Smooth and mellow is the order of the day for Eric Bibb. The vocals on his solo album, A Ship Called Love, embrace you with soulful resonance that is often reflective of the R&B sound of the 60's and 70's. Mix in a heavy dose of uplifting, positive (even spiritual) lyrics and you have the essence of Eric Bibb. All fourteen songs on this album are authored or co-authored by Bibb. "Turning World" with its reggae beat and "More of That," a smoky blues number are the only cuts that come close to standing out on this album. Yet overall Bibb fails to engage the listener, coming up short all around.

-Wynn Hayden*