Urban Music Reviews

GRADE: A

Lets be honest, to the casual listener, “Neo-Soul” artists like Cody ChesneTT, Van Hunt, Raphael Saadiq and Raheem DeVaughn all sound pretty much the same. They release similar sounding albums and tend to get similar responses from fans. With Love Behind the Melody, Raheem DeVaughn strives to elevate his sound without leaving his fans behind. Thankfully, he succeeds.

Much of the production on Love Behind the Melody is stellar. Music giants like Bryan-Michael Cox, Scott Storch and Chucky Thompson lend their talents to an album that manages to improve upon the template of DeVaughn’s impressive debut, The Love Experience. This more streamlined and mainstream quality works (even in spite of itself). On “Customer,” we look past the song’s eerie resemblance to J. Holiday’s monster hit “Bed,” and just trust that great minds must think alike. Besides, Love Behind the Melody is the kind of album that lives in its own vibe. The smooth and sexy mood that emits from the speakers makes it easy to forgive any of the album’s shortcomings.

Love Behind the Melody may not prove to be Raheem DeVaughn’s break into mainstream consciousness, but it will definitely expand his fan base. Raheem DeVaughn is more talented than the bulk of R&B singers out there, it’s only a matter of time before the world knows it.