Stephanie Mills
Something Real
Play Something Real
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AMG Review of Something Real
Justin M. Kantor
All Music GuideMills' final set for MCA is a mixed bag of midtempo ditties and ballads. The singer is in fine vocal shape, but the songs often suffer from numb melodies and meandering arrangements. Dry, overly synthesized outings like "I Found a New Love" and "24-Hour Woman" are heavily produced and caustic, while "Policy of Love" and "Stone Cold Woman" are structured well, but lack any real energy. A couple of meaningful moments are found in the sanguine "Love the Hurt Away" and sullen "Heartache." And the clever backing vocal arrangements (and lush performances) of Company give life to many of the grey spots. Overall, though, Something Real is far from the glory of Mills' best material.
 "Something Real")
