On Renaissance, Lionel Richie proves that, even after more than 30 years in the business, he's still got it. With tracks produced by some of the leading producers in R&B, Latin, and dance music, Renaissance plays like a sampler of contemporary popular music. Richie is at his romantic best on "Don't You Ever Go Away," an intoxicatingly soulful ballad that leaves anyone within earshot rocking to its hypnotic beat. With its bass-heavy production and complex vocal patterns, "Wasted Time" (a song about a love affair gone sour) is a melodic testament to Richie's vocal ability. He traveled to London to work with dance music producers Rawling and Taylor on "Angel," a love song with serious party potential. What is most impressive about Renaissance is not that Richie has kept his ear to the street, but rather that he has taken the contemporary and made it his own. So the songs are updated and Richie's voice is as flawless as it was 20 years ago. --Felicia A. Wilks
