Lisa Stansfield
After a hiatus of several years, Lisa Stansfield released her self-titled CD, a collection of soulful musings and R&B; rumblings. Heralded by many as the white queen of soul, Stansfield rises to the occasion with songs like "Never Gonna Fall," "The Real Thing," and "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up." Her smooth voice effortlessly coaxes every drop of emotion out of each song with an admirable and classy restraint. Nowhere is this more evident than in the neo-torch numbers, "I'm Leavin'" and "I Cried My Last Tear, Last Night." The album ends with the bootleg mix of her earlier hit, "People Hold On." A juggernaut of a bass line rumbles underneath, also approximated in Tori Amos's dance mix of "Professional Widow." Stansfield's voice glides over the infectious house groove, making the cut a dance floor staple.--Steve Gdula