Pros: True singer shows versatility on can't miss album.
Cons: Weird cover/booklet design, ignored by major awards.
The Bottom Line: This is the first Lionel Richie album that I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning, and I wouldn’t take a million for it. It’s a classic.
imgeorg's Full Review: Renaissance by Lionel Richie
I hadn’t heard anything from singer/songwriter Lionel Richie in years; but where he has been all this time soon became clear after receiving Renaissance as a Christmas gift. Like that port wine that’s been in the cellar for 20 years, Lionel Richie has been steadily improving with age. Now the cork’s finally been popped, and the aroma is fresh not fruity. The voice is full-bodied and rich, sweet but not cloying.
Renaissance is a veritable showcase for versatility. Oh, not in the lyrics department; he’ll always be a boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-begs-girl-back kind of writer. Politics is just not his bag. The producers of Renaissance, recognizing the difference between sound and style, used Richie’s voice as the common denominator in a variety of different musical settings, and were surprisingly successful.
For instance, Latin music soaks through the wonderful "Cinderella" and "Dance the Night Away" like butter on a hot biscuit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Enrique or Marc Anthony tries to steal them away!
Then there are the songs made for dancing! "Angel" was the first hit, and it’s no surprise that the producer from Cher’s Believe gave it a similar sound, but thankfully without the vocoder. (Those are used only for people who can’t sing.) "Here is My Heart" is a good mix, and the very disco-fied "Don’t Stop The Music" will make even a tall person reach for the platform shoes! The best dance number is "Tonight", a good old-fashioned funk jam such as I used to hear when I was a teenager and used to hear Lionel’s voice fronting the Commodores. (Ouch! Just how old IS he?!) It’s VERY hard to sit still with this one playing, with its heavy bass and percussion, the way a dance tune is SUPPOSED to sound.
A couple of songs actually go beyond funk and "old school" and dive head first into (gasp) Hip-hop! The beat-box influence is strong in "Wasted Time" and the oh-so-sultry "Don’t You Ever Go Away". The thing is, though, the fearless old-timer definitely gives the youngsters lessons on how songs like this NEED to be done.
All that being said, though, it’s the ballads that are Lionel Richie’s bread and butter. "Tender Heart" is as beautiful a ballad as I’ve heard in a while, and I’m sure other singers will pick up on this. "Piece of My Heart" and "It May Be The Water" are beautiful slow jams also. But one ballad in particular, "How Long", is not only the one song Lionel Richie wrote without collaboration, it’s also the one definitive Lionel Richie song on the album. To me, it will be as classic a song as the beautiful "Still" from years past.
Renaissance is a wonderful album. There are a couple of things about it that I don’t understand, though. First, there’s the packaging. The photos on the booklet and cover, with a white background and Mr. Richie striking poses that make no real sense, look as though a Richard Avedon wannabe took control of the graphic-design process! They remind me of the weird poses on the first Johnny Mathis Broadway album from 1960.
Secondly, although I'm happy that Angel has received a Grammy nomination in the Best Dance record category, why not nominate the whole album? It would certainly have been a testament to the genius of Lionel Richie. It certainly blows the mind that Renaissance hasn't been more successful and should have had more hit songs from it, especially ballads. I blame Island Records for not promoting it more.
Also, isn't it nice to hear someone on today’s popular radio who can really SING -- and not have to resort to the electronic tricks and the vocal gymnastics, that have nothing to do with melody, that today’s young popular artists seemingly need to infuse into every syllable. Not surprisingly, that someone is from the so-called “old school”. Lionel Richie sings very plainly --- very simply -- very WELL -- with a voice that’s instantly recognizable after the first two notes. (Try that with today’s crop of boy and girl groups, or with any young female country singer.) Lionel Richie has obviously been a student of classic true singers such as Johnny Mathis before him, and Nat Cole before that. True singers know that if they practice and improve upon the craft of singing, even at the risk of being unpopular, their career will have staying power in the long run.
There aren’t that many albums and artists that I’d trust enough to buy an unheard collection of all new songs and enjoy every one. I’m happy to say that Renaissance -- and Lionel Richie -- is one of them.
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