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Jan 12, 2012On Back to Love, Hamilton splits the difference and delivers a carefully calculated amalgam of soulful rawness, after hours sophistication and pop sheen that feels far more organic than it has any right to.
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Dec 22, 2011In spartan tracks that evoke but never imitate Al Green and Teddy Pendergrass, Hamilton whispers offers of courtly behavior he says would make Oprah jealous.
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Dec 20, 2011Where Hamilton's past albums have lured in listeners with their slow, sensual pull, Back To Love grabs them outright with the soul man's punchiest, most immediate batch of songs yet.
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Dec 16, 2011Mixing stately story ballads with Cee-Lo-esque uptempo jams, Back to Love presents songwriting substance as style, and although that might not be flashy, it's mighty refreshing.
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Dec 13, 2011The smooth-groove classicism here is just part of Hamilton's mature command of the form, with none of neo-soul's studied Afro-Sheen patina.
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Dec 13, 2011He sounds marvelous.
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Dec 12, 2011That Back to Love is not a major shake-up is not a bad thing. Most of the songs are instantly ingratiating in some way, with none of the lighter, upbeat numbers the least bit out of character.
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Dec 12, 2011Back to Love is as solid as any of his previous six albums, but its high points are the three tunes co-produced by Babyface.
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Dec 12, 2011Hamilton neither chases trends nor makes fetish of retro sounds and influences. Instead, he finds powerful common ground between vintage influences and modern production.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 13 out of 16
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Mixed: 2 out of 16
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Negative: 1 out of 16
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Jun 28, 2012
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Jan 9, 2012
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Dec 24, 2011