Letters from Birmingham,
Ruben Studdard's fifth album -- and first for Shanachie, refuge of the veteran, major-label cast-off R&B artist -- isn't nearly as heavy as the historical
Martin Luther King, Jr. missive its title references. The album traces the arc of a relationship, from love at first sight to "June 28th (I'm Single)," a throwback-contemporary hybrid where
Studdard addresses his ex-wife and potential mates. Four brief "letter" interludes help guide the listener through the stages in the singer's relationship; without them, the album would still have a discernible linear flow. The stylistic transitions, however, are not as smooth. There's some Southern-friend funk, neo-Philly soul, alternately silky and churning adult contemporary R&B, a very slow cover of
Bobby Brown's
Babyface/L.A. Reid-penned "Rock Wit'cha" (featuring
K. Michelle), and even a twinkling version of "Pure Imagination" (
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory). There is almost enough shifting to fill a season's worth of American Idol performances, and it detracts from the fact that this clearly is
Studdard's most personal set of songs to date. With the right push and some open-minded radio programming, two of these songs -- the
Ne-Yo-worthy "Wear Me" and the
Chrisette Michele-assisted "Do It Right" -- could be significant hits and debunk the notion that
Studdard excels only with ballads. ~ Andy Kellman