And Wonder remains ("I Just Called to Say I Love You" notwithstanding) a singular talent, quite possibly the hardest person to dislike in all of popular music. Simply put, the 55-year-old's voice is gorgeous, as clear and honey-smooth as it was thirty years ago. Actually, if anything he could do to turn it down a notch: "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved," which opens the album promisingly with a contemporary R&B beat and dramatic, low-register strings, soon devolves into numbing histrionics from both Wonder and his guest Kim Burrell - a tendency which repeats itself on more than a few of Time To Love's "ballad" numbers. Excessive length is also an issue, most notably with the first four tracks: cute songs like "Sweetest Somebody I Know" and the jazzy, theatrical "Moon Blue" overstay their welcome after the three-minute mark or so, when they start to feel like exactly the kind of light-weight sentimentality that's become Wonder's unfortunate stock in trade. If those two songs dip their toes in the sugar water, however, "From the Bottom of My Heart" dives in head first, with a title straight out of the Backstreet Boys files and the kind of production values usually found on grocery store mixtapes.
To be honest, it isn't until "Please Don't Hurt My Baby" comes along when the album really kicks into gear. A lite-funk jam worthy of Talking Book outtake status, the track breathes some much-needed life into the proceedings and reminds us that Stevie is still good for more than just the sappy ballads. Once "Please Don't Hurt My Baby" has come and gone, it feels as though what was missing at the beginning of the record has been miraculously restored: the soul is back, and better late than never. Even the soft numbers start to gel: "My Love is On Fire" is smooth and seductive, never maudlin, with funky touches of flute and Isaac Hayes strings; while the album-closing title track with India.Arie has all of the epic quality of "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved" but none of the distracting bombast. And oh yes, there's more funk to be had: "Tell Your Heart I Love You," which bolsters its bluesy groove with synth bass and Clavinet (remember Clavinets?), and of course the first single "So What the Fuss."
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
I have to imagine that Wonder can never top Songs in the Key of Life, a strong contender for Best Album of the 1970s, but maybe what Stevie needed to do was come to terms with that as his best work. And it sounds like he has. I'm dying to hear Time to Love!
Great review!
2 - Mister.D
Hello...
Can you help me please ?,
I want sending to Stevie Wonder a new song i have arranged for him, but i don't have his e-mail box address...
Thank you for your help...
Didier Willkomm____________.
3 - Zach
Mister D, if only I had Stevie Wonder's e-mail address, you know I would be sending him letters every day. As it is, I can only direct you to his official website
Hope that helps.
4 - reggie von woic
Ahhhhh Stevie...i wonder where to start.
If i say Stevie ever left my heart and needed a comeback - shame on me,
If you ever said that he came up with "half-assed, mediocre records" - shame on you,
If you they ever ask you "who sang that song in that Levis jeans ad that goes 'very superstitious' " - shame on them,
and if we all don't go out there and get ourselves 'a time to love' - shame on us.
A shiny nickel for the person who guesses my fav song in Stevies new album ;-)
-goes to watch video again-
5 - Evan
Elton John and Cat Stevens are better then Stevie Wonder
6 - Patricia
I'm not sure where to begin. My daughter-in-law (Elise)is 27 years old. Five years ago, right after the birth of her son, she was diagnosed with MS. She is now blind. She likes listening to Stevie Wonder songs. I know that my son and her have a hard time with the medical bills and that they could not afford to see Stevie Wonder in concert but I was wondering if it would be possible to have a signed picture sent to her. Even if she can't see it, she would know that she has it. She is very special person and she means the world to us. Thank you, Patricia Williamson