Full Circle (2019)

"Angie Stone's first CD of original material in four years, "Full Circle" gets her back on track after the mystifying "Covered in Soul". The singer is with yet another label, but she works with many of the songwriters and producers who contributed to 2015's "Dream", such as Walter Milsap III, Balewa Muhammad, and Teak Underdue, as well as fellow songwriter Candice Nelson, accurately credited with "additional vocals" instead of just backgrounds. Stone is at her best here when she is granted material that wouldn't make half as much sense handled by any other artist. These moments include a burning and conflicted throwback ballad with Jaheim ("Gonna Have to Be You"), the strutting summertime groove "Perfect," and the reflectively frank "Neverbride." It gets a little too candid on "Grits," a graphic slow jam in which Stone acts as a voyeuristic sex therapist for a younger couple. The album's slightly reedy mix unfortunately diminishes the richness of Stone's voice." (AllMusic)