Turn Me Loose was
Ledisi’s most commercially successful release, topping Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaking within the Top 20 of the Billboard 200. The 2009 album also earned two Grammy nominations to go with the pair earned by 2007’s
Lost & Found. On her fourth Verve Forecast disc, the singer continues to work beside
Rex Rideout,
Ivan Barias, and Carvin Haggins while adding
Salaam Remi,
Mike City, and
Chuck Harmony -- all of whom are among adult contemporary R&B’s most prominent and successful studio hands -- and a handful of up-and-comers. “Hate Me” is a hot Southern soul ballad and “Shut Up” packs forthright attitude with a roomy but unshakeable beat, yet the album does not quite have the bite of
Turn Me Loose. It could use a couple throw-you-around-the-room rockers in the vein of
Turn Me Loose's “Runnin’” and “Knockin’,” although some listeners will be so struck by the sustained high level of confidence and grace that it won’t be an issue. ~ Andy Kellman