“The Lord Is Real” honors God for His saving grace, guidance and friendship. The artists’ mothers impart positive (at times Christian) advice to their sons on “Motherlude.” Several love songs express long-term commitment while bracing for bumps in the road ahead (“Let’s Stay in Love,” “I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind”). A remake of the Beatles’ hit “Can’t Buy Me Love” prizes relationships above cold, hard cash.
A pair of mild profanities mar “I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind,” which finds a man defending past involvements with other women. The boys are in a perpetual sexual lather on “Good Lovin,” “Fix” and “I’ll Give It to You.” Meanwhile, the Grammy-winning Top-10 single “No Diggity” appears to pay tribute to a prostitute.
Good rhythms. And the cuts directing listeners to God merit praise. If only the lyrics didn’t descend to another level inhabited by shallow seduction and hormonal prowling. Detour around Blackstreet.
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