R Kelly suddenly has a 2-track mind and sex has little to do with either. It’s about love; romantic and religious; as this double album suggests. Happy People, which comes off the heels of his club hit Step In The Name Of Love, consists of night dance music for “steppers”. U Saved Me is a collection of soulful gospel ballads.

There isn’t really much else, musically nor conceptually, so the songs on each set generally sound alike, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing because they’re so damn good; especially when the singer puts his angel wings on, does his best Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye impression and lets the music fly up to the heavens.

my rating : 4 of 5

2004