LeToya - Lady Love (2009)

Lady Love
This is the best introductory track that I have heard since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' by Justin Timberlake. A music box melody introduces the song, with some heavy, dark strings and three harmonised vocals from LeToya that all lead to the point where the beat drops, the voices unify and the ride begins. We know we want a girl like LeToya, she sings: The 'Change your world type of girl'. The song is all about the singer; who is a lady that can cook, clean, put it down in the bedroom and make enough money to be able to invite you into her Mercedes Benz. She hits the nail on the head when she says that we can't resist this as it is very true. This is a fantastic stand alone track that is the perfect opener to Luckett's sophomore effort.

She Ain't Got...
Single Two and Track Two of the project, this is a hard track, that is just as likely to blow your speakers as to serve as warning as to what is going to happen if you are caught cheating. LeToya has been forced to wear the trousers in her relationship since her man has been up to no good and it is up to her to sort this out and 'Take out the trash, as soon as I find out who she is'. LeToya is singing about the other woman and what She Ain't Got is sh*t on LeToya. Once caught, LeToya likens her man to a 'Puppy on a leash' that she lets out to play but he 'ain't playing fair', meeting strays and bringing home fleas. Not only is LeToya going to keep her man in check, she is going to put her rival in her place and, to quote the lyric, put her 'foot down on home girl's neck'. The feistiness of the track is reflected in beats as well as the fantastic video for the song, part set in the club. The lady capable of doing everything that she said in 'Lady Love' is capable of a lot more and, oddly, given that she is about to kick some ass, you sympathise with the artist, who is still able to sound sweet, despite the threats that she is making. The song literally breaks down for the bridge in contrast to LeToya's tough exterior, when it poses the questions, 'Does she kiss like me?, Care for your kids like me? Keep a secret like me? Does she cook, clean do all the things? amongst a multitude of other rhetorical questions, the answer to all being 'No'. The song breaks down one more time before the whole thing is wrapped up and you need a sit down to get over what you have just heard.

Not Anymore
The lead single from the album has a more relaxed pace to it, all though the bass is still heavy and the message is similar to that of 'She Ain't Got...', if a little more restrained. The video (short movie would be a better description) that accompanies the track documents the cheating nature of the partner that LeToya doesn't want Not Anymore. Set in the Sixties, the video sees LeToya's rise to fame and her becoming a Number One artist and, with songs like this, art is surely going to reflect real life. Another brilliant song.

Lazy
Strings and the piano start of this song that has a spoken introduction from LeToya telling the man trying to get with her that it is not him, it is everyone that has hurt her in the past that means that she doesn't want to start anything new. Her heart is tired of opening up and tired of being hurt; the result being her heart is lazy, knowing that the only thing that it is missing by not taking part in the game of love is pain and heartache. The song is anything but Lazy, however, with a fast beat and layers of instrumentation that would have you believe attack is the best form of defence. She is making no bones about pushing this would be suitor away and making it clear that she has no intention of changing her mind.

Good To Me
This is the latest single to be chosen from 'Lady Love' and the video for this premiered last week. The song is dedicated to all of the good men and is a slow jam that lists LeToya's demands in a man: He's got to be able to cook, look good, be good in bed, go to church with his momma, not be about drama and be the kind of man that LeToya can take home to her dad. LeToya doesn't think that this is too much to ask for and, when she finds him, she is ready to give him all of her good love and blow his mind until he can't get enough. The bridge is sung directly to the 'ladies in the house tonight' who are encouraged to throw their hands in the air if they have a good man in their life or see a potential one for LeToya. The piano accents the heavy bass that means that the song does not venture into ballad territory. In interview, LeToya has said that this is her favourite song on the album and, the more I listen to it, the more this is coming true for me too. A wise choice for a later single release than the three previous cuts as this song is more of a grower but I predict big things for this track.

Over
The piano and a muted vocal from LeToya singing 'Over' begin the song about what would happen if LeToya found out that her man were cheating. Ever the straight-talker, she tells him categorically that it would be Over, with no chance for reconcilliation. The song is a slow song for nodding your head to rather than for dancing. It actually demands that you actively listen to it and appreciate the message that LeToya is sending out; something worth sitting up and listening to should you be in a relationship.

Regret feat. Ludacris
The piano and finger snaps start the third single release from the album, over which Ludacris states 'He don't deserve you, he gonna Regret that he hurt you'. The snare drum beats over the handover from Ludacris to LeToya who is singing to the partner that she had before Ludacris, who left her. The Regret that inspires the title is what this ex must be feeling since it was LeToya that made this man who he was on the scene with all of the things that she bought him. Now that they are over, his pimping isn't what it used to be and LeToya feels sorry for him. It appears that LeToya is correct when she says that her ex 'Must regret the day that you left me' as he is now 'Still trying to get back with me'. When he does, the snare drum comes in once more, which is the only instrument to feature other than the piano, tambourine, percussion and the finger snaps. The simplicity of the music is reflected in the stunning video, which has Letoya and Ludacris in front of a black screen for the most part. There is a confrontation in the club that shows when Ludacris raps how he is the new man in her life and how he treats her the way that the ex should have. After a few listens and, especially viewing the video, you cannot help but love this song, which I currently have on repeat all of the time.

