Luther Vandross – Power Of Love

Talk about an early 90's R&B release that has actually stood up considerably well. I was initially indifferent about Power of Love's impact among Luther-ologists and R&B enthusiasts alike, wondering why it has always been ballyhooed as a highlight in Vandross' oeuvre. It's grown on me quite profoundly today. In an era where mechanized spells of New Jack Swing and glossy hip-hop personality dominated the black popular music landscape, seasoned cats who were once the titans of the game during their prime had to play devil's advocate by conceding completely to the trends of the day, or playing by their own playbook and adjusting to the time. Vandross and Marcus Miller obviously went for the latter virtue for Power of Love, but didn't change their template by any measure. While it barely reaches the heights of his supreme 1981-86 run, it's a strong effort that boasts a state-of-the-art (for its time), adult pop-soul urgency that Vandross and his right-hand associates carved into the heart of black pop and perfected by the end of the 80s. This may be his last complete gasp of greatness, where every song (even a filler track or two) was commendable. An artistic and commercial highpoint for Vandross.