Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Mary Mary's "Shackles" is a stone classic though if truth be told not everything on their platinum-selling 'Thankful' album was of the same standard. But with their second project Erica and Tina Campbell cover just about every musical base - banging hip hop beats, black church rave ups, soulful ballads and funky R&B grooves while their lyrics are never less than uplifting. Working again with producer Warryn Campbell (Erica's husband) the Inglewood, California sisters wrote nearly all the lyrics and with guest producers including Rodney Jerkins ("He Said") and Mike City ("Give It Up Let It Go") the album exudes R&B class. There's also a superb cover of an old Stevie Wonder song and some testifyin' indicating that their black pentecostal roots have not been erased by pop stardom. Thoroughly recommended.

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