I Need A U
A slower, softer sound and vocal feature on this track with brushed percussion and strings on musical duty. The chorus is sung a little stronger, where LeToya acknowledges that she Needs A U. The music and lyric are both sexy and this track can be used in the bedroom. The whole thing strips back for a spoken vocal where LeToya reveals that she doesn't like to be alone and makes it known that she has one or two tricks up her sleeve. As she does, a dirty electric guitar solo ensues that shows she means business. Another song that I like. A lot.

Take Away Love feat. Estelle
A conversation between LeToya and Estelle is used as the introduction to this track. LeToya is sick of explaining herself to somebody how she doesn't want a relationship, she is still trying to get over her ex. Estelle comes up with the solution, Take Away Love. LeToya takes this on board and then sings to the latest man how, although he says that he loves her, she can't imagine him being part of her life. It sounds as though she is using the man to get over her ex but, in the second verse, she makes it clear that the sex they were having is over for Estelle to come in with a rap to sledghammer the point home. This is a mid-paced song, with electric guitars, percussion, hand claps and a feisty Estelle who puts in a good rap and ad libs through to the end.

After Party
The beat bounces along to this, making your head do the same. The vocal is quite fast and upbeat, which would seemingly be in contrast to the lyric about the end of a relationship. Rather than focusing on the end of the partnership, LeToya looks forward to the After Party, when she is free and single. This song is a fine way to start that party.

Drained
Finger snaps and electronic beeps start this song, which build when the chorus drops and LeToya sings about Draining her ex partner's love. She recognises that she was the one that caused the breakdown of their relationship, blaming her past relationships for the pain that she caused her ex from the day that they met. The catchy song ends with her asking for forgiveness and another chance to pick up the pieces of the heart that she knows she has shattered.

Tears
Stuttered sounds begin the track, with a low, almost monotone vocal, that begins to rise, peaking in the chorus where LeToya lets the man in her life know that he has got her in Tears. In Verse Two, there is more variation in pitch, where LeToya tells how this man touches her soul and makes her lose her senses. She doesn't know what this man has that makes her so emotional, feel so warm and bring her to tears. Thankfully the tears that she cries are tears of joy rather than sorrow, which allow the listener to relax a little bit and let the song flow over them. A few listens make this a great track that could well be described as a baby maker.

Matter
LeToya is in love with a man who already has a girlfriend, who LeToya is convinced is not up to the job. The song is about LeToya convincing the man that the other woman doesn't Matter and that he should choose her. It's a mid-paced song, with some old school elements to it, which appeal to me. The frustrated beats convey how LeToya is feeling, as well as letting it be know that she means business.

Love Rollercoaster feat Mims.
Mim's rap begins the track by saying that his life is like a Rollercoaster ride. Things are moving so fast with his music, that he is able to treat Letoya to the good things in life and take her around the world, she just needs to keep her hands in the ride and go along with it. The chorus, sung by LeToya shows that she is not too happy to do this. Throughout the album, LeToya has said that she doesn't want any drama and doesn't want to go round and round, up and down in her relationships. Mims doesn't let it go and raps a second verse to say that he doesn't want this to end but the chorus comes back at him, followed by LeToya's verse confirming that, although she thought they were truly in love, she's lately seen another side to him, which brings unwanted problems and she wants to get off the Rollercoaster that has become her love life. The bass guitar and keyboards feature heavily on this track, which grows on you.

Don't Need You
Beatbox is the introduction and main accompaniment for this track, over which piano chords and a simple mid tempo drum beat support LeToya's beautiful vocal. The chorus sees hand claps and keyboards help convey the fact that LeToya Don't Need You. You being the ex that changed her from an independent woman to somebody submissive. Despite this, LeToya is going to keep smiling, keep it moving and not give up on love, making the song something positive with the focus being on the future rather than the past, which has put LeToya in the position in which we find her: Alone and lonely weighing up her options. Thankfully, she realises that she can do so much better and get through this and the song ends with laughter. I like this a lot.

Swagger feat. Bun B, Killa Kyleon and Slim Thug
The last song on the album is hard. Aggresive strings and a rap from the guests start things off and the whole thing sounds a little like Kelis' 'Bossy'. If anything, LeToya is a little overshadowed on this song, as though she is providing backing vocals for the three rappers, who take care of the verses. The jury is still out on this song for me but I have a sneaking suspicion that, with time, I will start to like this.

In a recent interview, LeToya has said that she was tricked into becoming a solo artist after leaving Destiny's Child and not quite getting Anjel off the ground. We really need to thank the tricksters as 'Lady Love' is rapidly becoming a favourite album and sales figures in the US would show that I am not the only one feeling this. Whilst appreciative of her success in her home country, LeToya has said that she would like the whole world to pick up on her music and my belief is that this is just a matter of time. 'Lady Love' is a fantastic album.