Years after attempting to take the urban R&B world by storm,
the Family Stand returned in 1998 with
Connected. Peter Lord and
Jeffrey Smith have added a new vocalist, Jacci McGhee, who fits right into the group's retro-soul. The band excels at classy soul and funk, sounding like a hybrid of Sly Stone,
Prince,
Marvin Gaye and
Stevie Wonder. When they try to push their limits a bit too far, they collapse under their own ambition, be it lyrical or musical, but at its best,
Connected is well-constructed contemporary soul that shows more craft and heart than many efforts in a similar vein. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine