Review: Eddie Levert Sr. & Gerald Levert - "Something to Talk About"

It's still unknown how many finished but unreleased songs Gerald Levert recorded before his untimely death in November 2006, but since this is already the second posthumous release of new material by him in just seven months, then it might be safe to say that despite his death, the public will still hear from Levert for some time to come. On Something to Talk About, Gerald teams with his father, Eddie Sr. (of the O'Jays) for a dozen old-school R&B tracks that are so vivid and vibrant that they might make you completely forget - for awhile, anyway - that Gerald is no longer among the living.

There are some songs on Something to Talk About in which you literally can't tell Gerald's voice from Eddie Sr.'s, and it's this that drives home an important point: these two men were like best friends in addition to being father and son.

Must-hear songs include the fun-n-sexy tracks "A Situation" and "I Like It." And on "That's What I Do," Eddie & Gerald seemingly do their best Babyface impersonations, singing about how they'll do anything for - and give everything to - their women. Apparently, chivalry, like the spirit of Gerald Levert, is not dead. And sure, it's an old-fashioned mentality, but it's a nice change from the songs these days that belittle and/or demean women.

Their praising of females continues on "Bad Habit," where they sing about wanting a woman's lovin' so much that she's become a bad habit that results in other things, like work, becoming neglected:
"Some people are addicted to drugs, some people are addicted to alcohol, some people are addicted to food, but there ain't no addiction like me lovin' you," Gerald sings.

Like a lot of music by members of the Levert family, the singing can be over-the-top sometimes. Plus, there aren't many new ideas here. In fact, not even the album's concept is new: Eddie Sr. and Gerald recorded another duets album, called Father & Son, back in 1995. But other than the unappealing title track (which is a remake of the old Bonnie Raitt hit), this is a well-done, cohesive package of material that fully displays the skills that have kept the Levert family on the charts - and in the hearts fans - for decades.