In Return

Already having scored big in her homeland England with her platinum-selling 1997 debut Much Love, Shola Ama makes a big splash in the AC, R&B-oriented pop market with her United States debut, In Return. Sounding like a cross between Janet Jackson and Emilia, but with softer, more girlish, and more developed vocals, Ama's new CD is packed with pop songs perfectly tailored for 2000. Leaving nothing about her sophomore album to chance, Ama co-wrote most of the songs, collaborating with fellow newcomer Angie Stone and such big names as David Foster and Babyface. Enlisting producers like Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and D-Influence, she finds instrumentation that accents her cotton-candy vocals, which, luckily, aren't as strained as those of the aforementioned Emilia or the ubiquitous Britney Spears. She sings with sincerity and conviction, often sounding like a heartbroken angel. With only hints of R&B, this is far more a pop album than anything else, though, despite the sheen, it isn't just for teenagers. This is good, old pop, a throwback to '60s girl groups with a contemporary twist. As a bonus, the album also has two hits from Much Love: "You're the One" and a cover of Randy Crawford's "You Might Need Somebody." ~ Bryan Buss