Album Review: Ruben Studdard "Love IS"

Ruben Studdard has had his ups & downs ever since winning the second season of American Idol. After a rather successful debut, Ruben hasn’t been able to maintain his initial level of success & failed to make a ‘return’ a few years ago. Back with a new label, Ruben has recorded his fourth studio album Love IS, a project devoted to simply singing & reminding the public why he won them over in the first place, but does he succeed in what he’s aiming for?

Love IS kicks off with its first single “Together,” a proper lead offering, though radio isn’t much into playing “singers” these days. A nice cover of “More Than Words” is then followed by “Song For Her,” a special dedication to his fiancé that reflects (& explains) the overall mood of the album. A bit of desperately needed life is pumped into Love IS with “How You Make Me Feel,” though it is at this point that you realize that everything on the album is going to sound basically the same.

“Don’t Make ‘Em Like U No More” is a pleasant midtempo—surprisingly, I know, though you can’t deny (& neither can America) Ruben’s smooth vocals on it or the following track “I Can’t Help It.” However, while trying to get past the halfway point, a song like “Just Because,” though not bad, becomes difficult to sit through. Thankfully though, one of the album’s highlights, the ballad “My Love Is A Rock,” follows & brings back memories of Ruben’s past Idol glory.

Now, while Ruben’s cover of “The Long & Winding Road” is very good, it has nothing on David Archuleta’s performance of the song on the Idol stage a little over a year ago. Ruben shows off his vocal ability much better on the retro “For The Good Times.” As Love IS winds down, Ruben continues to sing nicely on some more ballads: the big, inspirational “We Got Love (That’s Enough)” & “Footprints In The Sand.”

I get what Love IS is supposed to be & I’m not trying to belittle it for that, but I actually preferred the variation Ruben offered on his third album The Return. I think the choice to include some covers was smart because it will encourage people to embrace the man who does justice to their favorite tunes as they once did… should they give this album a listen. In fact, as always, I have to encourage you to enjoy the soul of Ruben Studdard once again when you’re in the mood for some good music.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars