Why do I say be careful? Well, this album kind of reminds me of onetime fellow singer Keith Sweat's album Still In The Game: there are some good songs, but then there are also some out-of-place trendy songs. Such songs include "Wilding Me Out" (that title alone is questionable) and especially "Too Much Room" with Mystikal.

Gerald LeVert's new album The G Spot is by no means bad by today's standards, but I did expect a little better from him. He doesn't have to release an album every year because we know he has skills, and sometimes the end product seems a little rushed. Let's hope Gerald doesn't continue following Keith's lead and release an album like Didn't See Me Coming next year.

G Spot
What little use R&B teddy bear Gerald Levert has for originality he certainly makes up for in style on his seventh solo album -- no one since Barry White has so effortlessly mastered the slow and slick art of seduction like Levert has.
G Spot knows its place, and stays there: Velvety ballads own this record, with tons of sweet-talking and smooth soul backgrounds ("Closure," the title track, "Backbone"). Levert actually opens the record with three relatively uptempo tracks ("Too Much Room," "Since You Ain't Around," "Wilding Me Out"), but this, like all his discs, is one for the bedroom; the mood is sparse, sexual, and soulful.

Fans will be happy to know that after two records (1999's G, 2001's Gerald's World) spent coasting on his trademark material, Levert sounds like he's having fun with slow jams again; he's particularly up to the challenge on "What a Night," with jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers' cool textures so perfect for a vocal workout that the two even scat together at the album's coda.

TIME TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER...
...or a cd by its woeful attempt to pour soulful music into your ears.

It was actually difficult for me to listen to the title track "the G Spot", and not laugh out loud. All of the songs except for one are written by Levert, but G Spot sounds like he is literally making it up as the track plays in the backgoround. The lyrics are uninspired....as if he picked them up from some cheap porno movie.

There are plenty of other vocalists in this genre that sing, write and sound 100 times better. I'm glad I picked this up from the local library and didn't have to pay for it.

If I were on a cruise and Levert was announced as the musical guest, I'd jump overboard.

3 1/2 stars
Gerald Levert is the Jay-Z of R&B in that he releases an album every year (side note: 2000's G was supposed to drop in 1999). But unlike Jay-Z, none of his albums stink. Add The G Spot to your list of overall great Gerald releases.

The album starts off with "Too Much Room" with Mystikal (which was supposed to be Gerald's first single, but due to Mystikal's legal matters, they changed it to "Funny"). This song is meant to be a club-rocker and things go fine until Mystikal starts spitting his usual cliches like, "Get on the floor!!!" If you're more used to classic Gerald, then "Wildin' Me Out" and "Closure" may be more up your alley. The former has dope percussion and a good storyline, while the latter is a tear-jearker. All of these qualities are typical of Gerald.

Other good songs are "Your Smile" featuring newcomer Zero (check out the Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terell's "Precious Love" sample), "All That Matters" (check the O'Jays "Family Reunion" sample--Gerald uses all of these samples subtlely and well), and "Oh What a Night" with Roy Ayers. Here, Roy gives a great performance that'll have fans reminiscing on when he played with Eric Benet on 1999's "When You Think of Me". I also liked "Funny" when he laughs at the end; I think that's, well, funny.

I was surprised when I saw a reviewer say that he needs to stop songwriting. Actually, Gerald does that the best: see "Catchin' Feelings" and "Backbone". With only a few songs that could have been left behind ("Raindrops"; the title track, which will only appeal to women; and "Top of My Head", where he revisits falsetto-land with okay results), this album isn't a classic but it's good enough. While Love & Consequences and Gerald's World remain as Gerald's best albums, The G Spot is still the place to get to.

Best Effort Yet By Gerald
This is an excellent CD. The first time I heard "Funny" on the radio, I liked it and was eagerly anticipating the CD to hit the music stores. The only fault is that Gerald can be a little corny at times with the fake laughing at the end of "Funny" and using phrases like "you're making me scream like a little girl" at the end of the title track "G-Spot". But he typically throws in something corny in every CD so I guess I'm getting used to that. Otherwise, I truly love this CD.
Most of us have had real-life kisses that felt less sexy than Gerald Levert's best soul songs. On the unabashedly sensual The G Spot, Levert creates music so intimate that you almost want to turn you head away from the stereo to give the man some privacy. That's absolutely true of the title track, which graphically illustrates how Levert pleases his lady, while reenacting his own release. You don't hear that every day, but it's easy to forgive the chart-topping singer, songwriter, and producer such titillating excess, because the rest of the disc is so damn good. The slow-grooving "Funny" paints smirking come-hither lyrics across a lazy swell of strings and a wheezing organ. Album highlight "Raindrops" is a fleet-footed classic, its chiming chorus forming a pop hook sharp enough to carve alabaster. Only the first song, "Too Much Room," featuring rapper Mystikal, and the finger-snapping doo-wop charmer "Your Smile" depart from the cozy R&B template that is Levert's calling card, but even on those, Levert's deep, almost textured voice is spellbinding. These are swoon tunes second to none. --Kim Hughes
On this album he takes a very personal look at passion, love and life and as always his powerful voice is the main attraction. Featuring Mystikal & Roy Ayers. Elektra. 2002.