Put It on Paper

by Bradley TorreanoThunder-voiced diva Ann Nesby delivers another unheralded gem in Put It on Paper, a smooth album of R&B and soul that rests on her excellent vocals. Nesby boasts an incredible range and a sharp mind for the genre, and this set of songs is a great example of the vast amount of talent in the genre that goes without mainstream recognition. Her songs are in great shape this time around, bringing to mind everyone from Maxwell to the Pointer Sisters at different times. "She Can't Love You" is a depressing anthem of yearning that really showcases Nesby's beautiful voice, while "Lovin' Is Really My Game" is a supercharged disco track that would have been huge 25 years earlier (although it always has potential as a techno remix). But the highlight is the title track, which features a powerhouse vocal from Nesby and an intensely passionate guest appearance from the incomparable Al Green. Shedding producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for all but one song, she also proves that she stands in no one's shadow when it comes to her own music. Fans of good soul music should give this a listen; Nesby is a talent that easily impresses.