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Love Letter
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Love Letter Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: Taking his sound back to Motown, the R&B hit maker tones down his controversial image, releasing classic love songs inspired by '50s and '60s slow jams.
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Love Letter
Do do do do do do Do do do do Yeah La la la la la la La la la la Did you get my card? Did you read my love letter? Did it touch your heart? When... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Jan 10, 2011
    88
    On Love Letter, he does away with the freakiness and lays down a full record of slow-simmered, grown-man emoting. And it feels like a wayward husband who's finally come home for good.
  2. Pitchfork
    Jan 7, 2011
    82
    Love Letter is mostly poised, polished, and lush beyond belief.
  3. Boston Globe
    Dec 20, 2010
    80
    It's a back-to-basics collection of beautifully sung and arranged tracks emphasizing romance and devotion.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Dec 13, 2010
    75
    This style of music also meant everything to his late mother, whose record collection set Kelly on his path. Love Letter is as much an homage to her as it to the classic soul tracks she loved.
  5. cokemachineglow
    Feb 23, 2011
    70
    Love Letter is more like a respite, a detour from the beaten path we should just be glad exists, and something to cling to when the next porridge of jizz and tears, The Return of 12 Play: Night of the Living Dead, drops wetly on our heads.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Dec 14, 2010
    70
    It's a testament to Kelly's ingenuity as a singer and songwriter that Love Letter doesn't fizzle - even with the fly zipped up on his wildest eccentricities.
  7. Slant Magazine
    Dec 13, 2010
    40
    Kelly's default mode throughout Love Letter is needy like a Salvation Army bell-ringer.

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. dz9
    Jul 30, 2011
    10
    There is no other way to put this album. It is amazing, one of the first albums I can hit play and listen to its entirety, R. Kelly has notThere is no other way to put this album. It is amazing, one of the first albums I can hit play and listen to its entirety, R. Kelly has not put out a "great album" in a while, and on this one. You do kind of miss the sensual soul of his famous works, but he does mix it in with some of his songs and creates a good balance between the freaky and the mature. The Good: great vocals, amazing lyrics. The Bad: there is none. A true delivery for RnB fans and R. Kelly fans alike.… Expand
  2. bravekirk
    Dec 14, 2010
    9
    For those of us that loved and remembers songs like "Religious Love", " I cant sleep" ....this album reminds us of the genius that existed inFor those of us that loved and remembers songs like "Religious Love", " I cant sleep" ....this album reminds us of the genius that existed in those tracks and affirms that he is still within the boundary of the often sexual implicit artistry of R Kelly. Certainly a must have to reminds us of the greatness that exists in the artist. Tracks like "Love Letter", Love is and "How do i tell her" captures your attention immediately and reaffirm the soulfulness of the artist… Expand
  4. timeformime
    Jan 6, 2011
    9
    R. Kelly said on his documentary that with this album he made a U-turn in time, going back to the 50's and 60's for inspiration. This isR. Kelly said on his documentary that with this album he made a U-turn in time, going back to the 50's and 60's for inspiration. This is totally true, but even more importantly he made a shift from the insincere and cringe-inducing punch lines to sincere and clever romantic declarations. With his signature voice, feeling and clever writing applied to this subject, these tracks aren't corny like those on all of his other albums because he treats us to something we don't hear too much of in today's music: love and devotion. Who would guess that romantic music would sell in today's world? It's a bold and admirable move from him as an artist, but it paid off big time, and here's for bringing the love songs back to the radio.

    Note: this album is not revolutionary. But it is immaculately arranged and performed and only 1 or 2 tracks are regularly skip-worthy, so I'd give it 8.5, which rounds up to 9 for Metacritic.    … Expand
  5. capricorn7nc
    Dec 20, 2010
    8
    I like this album. It shows that R. Kelly is a great singer, and that he doesn't have to be nasty to make songs that people will love. TheI like this album. It shows that R. Kelly is a great singer, and that he doesn't have to be nasty to make songs that people will love. The songs are catchy and well-written. I think this is a good stocking stuffer for anyone who likes to listen to good music. I could listen to this all the way through on a road trip.… Expand
  6. rollingstone82
    Jan 3, 2011
    8
    I am amazed. I didn't think that R. Kelly could pull something like this off so good. I loved all his old stuff from 12 Play and R. But II am amazed. I didn't think that R. Kelly could pull something like this off so good. I loved all his old stuff from 12 Play and R. But I didn't think much of all his new stuff. But this is something else. Shows that R. Kelly doesn't have to be explicit to be R. Kelly. Great stuff.… Collapse