Artist: Diana Ross
Title Of Album: Take Me Higher
Year Of Release: 2005
Label: Motown
Genre: R&B
Quality: MP3
Bitrate: 320 Kbps
Total Time: 51 Min
Total Size: 122 Mb

Review:
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Stung by the commercial failure of her hip hop-inflected "Workin' Overtime" (1989), Diana Ross returned in 1991 with "The Force Behind the Power." That album contained some gems, but was waterlogged by tepid, whitewashed pop production. "Take Me Higher" (1995) strikes a polished balance between contemporary soul and the glossy pop drama Ross is best known for. The invigorous title track kicks the collection off with a bubbly, retro-disco groove that is easily Ross' best dance tune of the 1990's. The second track, "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right," is a radio-friendly R&B groove with an instantly catchy hook. "Keep it Right There" is another fine, sultry R&B number, while "Don't Stop" is a saucy trifle featuring a cute rap interlude by the Boom Brothers. A surprisingly fresh cover of "I Will Survive" seems particularly resonant for this industry veteran. The ballads, however, are where Ross really shines. The shimmering "Voice of the Heart" contains a lovely, glistening vocal. The gentle Latin flourishes on "I Never Loved a Man Before" create a smooth, sexy ambience. The excellent "Gone" has Ross singing in a throaty lower register, and masterfully handling a wordy mouthful of lyrics. Brenda Russell contributes the anthemic "Let Somebody Know," and while the sentiments of "Only Love Can Conquer All" veer close to hokum, Ross' sincere, strong performance makes it sound convincing. The standout performance is "I Thought That We Were Still in Love," set against a quiet, jazzy backdrop. Ross sings with a delicacy and nuance that has been missing from her most recent work, and her thoroughly involved reading of the lyric reminds us that she is an Oscar-nominated actress as well. The production is uniformly sophisticated and slick; it's a credit to Ross and her team that despite four separate producers (Narada Michael Walden; Nick Martinelli; Brenda Russell; and Jon-Jon), the album still creates a cohesive atmosphere and flow. Ross is still in top form here, and has produced what is easily her most enjoyable album of the decade.

Track
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1. Take Me Higher
2. If You're Not Gonna Lo...
3. I Never Loved A Man Be...
4. Swing It
5. Keep It Right There
6. Don't Stop
7. Gone
8. I Thought That We Were...
9. Voice Of The Heart
10. Only Love Can Conquer All
11. I Will Survive