Babyface - Grown & Sexy CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

melodies and ready-made rhymes, this album's first half is particularly calculated. His musically subdued but lyrically furious "Goin' Outta Business" ranks with his best, but, like much of his solo material, could have been far more feisty in the hands of a Mary J. Blige.

There aren't many people who can craft an R&B love jam like Babyface, and Grown & Sexy is a fine showcase of his skills. He doesn't let sentiment slip into sentimentality, keeps to his voice's limits, and turns in production work so glossy it puts Vogue to shame. In short, this lives up to its title. Try it.