Return Of The Tender Lover

Babyface’s affectionate, hand-in-hand R&B has been sorely missed (his last solo album dropped in 2007). Live instruments and simple emotions are guided by a contemporary groove. Musical crush notes like “I Want You” and “Something Bout You” are propelled by his flawless voice. “Love and Devotion” and “Our Love” are perfect for a wedding party\'s walk down the aisle. “We’ve Got Love” wraps its arms around the world in a plea for personal connection. This is grown-folks\' love music—and it arrives not a moment too soon.

In the late 1980s and early '90s, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, along with songwriting partners Daryl Simmons and L.A. Reid, developed a form of pop soul that's as geometrically precise as it is weightless. His new album draws from that era, less a throwback than a micro-adjustment of an enduring formula.

Check out our album review of Artist's Return of the Tender Lover on Rolling Stone.com.

The old-school R&B star is back with a new set of ultra-smooth, expensive-sounding love jams