$S.87
Over the course of two profitable CDs, Case has progressed from being an nameless love man who sounds very very similar to T-Ci Hailey to a surprisingly delicate singer together with his personal tackle the usually clichéd S&B realm. That sensitivity is in abundance on this strong third effort, which like its singer is hard however tender. Nimbly mixing the thug Romeo’s musings on freaky women and damaged hearts, Open Letter brims with heartfelt introspection, as displayed on the moody, intricately crafted single “Missing You.” Yet even when the sweetness flows, there’s grit beneath Case’s hushed come-ons. Featuring manufacturing and songs from Tim & Bob and the all the time reliable Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Open Letter conjures up the romantic wistfulness of these previous (and Jam-and-Lewis-produced) Force MD’s singles. And that may be a very high-quality factor certainly. –Amy Linden
