Uncovered / Covered

Album Review

Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore released their last solo albums, respectively, in 2001 and 2000, but their first album as a married couple — 2003's Things That Lovers Do — did well enough to warrant a follow-up before either singer resumed their solo career. The first disc of Uncovered/Covered is more like an enjoyable married couples' seminar set to the kind of lush and occasionally slightly toughened productions they've fronted since the '90s. They sing about the downs as well as the ups, but they keep it elegant and romantic the whole time. There are only two covers, despite the album's title; it's not surprising that they handle L.T.D.'s "Love Ballad" much better than Sade's less expressive "No Ordinary Love." The second disc is dominated by contemporary gospel material produced by Fred Hammond, who casts his typically bright sheen over everything, including slapping/snapping basslines, humming keyboards, and jubilant, layered vocal arrangements. Lattimore sounds as good as ever through the whole program, but his long-under-recognized wife shines so well, ably approaching nearly every song at a different angle, that he's pretty much outclassed. That all said, a handful of the tracks are second rate and could've been cut to make this a very tight single-disc release. Both this and Things That Lovers Do are more than strong enough, however, to warrant a third Lattimore/Moore album, not to mention a second gospel album, even though fans of both singers must be a little antsy for secular solo albums by now. In the liner notes, the couple states, "We challenge you to look for more than a handsome/beautiful face — more than sex appeal — and more than money in a mate." Yes, take it from a couple that just happens to be extremely attractive and well-off. You also have to love one of the inside photos, where Lattimore appears to be glaring at the camera as if to say, "I know you're not coveting your neighbor's wife."