Amplified Soul

In 2013, stepped out with his first solo album, -- a stylistically varied set on which he performed the lead vocals -- but he quickly went to work on fresh material with the group he has led for over three decades. evidently didn't drain his creativity, as is another double-length album, 70 minutes in duration. Though it doesn't feature or any collaborator on the level of contributors , , and , it certainly isn't short on powerful and uplifting lead vocal turns. works with some names familiar to fans and continues to keep it fresh with new voices. Most notably, there's the underexposed on "I See the Sun," a gorgeously rolling number near the end that could just as easily follow the album's introduction. leads "Rapture," another beaming, kicked-back groove that stands with the group's best work. They take it back a little farther than their typical mid-'70s to early-'80s well of inspiration for the strutting "Hats (Makes Me Wanna Holler)," one of their funkier straight-R&B songs. At this point, even the most casual listener knowledgeable about the group's inspirations won't be surprised that a piece titled "Wind Sorceress" resembles -era . And yet, despite the obvious likeness, it's fully enjoyable, filled with little details that make it more than a mere tribute. As usual, either wrote or co-wrote all the original material, and there's a cover -- a festive version of 's 1985 single "Silver Shadow," fronted by . ~ Andy Kellman