Earth, Wind & Fire in the 2000s
LP reviews for The Promise; Illumination; and Now, Then & Forever
The Promise
Released: 2003
LP Charts: #19 R&B, #89 pop
The Promise is full of tricks you’ve heard before. And you’ve obviously heard them better on 1997’s In The Name of Love (B-) to say nothing of their classic run in the 1970s. Furthermore, The Promise falls into the rut I criticized Faces (C+) and Millennium (C) for. It has a runtime (56 minutes) unjustified by the musical statement being made.
That said, this album has its shining moments.
It’s nice to hear Earth, Wind & Fire and the Emotions back together again on the opening “All In The Way” (6/10) and the slow funkin’ “All About Love” (6/10). Elsewhere, the peppy “Suppose You Like Me” (6.5/10), the pillowy “Hold Me” (6/10), and the jazz-funk “Dirty” (6/10) are the only other songs that threaten to linger with you after the album stops playing.
I will give the album credit for being well-produced and having lively instruments (gotta love those fresh horns!). Still, nothing to go clamoring for.
ALBUM GRADE: C
Illumination
Released: 2005
LP Charts: #8 R&B, #32 pop
In quick retrospect, I did not appreciate The Promise enough. Sure its horizons weren’t that broad, but EWF was dedicated to just making listenable music for their longtime fans. On Illumination, they apparently had aspirations to be “relevant” again. For the first time ever, EWF did not have major input writing and producing their own album. That means a bevvy of guest stars (will.i.am, Kelly Rowland, Sleepy Brown, Big Boi, Floetry, and Brian McKnight) and producers (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Organized Noize) take over the LP.
Thanks to this horrific goal, the most offensive song in EWF’s long history is on this album. A smooth jazz cover of OutKast’s “The Way You Move” (0/10) featuring Kenny G on saxophone. The only way this could have worked was as a parody, but it’s not. They were serious and it’s awful. I will do myself (and yourself) a favor by staying away from the terrible songs in this review.
So, let’s be positive for a moment!
“Pure Gold” (7/10) is pleasant and in the low-stakes, decent-reward spirit of The Promise. Meanwhile, “Show Me The Way” (6.5/10) with Raphael Saadiq is really nice. Keep in mind that I am a HUGE fan of Saadiq’s work, so I am supremely biased. That said, the song is more of a Saadiq song with EWF as guests, not the other way around. Not exactly how it should be on an EWF album. A better collab between the two is “Pass You By” (6.5/10) where Saadiq is relegated to backing vocals leaving EWF to actually do the main vocals.
Kudos to the band doing a lengthy instrumental for the first time in ages with “Liberation” (6.5/10).
ALBUM GRADE: C-
This has higher highs than The Promise, but the lows are much lower. Basically the songs with the big guest stars singing all suck, while the ones with minimal interference are alright. And of course you know the album is too long at 64 minutes.
Now, Then & Forever
Released: 2013
LP Charts: #6 R&B, #11 pop
Let us rejoice that Earth, Wind & Fire’s Now, Then & Forever is their first album since 1987’s Touch the World that was not an hour in length. EWF wisely had just nine songs and one interlude on this album clocking in at 43 minutes.
Even former keyboardist Larry Dunn returns to play on this album! His addition makes up for the loss of Maurice White whose Parkinson’s disease had advanced to the point where he could longer contribute musically anymore. Ralph Johnson also took a lesser role on this album. He didn’t play any percussion and co-wrote a couple songs. That means only Philip Bailey and Verdine White (plus the returning Dunn) are full-time EWF participants on this album.
Given that scenario, I was more than ready to denounce this album, but I gotta admit it’s a classic EWF album, but without any classic songs. What I mean by that is they continue to milk their distinctive sound, but aren’t making any particularly catchy hooks anymore. That’s fine by me. I’m just glad they’re making decent music and not embarrassing themselves.
“Sign On” has a great a capella bit at the end to its happy message to “sign on” to a better life. “Love Is Law” is a slinky midtempo jam. “My Promise” rides a nice disco groove. “Guiding Lights” actually makes use of its 6:24 runtime by allowing Larry Dunn to noodle around on a synthesizer for the final minute or so.
“Dance Floor” taps into a revived interest in early 1980s post-disco. “Splashes” goes into esoteric jazz land. It’s been a loooooong time since we’ve had that from EWF. We’re talking early 1970s. “The Rush” is a great album-closer since its slow-strolling groove worms its way into your brain the longer it goes on.
ALBUM GRADE: B-
You know what… best Earth, Wind & Fire album from start to finish since Powerlight 30 years earlier. I gave it the same grade as In The Name Of Love from 1997, but I think this is the more solid album. It has good songs and most importantly, the band knew when to quit instead of saddling the LP with a bunch of extraneous music that dilutes the power of the experience.
Sign On: 7/10
Love Is Law: 7/10
My Promise: 6.5/10
Guiding Lights: 7/10
Got To Be Love: 6.5/10
Dance Floor: 6.5/10
Splashes: 7.5/10
Night of My Life: 6/10
The Rush: 7/10