G Spot

Most of us have had real-life kisses that felt less sexy that Gerald Levert's best soul songs. On the unabashedly sensual The G Spot, Levert creates music so intimate that you almost want to turn your head away from the stereo to give the man some privacy. That's absolutely true of the title track, which graphically illustrates how Levert pleases his lady, while re-enacting his own release. You don't hear that everyday, but it's easy to forgive the chart-topping singer, songwriter, and producer such titillating excess because the rest of the disc is so damn good. The slow grooving "Funny" paints smirking come-hither lyrics across a lazy swell of strings and a wheezing organ. Album highlight "Raindrops" is a fleet-footed classic, its chiming chorus forming a pop hook sharp enough to carve alabaster. Only the first song, "Too Much Room"--featuring rapper Mystikal--and the finger-snapping doo-wop charmer "Your Smile" depart from the cozy R&B template that is Levert's calling card but even then, Levert's deep, almost textured voice is spellbinding. --Kim Hughes

Label: Unknown
Studio: Elektra
Released: 2002-11-18
Format: Audio CD