Kem
"Kem Album II" (Motown)
* * 1/2
That silky, resonant baritone. That meaningful, come-hither gaze. That refreshingly uncliched way with romantic cliches. Yep, Detroit-based singer-songwriter Kem has something smart 'n' sexy goin' on.
At its best, his sophomore album's smooooooth blend of glossy jazz, gentle R&B, poppy soul and watery funk is a pleasant modern take on the '70s-era stylings of such Motown predecessors as Stevie Wonder (who guests on harmonica for the jingly "You Might Win"), often evoking the velvet envelope of a classic Sade album.
Aside from his voice, Kem's strength lies in his talent for expressing genuine, complex emotions in thoughtful, mature yet dreamy terms. He shines on such numbers as the regretful single "I Can't Stop Loving You," the torchy ballad "Heaven" and the gently propulsive reflection on a push-pull relationship "Find Your Way (Back Into My Life)."