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Letters from Birmingham, Ruben Studdard's fifth album -- and first for Shanachie, refuge of the veteran, major-label cast-off R&B artist -- isn't nearly as heavy as the historical Martin Luther King, Jr. missive its title references. The album traces the arc of a relationship, from love at first sight to "June 28th (I'm Single)," a throwback-contemporary hybrid where Studdard addresses his ex-wife and potential mates. Four brief "letter" interludes help guide the listener through the stages in the singer's relationship; without them, the album would still have a discernible linear flow. The stylistic transitions, however, are not as smooth. There's some Southern-friend funk, neo-Philly soul, alternately silky and churning adult contemporary R&B, a very slow cover of Bobby Brown's Babyface/L.A. Reid-penned "Rock Wit'cha" (featuring K. Michelle), and even a twinkling version of "Pure Imagination" (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). There is almost enough shifting to fill a season's worth of American Idol performances, and it detracts from the fact that this clearly is Studdard's most personal set of songs to date. With the right push and some open-minded radio programming, two of these songs -- the Ne-Yo-worthy "Wear Me" and the Chrisette Michele-assisted "Do It Right" -- could be significant hits and debunk the notion that Studdard excels only with ballads.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist - Chrisette Michele, FeaturedArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist - K Michelle, FeaturedArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Ruben Studdard, Writer, MainArtist
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
Album review
Letters from Birmingham, Ruben Studdard's fifth album -- and first for Shanachie, refuge of the veteran, major-label cast-off R&B artist -- isn't nearly as heavy as the historical Martin Luther King, Jr. missive its title references. The album traces the arc of a relationship, from love at first sight to "June 28th (I'm Single)," a throwback-contemporary hybrid where Studdard addresses his ex-wife and potential mates. Four brief "letter" interludes help guide the listener through the stages in the singer's relationship; without them, the album would still have a discernible linear flow. The stylistic transitions, however, are not as smooth. There's some Southern-friend funk, neo-Philly soul, alternately silky and churning adult contemporary R&B, a very slow cover of Bobby Brown's Babyface/L.A. Reid-penned "Rock Wit'cha" (featuring K. Michelle), and even a twinkling version of "Pure Imagination" (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). There is almost enough shifting to fill a season's worth of American Idol performances, and it detracts from the fact that this clearly is Studdard's most personal set of songs to date. With the right push and some open-minded radio programming, two of these songs -- the Ne-Yo-worthy "Wear Me" and the Chrisette Michele-assisted "Do It Right" -- could be significant hits and debunk the notion that Studdard excels only with ballads.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:38
- Main artists: Ruben Studdard
- Label: Shanachie
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp ℗ 2012 Shanachie Ent. Corp
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