Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder has been laying low for the past five years. He couldn't help writing a few
songs to fill out the hits compilation Original Musiquarium I, or knocking out soundtrack
ditties for 'The Woman in Red'; the man has hit making in his blood. Yet he must have gone
through some kind of crisis, because not since 1980's 'Hotter Than July' has he released a
full-length, stand-on-its-own album. Since he's waited that long, the new album, '... More >

Compare this to the others in your head and you'll be hard-pressed to specify what's missing, but slap on Talking Book or Hotter Than July and you'll hear how cushy it is--polyrhythmic pop rather than polyrhythmic rock. Stevie's effervescence is so indomitable that it's a pleasure even so, but nothing rises far enough out of the stew--"Land of the La La" is no "Living for the City," "Part Time Lover," no "I Just Called to Say I Love You," etc. Then there's the infectious "Spiritual Walkers," in which Stevie gives it up to Hare Krishna and witnesses for the Witnesses. (Grade: B+)