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Goapele's voice is a high contralto that generates exceptional frisson. When she turns it on the synthesizer funk of "Milk & Honey," she generates an overwhelming heat. Her dominant presence turns the songs on Break of Dawn, her first album in six years, into mere subtext, and it's fun to hear her use the urban erotica of "Play" and "Undertow" for a showcase of her vocal talent. It's an area that she sticks to with few exceptions -- she sings of persevering over obstacles on "Break of Dawn," and life as a single mother on "Hush" -- but she does it better than most.

Houston's sophomore album cemented her pop chart dominance with somewhat shrill offerings like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "Didn't We Almost Have It All." The beats were infectious, the songs uncomplicated, and fans found the polished, not-too-soulful tracks just right for the era.