Lovely, time-honored ballads, including “I Wish You Love,” “As Time Goes By” and “Cry Me a River” harken back to a time when the recording industry valued romance over sex. That nostalgia is refreshing. Several songs offer hope in dealing with unrequited love. The title cut decries hatred and the present cultural chaos (“Lord, what’s happening to this human race?”).
Nothing explicit, but “Lovers” leaves the relational context open for interpretation when it recommends “makin’ love, really gettin’ it on.”
Teens fond of Harry Connick Jr. will enjoy this romantic time warp as well. The 18-track follow-up to Cole’s Grammy-winning Unforgettable blends classic ballads with smooth jazz, scat and melodies from the big-band era, resulting in a playful potpourri of adult contemporary tunes. Delightful vocal work. With the one exception noted above, Take a Look is worth a listen-a predominantly positive pick.
