BENET, ERIC

When music history is written and the retro-soul movement of the '90s and its primary proponents (Erykah Badu, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Tony Rich) are mentioned, Eric Benet will be invariably and unfairly overlooked. A quick listen to his 1996 debut TRUE TO MYSELF makes this oversight all the more puzzling. Benet combines the sensuality and smoothness of '70s soul with the new-jack upfrontness of '90s R&B minus the lewdness. Benet mixes sexual and sanctified vibes with the aid of a creamy croon that permeates everything from the upbeat funk of "Spiritual Thang" to the bouncing grooves of "More Than Just A Girlfriend." On slow burners such as "Just Friends," "I'll Be There" and the title track, Benet is the kind of balladeer whose voice ripples with the kind of frisson normally associated with Teddy Riley. On Sly Stone's "If You Want Me To Stay," the Milwaukee native flawlessly pulls off the author's funky falsetto (with the aid of producer/multi-instrumentalist Roger Troutman) with a little Al Green thrown in for good measure. Most impressive is the cautionary, anti-drug anthem "Chains," which serves as the perfect companion piece to Living Colour's "Open Letter To A Landlord."

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