Stevie's "A Time 2 Love" is released today! It's his first studio release of new material in 10 years! (The last one being "Conversation Piece") I think this merits a thread devoted to reviewing the cd at it's official release of the actual disc! (not downloads or other means)

So, go buy it... listen to it... and comment on it here.

June7 said:

Amazing how Prince's small guitar part makes that record go - it isnt that great without him.

allmusic.com says this:

Review by Rob Theakston
During times of extreme political and social change, Stevie Wonder's voice and songwriting served as cultural and spiritual guide posts to many a listener, often lending insight and a barometer with which to measure the ways of the world. But that was largely during the golden phase of his career, generally regarded as being the late '60s through 1980's Hotter Than July. His work in the mid '80s through the '90s was marginal in comparison, only hinting at glimpses of former brilliance, sugar-coated by over-polished production and radio-friendly content. So with a decade passing since his last full-length, 1995's Conversation Piece, people waited with baited breath for a sign of his return... and wondered which Wonder would show up: Would it be the socially conscious genius who wrote anthems for a generation, or the R&B crooner that dominated quiet storm radio? Thankfully, it's a blend of both. For every forward-moving song with a theme, there's a gentle moment of tranquility to cancel it out. Many of these songs, save for their warm and polished digital production values, could have easily found a home in Talking Book, Music of My Mind, or any of the other albums for which Wonder will forever be praised. In an age when the majority of R&B is about money, drugs, infidelity or getting it on, Wonder's lyrics (especially during the love songs) recall the simplicity and innocence of early Motown without sounding trite. It's definitely a refreshing change of pace and hopefully something one or two aspiring producers and songwriters are paying attention to. These are love songs of maturity that are carefully crafted, which would more or less explain why it took nearly a decade to get them finalized, with many of them feeling like mature revisitations of the classics. (If "Happier Than the Morning Sun" and "Little Girl Blue" were a pair of teenagers in love, "Sweetest Somebody I Know" is that couple 30 years later at their class reunion.) The jazzy "How Will I Know," featuring Wonder's daughter on lead vocals (the same Aisha sung about nearly 30 years ago on "Isn't She Lovely"), is the gateway to the album's second half, a five-song cycle of ballads and quiet storm jams that will appease fans of Wonder's later work. Especially notable is "My Love Is on Fire," featuring a beautiful guest appearance from jazz flautist Hubert Laws, which exemplifies the other thing that makes A Time to Love the comeback album of the year: the never-ending list of celebrity cameo appearances so extensive it would make Carlos Santana and Clive Davis blush with modesty. Guest appearances from rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, Bonnie Raitt, Sir Paul McCartney, Kim Burrell, Prince, Kirk Franklin and India.Arie just scratch the surface of who contributed to this record. It's one Michael Jackson and one Lionel Richie cameo short from being a USA for Africa reunion. But while each artist lends their own style to the mix, the songs definitely remain 100-percent Wonder thanks to his distinctive singing and arrangements. The album begins its landing with "So What the Fuss," a chunky block of funk with a distorted bass line. It served as the lead single and was met with surprisingly little fanfare, especially since it's one of Wonder's most straight-ahead slices of funk in some time. And the album's title track serves as a fitting conclusion to the album, spreading Wonder's message of love and peace as strongly and convincingly as any other song he's ever done. On the whole, A Time to Love is the record Wonder fans have been waiting for, and the wait has more than paid off. Through exploration and balance, A Time to Love finds the two halves of Wonder's adult career finally coming to home to roost in peaceful harmony with one another, and it's one of the finest records he has done in decades.





