Never one to rush out new material, and established enough to remain untroubled by the possibility of diminishing relevance,
Kem took a few years off after he released
Promise to Love in 2014. Still with
Motown, he returns with a reliably mellow, romantic, and gently uplifting album that embraces his role in adult contemporary R&B and at the same time more openly displays his inspirations and stretches out. The singer switches it up a little by working closely with
Derek "DOA" Allen, a veteran musician and fellow songwriter/producer whose mark has been left on albums by contemporaries such as
Tyrese,
Angie Stone, and
Joe, as well as
Brian Culbertson, whose lively piano supports "Lonely." As a consequence,
Love Always Wins is more scuffed and groove-oriented than any previous
Kem album. Whether
Kem is testifying with a gospel choir in "Love," bobbing his head as he does his best
Marvin Gaye falsetto on "Love," or crooning over acoustic and pedal steel guitars and a twitchy
Timbaland-like rhythm for "Not Before You," nothing sounds truly out of character. Given the social climate and
Kem's life experience, it's no surprise that his message songs and love ballads carry more currency than ever. Best of all is "Lie to Me," a breezy, feel-good number that unmistakably evokes mid-'70s
Earth, Wind & Fire (with writing help from an all-star team of
Salaam Remi,
Anthony Hamilton, and
James Poyser). Just beneath it are "Live Out Your Love," another
Marvin-inspired moment (more in the
I Want You mode), and the gospel blues title track. Bonus alternate versions of those two songs appear at the end and respectively add
Toni Braxton and
Erica Campbell, co-stars as considered as any other artistic choice made here. ~ Andy Kellman
![Aretha [2021]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0603497846221_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Aretha [2021]")
![Essential Earth, Wind & Fire [Bonus Track]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0888430249226_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Essential Earth, Wind & Fire [Bonus Track]")