A Babyface for Romance

BABYFACE

“For the Cool in You”

Epic

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The team of songwriters-producers Kenny (Babyface) Edmonds, L.A. Reid and Darryl Simmons is to soul in the ‘90s what Holland-Dozier-Holland was to the ‘60s. Together, this Atlanta-based trio has turned out well-crafted Top 10 R&B; and pop hits for artists such as Boyz II Men, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston. Dance tracks with a smooth, sophisti-funk edge seem to be their forte.

As a solo entity, the true Babyface really seems to emerge. He’s got a sweet-sounding voice, one that is more adept at handling a mood-enhancing ballad than some raucous dance-floor jam. For someone who admits he penned his first love letter in the first grade, he’s predictably romance-obsessed in his themes.

This single-mindedness pays off on a few stirring tunes, including the playfully seductive “Saturday” and the heartbreaking plea of “When Can I See You,” beautifully sung with acoustic guitar. Babyface is still young, and at this stage his music lacks depth and complexity. But the straightforward way in which he flaunts his emotions is more than fair compensation.

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