Even a mortal enemy of
Robin Thicke would have to concede that the singer had a too-tough go of it after the 2014 release of his previous album. That LP,
Paula, proved to be an ineffective appeal to make full amends with
Paula Patton. During the three years immediately following his divorce,
Thicke dealt with the deaths of his father and manager, and he lost both his house (to the Woolsey fire) and the lawsuit alleging that he and
Pharrell Williams lifted
Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" for "Blurred Lines." Just after the latter two blows, in December 2018,
Thicke issued his first single as an independent artist. A ballad of sorrow, contrition, and revival, "Testify" began a slow lead-up to his eighth album, in the course of which music executive giant
Andre Harrell --
Thicke's mentor, executive producer, close friend, and godfather of
Thicke's son -- died at the age of 59.
On Earth, and in Heaven features "Forever Mine," a wafting jazz ballad of whole-hearted conviction that
Harrell approved. "Beautiful," embracing love in the face of devastation with elements of doo wop and chamber soul, was co-written by
Gianni Credle-Harrell,
Harrell's son.
Thicke's devotion to and reliance upon his inner circle extends to working with
Williams and
Chad Hugo on "Take Me Higher," a free-spirited dancefloor cut that parties (responsibly) like it's 1979, and "Lola Mia," a boogaloo-flavored dedication to his daughters. Apart from those two songs and the fleet "Hola," a sweetened and loved-up number replete with one of the album's very necessary flugelhorn solos, the album sticks with reflective and romantic ballads that are among the most genuine and stirring moments in
Thicke's catalog. Last but not least is "That's What Love Can Do," a Philly soul-styled testimony of romantic salvation that became
Thicke's fifth single to top Billboard's adult R&B chart. The how-the-hell falsetto "baby"
Thicke repeatedly delivers within suggests that
Blue Magic and
the Stylistics are closer to his heart than ever. From top to sturdy bottom, this is an impressive rebuild. ~ Andy Kellman
![The Age of Pleasure [Gold Vinyl] [B&N Exclusive]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0075678625749_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "The Age of Pleasure [Gold Vinyl] [B&N Exclusive]")
