Anthony Hamilton is the blue collar soul singer. He is known for making many classic songs and making crowds erupt into emotional celebration. Yet, he hasn’t always been heralded with the sales success he should have. One would think that a man that produces so much great music would sell more. However, he doesn’t and I’m not sure he is concerned. Like many greats before him, Anthony is only concerned about making great music. With Back to Love, he does just that: makes great music.

The album starts off showing us the direction it will be going: songs about love, love, and more love. “Back To Love” brings all those emotions full throttle to start the album off. “Mad” is that jam that starts off simply and then evolves into a bluesy track that screams juke joint in the Deep South. Even with songs like the off-the-beaten-path “Sucka For You” and the typical “Writing On The Wall” help keep the album from becoming monotonous. When you listen to this album, expect the full range of love emotions.

Anthony Hamilton even knows how to show his true vulnerability. “Pray for Me” is a prayer in song to bring back the love that he lost. He even promises to go to church and be a better man just to have the love of his life back. “Never Let Go” is the Keri Hilson power ballad that actually works to express the tumultuousness that relationships bring. Even through it all, they choose to “never let it go”. At any expense, Anthony Hamilton was going to make music we all could feel.

     Back To Love is probably the most self-explanatory name for an album. Anthony Hamilton wants to go back to love. It isn’t about going back to love for his music because he’s always been there. Rather, he wants his listeners to go back to love. He wants us to hold, cherish, and fight for the love that we believe in. This message is given to the soundtrack for our lives. I just hope we realize how good the music is and listen.

 

Written by contributing writer, Mark A. Harris, for STACKS Magazine.