitney Houston

My Love Is Your Love

Near Perfect...Just Ease off the Babyface!

Review Score:

(8/10)
Whitney shines on an album that, save the few Babyface tunes (the man needs to update his sound, period), captures a stronger, self-concerned diva. Instead of the big, over-produced sounds that Whitney did quite well singing with, the production is sparer, letting the listener focus on the vocals, which sound better than ever. Her voice has matured, but unlike other divas who haven't learned to work with their changes, Whitney envelops herself in soft, smoldering tones, but at once shows us just how powerful she can belt.

Top tunes on this album are almost from start to finish, especially the piano-driven "If I Told You That", the bonus track, "Get it Back", the simmering "Heartbreak Hotel". Not to be forgotten is the lush Wyclef-produced title track, probably one of the most beautiful, sincere songs I've ever heard sung.

Anyone who thinks she is simply one of those singers that are simply instruments of high-powered producers should listen to this album. In fact, that only reason I didn't give this CD a perfect score was because there are several tracks, produced by big-time producers like Babyface and David Foster. It's not that they are bad songs, by any stretch of the imagination - for the most part, they are still better than most material out there. It's just that the songs fracture the total album - they Whitney back from the new, empowered, less wistful woman she portrays here. But still one of the best albums I've ever owned, one that still gets repeat playtime not only in my CD players, but in everyone I've recommended it too.

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