LP Review: Gemini
Released: 1989
LP Charts: #35 R&B
After his debut solo album went gold commercially, but bombed artistically, El DeBarge went on a three-year hiatus and returned with Gemini. THANKFULLY, he is back in full control of his music for the first time since 1983’s In A Special Way. All but two songs are written by El and his brother Darrel DeBarge. The other two selections from longtime collaborator Jay Graydon. This album is in good hands.
Unsurprisingly, this is El’s best effort since In A Special Way. Now that doesn’t mean Gemini is as good as In A Special Way, which is a stone-cold classic. I graded that as an A. But Gemini is definitely a good album.
The opening licks of the go-go influenced “Real Love” are instantly funkier and more authentic than anything on El DeBarge’s last album. Hell it even sounds fun. Imagine that. F-u-n. Fun!
“Cross My Heart” slows the pace down a bit, but is even more fun (F-U-N!) with a pop brand of electro-funk. Your brain is enjoying itself with the delicious melodies and hooks El is bringing to the table. Although, at just over 6 minutes, I do think the song could have benefited from a tighter production, but all-n-all, I ain’t complaining.
For the first time in years, say 1983, El also submits an honest to goodness soul song with “Somebody Loves You”; replete with gospel style organ playing. The only thing holding it back is the late ‘80s production, but it’s a good song, y’all. “Broken Dreams” takes a bit more of a standard pop approach, but it’s still a solid ballad.
Now comes the album’s centerpiece, the hauntingly splendid “Turn the Page”. The instrumentation is okay and appropriately moody, but it’s truly El’s soaring lead vocals and the ghostly backing vocalists who make this song a treat.
El finally gives up the reins to Jay Graydon who submits one song (“After You”) that is purely average fluff. It isn’t too offensive since it sits amidst a bunch of other good or great songs. MUCH BETTER is “Love Life” which is joyous disco-influenced pop defined. It’s great as is, but man I would give good money to drop in real horns on this track instead of the keyboards hits substituting for the real deal. Anyways, the bass line is pleasant, the keyboards (when not trying to imitate horns) are catchy, and the El’s vocals are again splendid.
The album ends on the sloppy “Make You Mine”. “Sloppy” is not meant as an insult. It sounds like decided to indulge his inner Jimmy Castor and make a loose funk jam where he justs grunts and slurs meaningless come ons.
ALBUM GRADE: B
Gemini is an album that is greater than the sum of its parts. I give credit for that development to the two interludes of “Broken Dreams”. Also, every song is at least rock solid, which helps keep the quality flowing instead of bogging down. Nice to have El back on the right track. To bad the album flopped commercially and Motown let him go. Oh well…
Song Scores
Real Love: 7/10
Cross My Heart: 7.5/10
Somebody Loves You: 7/10
Broken Dreams: 6.5/10
Turn the Page: 8/10
After You: 6/10
Love Life: 7.5/10
Make You Mine: 6.5/10