Carl Thomas Let's Talk About It CD

In 2000, Bad Boy workhorse Carl Thomas finally got his opportunity to shine on his own and made the most of it with a soulful, diverse record, EMOTIONAL, featuring the platinum single "I Wish." Four years later, the youthful R&B singer/songwriter builds on his debut with the rich, sultry LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, an album perfectly built around his elastic, alluring voice, exploring soul from many angles and eras.

There's plenty of radio-ready, new-school soul, such as "She Is" (which opens on an imperial rap from old pro LL Cool J) and the lushly orchestral bedroom track "Make It Alright." Thomas shows he can turn a larger-than-life pop hook on the Luther Vandross-channeling "Dreamer," and proves he can hang with the neo-soul crowd on poetic tracks like "But Me." The eccentric, acoustic-guitar-driven "Rebound" bears a subtle Latin beat and unpredictable but undeniably sweet melody. Thomas is capable of just about anything, and despite possessing a powerful voice, he knows the value of restraint. Thomas comes into his own with his genuinely romantic, artful second album.

2nd Rel.Single Feat.L.L.Cool J

Personnel: Dave Young Orchestra (vocals); Malik Yusef (spoken vocals); Jermaine Mobley, Andre Harris, Eric Walls (guitar); Jon B. (keyboards); David Mingyue Liang (programming); Jack Knight, Mary Brown, Mike City, Shannon Jones (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Dave Pensado; Roger Che; Rob Paustian; Jean-Marie Horvat; Jon Smeltz; Diddy; Paul Logus; Rich Keller.

Recording information: Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Clockwork Studios; Cutting Room Studios, NY; Daddy's House Recording Studio, NY; Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Quad Studios, Nashville, TN; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Editor: Eric K. Sorensen.

Photographer: Jonathan Mannion.

Arranger: Carl Thomas.

Personnel: Carl Thomas (vocals); LL Cool J (rap vocals); P. Diddy, Malik Yusef (spoken vocals); David Liang (various instruments, programming); Andre harris, Vidal Davis (various instruments); Jermaine Mobley (guitar); Jon B (keyboards); Mike City, Mary Brown, Shannon Jones, Dave Young (background vocals).

Producers include: Carl Thomas, Vato, Just Blaze, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Mike City.

Rolling Stone (p.90) - 3 stars out of 5 - "LET'S TALK is a sterling collection of middle-aged R&B that shows Thomas as a hardscrabble soulman who very much stands on his own."