Can We Fall in Love in Bloomington, MN

In a way,
Can We Fall in Love
is both late and well-timed. It follows
Avant
's previous album by five years but coincides with the 20th anniversary of
My Thoughts
, his platinum debut. Considering the time that passed between 2015's
The VIII
and this -- easily the longest break of
's career -- a significant shift in direction would not have been all that surprising, but the singer instead continues his writing and production partnership with
Travis Sayles
. Even when some trap-styled production touches and light dancehall rhythms are incorporated,
never seems out of place or desperate to keep up with the younger generation. He's as comfortable in those contemporary modes as he is in old-school and straight-ahead adult R&B settings. There's some heartache -- he pleads for his lover to return in the opener, calls her out in "Live a Lie," and yearns patiently in the finale -- but much of what's between those tracks illustrates some fully realized intimacy, peaking around the middle with "Take It Slow" (graced by
Robert Glasper
's piano) and the glistening "Edible" (not nearly as crass as the title indicates).
's singing is more restrained and direct than ever, like he's conversing eye to eye, across a table or in a bedroom, rarely letting loose with his head tilted back and his eyes closed. He remains true to himself while delivering the sophisticated yet uncomplicated kind of R&B his longtime listeners can appreciate. ~ Andy Kellman