Raheem Devaughn - Love Behind the Melody

Neo Soul crooner Raheem DeVaughn lists his home as "Loveland, United States" on his MySpace page, and there's little evidence on the Love Behind the Melody to suggest he would live anywhere else. With a light, airy voice that caresses the songs without rubbing them the wrong way, de Vaughn slinks his way through smooth, neo-classical jams as if he was born for it. 'Mo Better' updates intimate '70s Philly soul with a string-dripping intro and brushes of keyboard, while 'Women' sprinkles a slightly tougher beat onto the standby ode to the fairer sex. But while some of de Vaughn's contemporaries get low lyrically, he keeps it strictly class, focusing on woman's brains and strength. De Vaughn clearly paid attention to every Soul disciple from Stevie to Luther to Prince, but he's got a silky voice all his own.

1) Hello Love
2) Woman
3) Love Drug
4) Energy Feat. Big Boi
5) Friday (Shut the Club Down)
6) Customer
7) Mo Better
8) Women Interlude
9) Desire
10) Midnite Interlude
11) Marathon Feat. Floetry
12) Butterflies
13) She's Not You
14) Try Again Interlude
15) Try Again
16) Empty
17) Four Letter Word