AMG Review of Lady Love

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

Lady Love had several projected release dates across 2008 and early 2009, eventually landing in August 2009. Involving production and songwriting input from a great number of people -- including Tank, Ne-Yo, Ron Feemster, Ron Felder, and Elvis Williams -- and 15 tracks deep, it's just as scattered and uneven as LeToya's self-titled debut, and sounds even more fussed-over, even without the knowledge about its delays. That does not mean there is a shortage of high points. "Regret," with a significant sonic resemblance to Mary Mary's "God in Me" (from the rat-a-tat snares to the alternately gliding and prodding vocal attack), is a mesmeric kiss-off. The pummeling "She Ain't Got," nearly overloaded with assaultive sounds from every direction, is startlingly brash. On the melancholy "Take Away Love," LeToya proves to be a good fit for Ryan Leslie's meringue-light yet affecting melodic sense. Despite so many involved hands, the album is clearly directed toward the pop market, heavier on gleaming synthesizers and in-your-face production. It's too bad that it wasn't attained with more focused results (with fewer cooks).