Kevin Lyttle (album)

Album information

The album was produced by a team of various producers, including Salaam Remi and Troy Taylor. It includes Lyttle's biggest hit "Turn Me On" and the second single "Last Drop", both recorded with contribution from Jamaica dancehall artist Spragga Benz, and the cover version of "Sign Your Name" by Terence Trent D'Arby. On some U.S. releases, the song "So High" is replaced with "Dance with Me", featuring Trey Songz, who also delivers guest vocals in "Call Me".

The album entered the Billboard albums chart at number 8, selling 84,000 copies, and would eventually be certified gold. As of January 2009, it has sold 375,000 copies in the US. The album also charted within top 10 of Swiss albums chart and reached number 12 in Japan, but was met with only modest success elsewhere.

Singles

"Turn Me On" was released as the first single in 2003, meeting with a worldwide success at the turn of 2003 and 2004 and placing within top 10 in no less than fifteen countries, including number 1 in Denmark. "Last Drop" followed as the second single in 2004 and although did not repeat the success of "Turn Me On", it still was a top 40 hit in Australia and a number of European countries. "I Got It" was planned as next single, supported by a big promotion, however, "Drive Me Crazy" was released instead in October 2004, with "I Got It" following in January 2005. None of the two latter singles charted.

Critical reception

The album was described by the Boston Globe as "a sharply melodic and consistently engaging set of songs...a buoyant mix of soca, dancehall, modern reggae, and American R&B and soul". The Daily News stated "The songs on the album couldn't be more catchy, if in a too similar way". Tom Horan of the Daily Telegraph described the album as a "beautifully judged album", comparing Lyttle's voice to Marvin Gaye. Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times described it as "a lightweight but appealing collection of dance tracks, with precise digital beats that sound oddly similar to some European pop". AllMusic writer David Jeffries gave the album a 3-star review, stating "Lyttle's breezy and dreamy voice supplies the flair, lilting lightly over a musical background that is as sparkling as it is limited". Entertainment Weekly's Neil Drumming was less enthusiastic, giving the album a 'C' rating. The Detroit News described the album as "low-carb Caribbean music".