By shelz.

Ronald Isley has been recording for over 50 years. And from doo-wop to hosting rap features, he’s had his hands in every urban sound (and some non-urban) to come along in that time.  His distinctive tenor has played smooth partner to every chanteuse you can think of and has been responsible for some of the sexiest Baby Making Music ever crafted.

It’s a new time though and plenty of elder statesmen have tried and failed at staying contemporary.  The flip side finds them reverting back to their comfort zone and sounding dated.  With Mr. I, Ronald Isley crafts an album that welcomes old and new without leaning too far to either side.  He doesn’t rap, nor does he remix “Shout.”  Instead, he adds enough new millennium embellishment to sound current, but still respects the sonic path that got him this far.

The unbridled sexuality of the lead song, “Take It How You Want It” is giggle inducing for about a half second, considering how elder the elder statesman is, but the song is intoxicating enough to erase the bad jokes from your mind.  The stuttering drum and clap play host to a lively range-bouncing acoustic guitar and strings that swirl above as if caught in a tornado alley funnel.  Isley’s demands for his woman to keep working her back are the cherry on top.  Ron’s beautifully raspy voice again finds the sweet spot on “No More.” The snare and incessant thump update the song from 90’s throwback and his delivery is impeccable as he counts the ways he loves his girl.  When the bass is dropped and the strings thicken, this song turns into something special.

“If I Lose My Woman” is unabashedly retro with its 80’s synth and piano tinkering, but the following cut, “Put Your Money On Me” is the obvious attempt at planting both feet in 2010. It’s the most uptempo of the lot with a snare that chops through the digital strings and shouts of “Yeah” in the background.  Ron steps all over the track with a fresh stuttering pattern at times, but he doesn’t sound forced.  The T.I. feature is strangely high pitched and wasn’t needed.

Mr. I returns to 80’s quiet storm with “Dance For Me,” a simple, sneaky request for after dinner entertainment. Mr. Biggs is adamant and it comes through in small spurts of passion.  How could a girl say no? The carnal tone then leads to “What I Miss the Most.” Soulful with a hint of jazz, this is music for your moma’s ipod, but still beautiful.  The closer, “You Had Me At Hello” is the most throwback and least soulful of the songs.  The sound is pop standard and the words are about as sentimental as songs get.  This is music for your Grandma’s ipod.

There are a few sluggish moments.  “Supposed to Do” could be adopted as the gold digger national anthem.  He’s about buying carats and furs, German cars that are his and hers and trips around the world.  Then he will make you breakfast after breaking your back.  The foundation drags along, but no matter.  Some women will still learn this song word for word. “You’ve Got a Friend” is an old cover with Aretha Franklin of the James Taylor classic.  The song isn’t bad but it is out of place and it of course makes me wonder what happened to the Carpenters cover he did with Lauryn Hill.

Ronald Isley has been through some turbulent times and has lost quite a bit, but he still has that golden voice and the ability to slide it through and around notes better than most of the younger men in the game today. With Mr. I he manages old and new without ever sounding silly or passé.  It’s not a perfect album, but the emotion and charm that Isley radiates is enough to make the missteps not so bad and the good songs better.  They don’t make ‘em like Mr. I no more.  Recognize.

3.75 out of 5

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