Love Therapy

In the '90s, Lenny Williams wasn't as visible or as popular as he was in the '70s. But he still had an enthusiastic following and was still quite capable of providing a worthwhile album. Williams was 55 when he entered the 21st century with 2000s Love Therapy, his first album since 1994's Chill. With Preston Glass doing most of the producing and Williams doing most of the writing, the former Tower of Power singer delivers a CD that is solid and enjoyable even though it isn't in a class with solo favorites like 1977's Choosing You or 1978's Spark of Love. Those who know Williams for his '70s work will find that he's more restrained on Love Therapy, which tends to favor a very laid-back approach. The vocalist doesn't belt as much as he used to, and he doesn't get into as much aggressive funk as he once did. But then, he doesn't have to belt to get his points across. Williams still has plenty of charisma, and it serves him well on relaxed, smooth, Isley Brothers-minded slow jams like "Next Door Neighbor," "Jody" and "Oh Oh Oh." Slow jams, in fact, are the main focus of Love Therapy, which falls short of essential but is a solid album that Williams' die-hard followers will enjoy. ~ Alex Henderson|