On their first studio album in eight years,
the Temptations revert to covers, as they did with multiple full-lengths earlier in the 2000s. This time, the group, still led by lone original member Otis Williams, selects mostly contemporary material. They excel with imaginative takes on
Maxwell's "Pretty Wings,"
Sam Smith's "Stay with Me," and
John Mayer's "When I Was Your Man," pouncing on the opportunity to accentuate the latter's allusion to the work of Motown peer
Marvin Gaye. "Waitin' on You" is the best of the few originals, easily mistakable for a (cleaned-up) take on a
Jaheim hit. With each cover choice popularized by a solo artist, the set is a subtle reminder that vocal groups are nearly extinct. ~ Andy Kellman