On Earth, and Heaven

Even a mortal enemy of would have to concede that the singer had a too-tough go of it after the 2014 release of his previous album. That LP, , proved to be an ineffective appeal to make full amends with . During the three years immediately following his divorce, dealt with the deaths of his father and manager, and he lost both his house (to the Woolsey fire) and the lawsuit alleging that he and lifted 's "Got to Give It Up" for "Blurred Lines." Just after the latter two blows, in December 2018, issued his first single as an independent artist. A ballad of sorrow, contrition, and revival, "Testify" began a slow lead-up to his eighth album, in the course of which music executive giant -- 's mentor, executive producer, close friend, and godfather of 's son -- died at the age of 59. features "Forever Mine," a wafting jazz ballad of whole-hearted conviction that approved. "Beautiful," embracing love in the face of devastation with elements of doo wop and chamber soul, was co-written by , 's son. 's devotion to and reliance upon his inner circle extends to working with and on "Take Me Higher," a free-spirited dancefloor cut that parties (responsibly) like it's 1979, and "Lola Mia," a boogaloo-flavored dedication to his daughters. Apart from those two songs and the fleet "Hola," a sweetened and loved-up number replete with one of the album's very necessary flugelhorn solos, the album sticks with reflective and romantic ballads that are among the most genuine and stirring moments in 's catalog. Last but not least is "That's What Love Can Do," a Philly soul-styled testimony of romantic salvation that became 's fifth single to top Billboard's adult R&B chart. The how-the-hell falsetto "baby" repeatedly delivers within suggests that are closer to his heart than ever. From top to sturdy bottom, this is an impressive rebuild. ~ Andy Kellman