Songs about breakups are a staple of modern R&B, so it's no surprise that
Syleena Johnson has dedicated an entire album to a relationship gone wrong. What is surprising is that
Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness is good enough to keep the listener's attention throughout.
Johnson is the daughter of singer
Syl Johnson and, like her father,
Syleena has a powerful voice that is suited for both blues and soul. Highlights on the album include the infectious "I Am Your Woman," written by R&B heavyweight
R. Kelly, and the jazzy "Everybody Wants Something." Even when she sings MOR numbers like "I'd Rather Be Wrong,"
Johnson brings a complexity and maturity to the music that is rare for a debut artist.
Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness is a remarkably polished effort and, as the title suggests,
Johnson has only just begun. ~ Jon Azpiri