Moment of Truth

After the release of World Outside My Window, his number four Billboard 200 debut released in 2002, Glenn Lewis was put through the industry wringer. A duet with Amel Larrieux — a cover of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's "Where Is the Love," featured on Stanley Clarke's 1, 2, To the Bass — earned a Grammy nomination, but Lewis recorded two albums that never reached the public. Moment of Truth, only his second proper album, follows his first by over a decade. Most of it was produced by either Carvin & Ivan or Vidal Davis, while a small cast, including Davis' partner Andre Harris, handles the remainder. It picks up where the debut left off. Apart from some touches of reggae on the opening "Time Soon Come" and "All My Love" (a duet with fellow Toronto native Melanie Fiona), along with a great midtempo groove ("All I See Is You") stashed near the end, there are no surprises. That's both good and bad, as Lewis clearly remains true to himself with heartfelt and understated ballads, yet there's not much in the way of developments or risks. No matter how it is cut, Moment of Truth is a well-built album of mature R&B from a singer who should have at least five commercial albums in his past.