LEFT

In an interview, Eric Roberson said that the title for his 2007 album LEFT came from his feeling that other artists had “left behind” key elements in music: specifically, sincere love and respect for music and musicianship. While a lot of R&B performers seem to simply play the roles the public expects of them, Roberson has a relatable presence. The integrity he shows in his music is matched by his lyrics' sincerity. The love expressed in “The Baby Song” doesn’t seem like an obligatory put-on for R&B fans; it feels earned and from the heart. The naturalism and open-heartedness Roberson expresses keeps his music from becoming soggy or schmaltzy; the hip-hop-inflected beats of “Been in Love…,” “If I Had a Chance," and “Evening” are impressively crisp. One of Roberson’s other tricks is to invest his music with the richness and texture of jazz without seeming pretentious; “Pretty Girl,” “Open Your Eyes," and “Couldn’t Hear Her" incorporate jazz elements while remaining earthy and hypnotic.