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Artist |
Patti Austin |
| Title |
On the Way to Love |
| Label |
Warner Bros./Qwest |
| Reviewer |
Joe Hartlaub |
| Rating |
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ON THE WAY TO LOVE is what has become known in the vernacular as a "chick
CD." Targeted to women in the 19 to 33 age bracket who have their first (or
fourth or fifth) real job and who are in love or wish they were, it has
ready-made singles galore, with titles like "Girlfriend" and "On the Way to
Love." ON THE WAY TO LOVE is lite-rock radio friendly; this is what's being
played over the p.a. system when you're in the dentist chair getting your
gums scraped or in the OB-GYN stirrups getting your...well, you know what I
mean. The arrangements are spare, and thoughtful, near perfect for every
single tune, and artfully designed to never overwhelm Ms. Austin, who is the
star of the show. And deservedly so.
Patti Austin does not have a dynamic range, and is not blessed with a
boatload of talent. She accordingly wisely for the most part does not attempt
to overreach while staying in the foreground on each song. While there is
nothing here that would sound out of place on a Michael McDonald CD,
everything would pretty much fit in on a Stevie Wonder CD, too. This isn't
music to chances by; you won't mistake Patti Austin for Ellen MacIlwaine,
Slater-Kinney or Cassandra Wilson. But that's okay. This is the late '90s
equivalent of mood music. If you go over to your loved one's home for dinner
and this is playing, it's going to be a good night. The only time where Ms.
Austin gets in trouble is where she strains ("Make It Right") or where she
tries to adopt a persona other than the one which she has quite competently
created for herself such as in "Playin' Around," where Ms. Austin attempts
to be funky but, alas, only halfheartedly. She is much more successful when
she displays quiet strength ("Let Me Be Me," "Love's Been Kind to Me
Lately"). Ms. Austin, as long as she stays with her tried-and-true formula,
will remain successful for as long as she wants to be.
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© 2001 AMZ/music-reviewer.com Robert R. Lewis
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