With its melodic soars of Lauryn Hill’s "That Thing," the cute piano arpeggios of "From My Heart to Yours" whispers of neo-soul’s second coming. With the major media blitz surrounding Ireland’s Laura Izibor, the new R&B singer/songwriter sensation has already established her as the latest R&B version of Lauryn Hill. Yet, if you move the single aside and dig deeper into Izibor’s debut, Let the Truth Be Told, what you hear are the slight glimmers of a warm, easy-going project. "Shine," with its feel-good lyrics and peppered horn responses, opens the set on good terms. The same goes for the popish "If Tonight Is My Last" and the sweet, radio-ready "What Would You Do;" churning with effective pop country schmaltz and Jennifer Hudson attitude. Even the soulful ballad "Mmm," anchored with gospel choir echoes, piques some curiosity. But nothing here sounds as favorable or ecstatic as the colorful melodic groove of "From My Heart to Yours;" which is an unfortunate fate for Truth. The album sounds pleasant, no hurried mishaps, production glitches or horrific album filler, but rather than painting safe impressions on pop and R&B canvases, it may have been more beneficial for Izibor to try for some musical innovation or at least take a few artistic risks. Instead, she comes off as a second-generation Hill. Better song development and more interesting stories reflective of the title, rather than the status quo "falling in-and-out of love" yarn, might have added the pizzazz promised by the single. Still, Izibor gives listeners a mesmeric collection worth buzzing about. Notable songs: "From My Heart to Yours," "Shine," "What Would You Do," "Mmm," and "If Tonight Is My Last." Vocals: 2.5 stars Lyrics: 2.5 stars Music: 2.5 stars Production: 3 stars SoulTracks Call: Mildly Recommended
By J. Matthew Cobb
