Every Day Is A New Day

05/04/1999 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
David Nathan

Even the diva herself would agree that it's been a while since her name graced the pop and R&B charts with any real significance. But with the release of her latest project for Motown--her first full-out album since 1991's The Force Behind The Power--Diana Ross is back.

She's wisely opted for a mix of strong producers, including veteran hitmaker Arif Mardin (known for his work with other female legends Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan), new name "Zavy Kid" Malik Pendleton, and '90s Grammy-winner Daryl Simmons. Ross starts the set with a compelling Afrocentric piece, "He Lives In You,"--which is easily one of album's standouts--and eases into a Diane Warren ballad, "Love Is All That Matters," a tune featured in Double Platinum, Diana's ABC-TV movie with Brandy. She is remarkably adept with more contemporary new-jill offerings like "Got To Be Free" and "Not Over You Yet," both produced by Pendleton, tunes that would be at home on albums by current stars like Monica, Faith, or Mary J. Blige.

The title track is another contemporary standout, showcasing Ross in a slinky, jazzy setting, while Chuckii Booker's "Sugarfree" is a late-night slow burner. Ross proves she is still the boss on the dance floor with the anthemic "Carry On," whose lyrical message of survival is a fitting final track. This fine album is a testament to Ross's own ability to come back with music that is palatable for her hardcore fans and for new listeners who will become even more aware of her talent as a result of the movie with Brandy.