After eight years, Sade re-turns with the ballad-heavy "Lovers Rock," a seducing comeback that glows with impressive vocal performances. The beauty in almost any Sade song is in its tantalizing mood and rapturous energy. Every cut on this gem captures that feeling, from the poppiest -- the upbeat, dreamy "By Your Side" -- to the radiantly sensitive "The Sweetest Gift." In between, Sade also reveals an incisive melancholy side, like the intrepidly playful title track.
One thing is for certain: Sade and her band Sweetback have a gift for creating unique soulful sounds. "Lovers Rock" satisfies the romantic in all of us.
