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Never one to rush out new material, and established enough to remain untroubled by the possibility of diminishing relevance, Kem took a few years off after he released Promise to Love in 2014. Still with Motown, he returns with a reliably mellow, romantic, and gently uplifting album that embraces his role in adult contemporary R&B and at the same time more openly displays his inspirations and stretches out. The singer switches it up a little by working closely with Derek "DOA" Allen, a veteran musician and fellow songwriter/producer whose mark has been left on albums by contemporaries such as Tyrese, Angie Stone, and Joe, as well as Brian Culbertson, whose lively piano supports "Lonely." As a consequence, Love Always Wins is more scuffed and groove-oriented than any previous Kem album. Whether Kem is testifying with a gospel choir in "Love," bobbing his head as he does his best Marvin Gaye falsetto on "Love," or crooning over acoustic and pedal steel guitars and a twitchy Timbaland-like rhythm for "Not Before You," nothing sounds truly out of character. Given the social climate and Kem's life experience, it's no surprise that his message songs and love ballads carry more currency than ever. Best of all is "Lie to Me," a breezy, feel-good number that unmistakably evokes mid-'70s Earth, Wind & Fire (with writing help from an all-star team of Salaam Remi, Anthony Hamilton, and James Poyser). Just beneath it are "Live Out Your Love," another Marvin-inspired moment (more in the I Want You mode), and the gospel blues title track. Bonus alternate versions of those two songs appear at the end and respectively add Toni Braxton and Erica Campbell, co-stars as considered as any other artistic choice made here.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Synth Bass, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Cook, A&R Admin - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Tip Wyman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Barron, A&R - Essence Carson, A&R - Michael "Nomad" Ripoll, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lisa Smith Craig, A&R
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Brian Culbertson, Piano, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Rhodes , Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Herschel Boone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Baxter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Riser, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Hunter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Andre Delano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Terena Boone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael "Nomad" Ripoll, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Bowland, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Al Turner, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Tip Wyman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Rhodes , Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Tip Wyman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Keyboards, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RAY BARDANI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - SALAAM REMI, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, ComposerLyricist - Randy Bowland, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Al Turner, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kem, Producer, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Andre Delano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Riser, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Michael "Nomad" Ripoll, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Steve Baxter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Hunter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - DAVID RITZ, ComposerLyricist - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Jackson, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Selected of God, Choir - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Andre Delano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Tip Wyman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael "Nomad" Ripoll, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Herschel Boone, Additional Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Mike "Big Mike" Hart, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Andre Delano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Tip Wyman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terena Boone, Additional Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Riser, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Bass Guitar, Synth Bass, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Toni Braxton, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Boutin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Bardini, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Michael "Nomad" Ripoll, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Erica Campbell, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Baxter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Derek "DOA" Allen, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Strings, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Hunter, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - DAVID RITZ, ComposerLyricist - Ray Bardini, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Jackson, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Dennis, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Selected of God, Choir - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Andre Delano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Troy Taylor, Producer, Remixer, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cook, A&R Admin - Anthony Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - SALAAM REMI, ComposerLyricist - BRENDA RUSSELL, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, ComposerLyricist - Colin Leonard, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wiz Khalifa, Rap Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Cameron Thomaz, ComposerLyricist - Kem, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Trehy Harris, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Shawn Barron, A&R - Essence Carson, A&R
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Eric Hudson, Producer, Remixer, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cook, A&R Admin - Colin Leonard, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kem, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Trehy Harris, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Morgeson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kim Lamont Owens, ComposerLyricist - Phillip Lewis, Producer, Additional Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Barron, A&R - Essence Carson, A&R - Lisa Smith Craig, A&R
℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Never one to rush out new material, and established enough to remain untroubled by the possibility of diminishing relevance, Kem took a few years off after he released Promise to Love in 2014. Still with Motown, he returns with a reliably mellow, romantic, and gently uplifting album that embraces his role in adult contemporary R&B and at the same time more openly displays his inspirations and stretches out. The singer switches it up a little by working closely with Derek "DOA" Allen, a veteran musician and fellow songwriter/producer whose mark has been left on albums by contemporaries such as Tyrese, Angie Stone, and Joe, as well as Brian Culbertson, whose lively piano supports "Lonely." As a consequence, Love Always Wins is more scuffed and groove-oriented than any previous Kem album. Whether Kem is testifying with a gospel choir in "Love," bobbing his head as he does his best Marvin Gaye falsetto on "Love," or crooning over acoustic and pedal steel guitars and a twitchy Timbaland-like rhythm for "Not Before You," nothing sounds truly out of character. Given the social climate and Kem's life experience, it's no surprise that his message songs and love ballads carry more currency than ever. Best of all is "Lie to Me," a breezy, feel-good number that unmistakably evokes mid-'70s Earth, Wind & Fire (with writing help from an all-star team of Salaam Remi, Anthony Hamilton, and James Poyser). Just beneath it are "Live Out Your Love," another Marvin-inspired moment (more in the I Want You mode), and the gospel blues title track. Bonus alternate versions of those two songs appear at the end and respectively add Toni Braxton and Erica Campbell, co-stars as considered as any other artistic choice made here.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:35
- Main artists: Kem
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Motown Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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