The most versatile and underrated item in
Moore
's often overlooked catalog,
Read My Lips
runs the gamut from funky R&B radio numbers to quietly passionate ballads to rock-stenciled uptempo fare.
packs a tight-lipped, defiant punch on kinetic affairs such as
"Mind Over Matter"
and
"Winner."
Meanwhile, she's pure and sultry on the slow burn of
"To Those Who Wait"
and the emotional intensity of
"I Can't Believe It (It's Over)."
Having plenty of able assistance on hand doesn't hurt her case, either: producers
Keith Diamond
Paul Laurence
bring a meld of jazz, funk, pop, and soul influences to the fold, and intertwine them with remarkable consistency. This resourceful approach results in material that far surpasses earlier hits like
"Love's Comin' at Ya"
"Keepin' My Lover Satisfied"
; and it also turns out a surprising remake of
Fleetwood Mac
's
"Dreams."
With arrangements that are always on the dot, solid songs, and stellar vocals,
is a must for every
fan's collection. [
FTG
's reissue, released in 2011, adds six bonus tracks, including the extended version of
"Read My Lips."
] ~ Justin M. Kantor