Grown & Sexy
Babyface's sought-after, chart-slaying days may be over, but it's all good. If there's one thing the R&B; phenomenon demonstrates onGrown & Sexy,is that growing upissexy. This he proves through a clutch of songs that are more emotionally ripe and satisfying than any of the tricked out tracks that have jerked-and-chugged their way onto recent love song shuffles. Rather than scavenging throughMissy Elliott'sbackyard for an "it" sound, Babyface rummages in his own cellophane-smooth style, and it pays off handsomely. The layers of "Mad, Sexy, Cool" swirl over a pleasingly summery lyric and float into the sophisticated lust bath of "Can't Stop Now." "Sorry for the Stupid Things" speaks straight-up in an apologetic midtempo groove to wrongs committed in an adult relationship. "Good To Be in Love" spills out pure, hand-clapping celebration and "Gettin to Know U" explores a funked-up '70s-eraCurtis Mayfieldsensibility. As sexy asGrownmay be, Babyface makes the case that keeping it real may be as hot as he needs to get.--Tammy La Gorce