i cant wait till i get off from work

I understand that this is a Prince fan site, and I understand Prince is truly a musicail genius but must of the people on here just constanly kiss his ass and its getting kinda ludacris. To say Stevie's "So What the fuss" isnt great without Prince to mean just means you either really don't like the song and your just saying that because "you love everything Prince does" no matter how bad or good it is. LETS FACE IT STEVIE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ALBUM LIKE THE 5 BACK 2 BACK CLASSICS HE CRANKED OUT IN THE 70'S. iF your waiting for that to happen then its time you give Stevie up. It's sayz somethiong about an artist when the only one he's competing with is himself. I'm a huge Stevie Wonder fan and I think it's a very strong album. It's most def, the strongest thing he has put out since Hotter In July and in some cases I might even say it better than that album. The one thing that bugs me about Stevie he seems to use Legendary musicians as studio musicians and nothing more. you wouldn't know this album was filled with great artist unless you read the liner notes. SIr Paul, Prince, Oscar Castro-Neves to name a few all put in great work. "If your love cannot be moved" gives me goose bumps Stevie and Kim Burrell sing with so much soul and emotion that is most def missing from today's music scene. There are of couple songs on the album that I can do without like "Please Don;t Hurt My baby", and "Positivity", and yes "A Time to Love" goes a little too long. But on its on merits "A time to love" is classic Stevie. I'm making no excuses for Stevie cause he sure as hell doesnt need them, but the man is 55 years old with no more awards to win, nothing else to prove, he has the respect and admiriation from everyone. It's almost safe to say that are expections for Stevie is high that he will never reached them. Let's just be glad that this man is blessing us with music.
Stevie from a true fan i thought you did a great job, and although I got mad with all those damn delays "A Time to Love" will be blasting through my speakers for a long time

shausler said:

I'm so excited!!

VisionEnt2004 said:

Well said.

awww... i love stevie! i got the cd this morning...i LOVE the first track "if your love cannot be moved" i'd have to say that's my fave, i dunno why tho lol i was also happy to hear the extended version of "so what the fuss" on accounta i've only heard the video version...June7, do u have the cd? if so, what do u think of it?

My favorite songs are in the middle, together like a suite:

-How Will I Know
-My Love Is On Fire WITH HUBERT LAWS!
-Passionate Raindrops

word out is that it ain't too good.

i heard samples, it just sounds unexciting.

I've given my thoughts on this album in about 491 threads. I like it. Anyone saying it's bad because it can't compare to his 70s output is doing themselves a disservice. Nobody can compete with those albums - not even Stevie!

After hearing the whole album, I reckon the funkiest cut is still "So What The Fuss".

CinisterCee said:

In that case, i ain't buying it no chance


Man, that song was annoying. "shaaaaame on u". Oh shut up with the long note every 5 seconds

yeah, I posted that as a warning.


The hi-fi production lends itself well to the ballads but when the jams go midtempo (which is as fast the album ever gets), I think some moments turn corny.

Just my

thesexofit said:

Then don't buy it. The other word out is that it is good stuff. Solid. A solid overall album. Wu Tang Clan and Simply Red just dropped a CD as did Ashlee Simpson, go get those. Tell you, 10 years later, this CD will still be more pleasant to the ears when you are like 50 years old and don't feel like listening to post hip hop crap.

breeze1 said:

he he. I dont buy anything new.

CinisterCee said:

The only real corny one for me is Positivity. That one could easily have been a NKOTB song. Hey, thesexofit - reason for you to buy it!

RipHer2Shreds said:

Yeah very funny.

but based on his song titles alone, he is cornier then most them pop acts.
[Edited 10/18/05 16:55pm]

RipHer2Shreds said:

oh I agree, and I think that was the song that was on when I was posting.

"Please Don't Hurt My Baby" is the main uptempo song.

I bought this album hours ago,but it's been a busy day at work,so I'm just now listening to it for the first time.So far,so good

June7 said:

Hey June 7...long time no see!

What are your thoughts on the new CD?

sonofblade said:

okay,I have listened to this CD several times all the way through.It'll take me several more days before I can write a thorough review (I need to "live" with these new songs for awhile,lol).But so far,I am REALLY impressed! This CD was worth the wait.

thesexofit said:

Corny isn't always a bad thing. Not when there is heart and good music behind it. Folks are just too damn hard these days. The album is called "A Time To Love". By today's standards love is corny. I say so the hell what. I'd rather ride for an artist that's positive and corny than negative and corny like 50 Cent.

intha916 said:

And that's basically how I continue to enjoy the music.

intha916 said:

Very well said!

intha916 said:

So true! To be cool today is to act like either a pornstar or a drug dealer.

Just picked up my copy, gonna listen to it right now.

It's not a classic album.

Stevie's voice is not the same, not as good, but some of his vocal arrangements are new.

Positivity is the best track on the album.

Passionate Raindrops is just overjoyed redone

The mix on what's the Fuss sounds like it's missing something.

decent album, better than a few of his later efforts.
[Edited 10/19/05 13:01pm]

I picked up the CD last night but I haven't had time to hear it. I'm going to do it tonight and tell you my take tomorrow. I look forward to seeing what he's done.
[Edited 10/19/05 13:11pm]