The Dramatics - Look Inside (2002)

"Look Inside" sees The Dramatics burst back onto the scene in a ...well...dramatic fashion!!! L.J. Reynolds and Ron Banks spearhead a mighty soulful assault onto the mediocre black music landscape with an album of 10 songs that are all soulful, bang-up-to-date and yet classic. For aficionados of their tenure with Stax, MCA, Capitol or Volt there will be something for you, whether you are 18 or 60 years old. This has to be one of my favourite albums this year (along with Will Downing, Remy Shand and Glenn Lewis). Chapter 8's Michael J. Powell has a hand on 3 KILLER ballads, "Looks Like Rain", with its sultry rain backdrop, the quality "Right In The Middle Of Heaven" and the AWESOME top-drawer ballad, "I'm So Alone" which, I must say, is my track of the year so far. Such a soulful, yearning song; L.J.s deep, impassioned vocals and Ron's phrasing make this a must have record. A number of songs, "Look Inside", "Pushin' Up On Ya" and the vocoder-spiced "Baby Boo" are funky gems and are very exciting indeed; the guys' harmonies are really up-front here. The foray into rap on the title song and "Pushin' Up On Ya" really does work in this context too and, yes, if like me you curse the day rap and hip-hop was invented, you will still LOVE these songs! The sax on "What Must I Do" complemented with the sound of the sea lapping onto the shore is magical. If only more soul artists today remembered that a saxophone here or there adds to the atmosphere of their music. OK, there are but 10 tracks, but who will argue for quantity when we have quality such as this? I am so impressed, and those who love real soul, modern R&B, whetever will love this album. No soul / R&B lover worth his salt should be without this album. More please!