Keith Sweat - Ridin' Solo (2010)

For Keith Sweat, the release of his 1987 debut did more than put the New York native's artistic stamp on R&B's burgeoning New Jack era; unbeknownst to us, it signaled his intent to both create hit songs and to create a lasting impact in the music industry. It was both confident and prophetic, considering that instead of being an opportunistic fad, his style---funk-infused,  synth-laden up tempos and come-hither ballads---has earned him nearly two dozen charting hit singles, six number-one debuting studio albums,  two nationally-syndicated radio shows and the ability to tour year-round.  Make It Last Forever, indeed. So, because Mr. Sweat isn't about to foul up a winning formula, the Professional Persuader (okay, some call it flat-out begging) updates his signature swag with edges of modern musicality with his ten studio set, Ridin' Solo.  

Since he's in the enviable position of having both old-school and new-school followers, Mr. Sweat incorporates the expected and the innovative: most of the time it works, such as when he interpolates the chorus of Surface's "Happy" with the percolating up tempo groove of "I'm The One You Want" and when he grafts the beginning chords of "I'll Give All My Love to You" to the equally-adoring 21^st Century update, "It's All About You." Giving a nod to the grown and sexy demographic, he acknowledges his lady's parenting and professional skills as well as bountiful boudoir game in "Genius Girl" ("Beautiful, is what you are, got Brains too Baby, yes you're smart/Not just a fine girl with big legs, not just a freak in the bed.") and admits in the collection's title track that being a perpetual playa-playa is getting old and that he's ready for a partner instead of forever soldiering on alone: "It took me awhile to figure it out, now I know just what it's all about/I need someone to fill the space right next to me/cuz' I've been ridin' solo."

More briskly paced than 2008's Just Me and decidedly more carnal, Ridin' Solo is all about getting the midnight mood right by any means necessary, such as pairing Keith's sinewy tenor with Joe's velvety one on the bump-and-grind banger "Test Drive," then giving a good girl the green light to go bad in "Do Wrong Tonight." "Live in Person" takes the spotlight off of him and makes her the star of the night ("I know how you like it, you got me excited....you got the best seat in the house to drive me crazy.").  "Hood Sex" seems a little silly, but his younger fans will certainly appreciate the jargon: " I'm from the Big A, where the playas play, got a lot of homies from around the way/ I got a thing for them girls that be bringing that /hood sex, hood sex, good sex."

Ridin' Solo, except for its propensity to use, then overuse, that too-prevalent artist accessory, auto-tune (it renders the once-alright opening track, "Famous," into something that's outright unlistenable), is just what Keith Sweat fans are anticipating: smooth, synthesized and satisfying. Pushing his comfort zone without completely flipping the script on his listeners is what will keep this multi-talented soul survivor  in the driving seat, well, Ridin' Solo successfully into the sunset for some time to come. Recommended.

By Melody Charles