Louder Than Words
| Lionel Richie
Louder Than Words
Louder Than Words is the fourth studio album by Lionel Richie, released on April 16, 1996. It also marked the first time he released a studio album of new material in ten years. In 1992 he released just three new tracks on his compilation album Back to Front. Louder Than Words debuted at #33 on the Billboard 200 with a disappointing sales of 28,000 copies, and only peaked at #28. – Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
All Music
All of the weak moments on Louder Than Words are ill-advised forays into rap -- to put it bluntly, he can rap about as well as Snoop Dogg can sing.
-
Amazon
On LOUDER THAN WORDS, he proves beyond a doubt he is STILL the soulful guy that led so many of the Commodores' biggest hits and if you REALLY want to check out some excellent R&B, then look no further.
-
All Music
Lionel Richie spent four years making Louder Than Words, his first album for Mercury Records. Although there are some slight attempts to incorporate new jack and hip-hop influences into Richie's sound, Louder Than Words relies on his trademark balladeering, which remains his forte. All of the weak moments on Louder Than Words are ill-advised forays into rap -- to put it bluntly, he can rap about as well as Snoop Dogg can sing. Although the ballads aren't as strong as his late-'70s and early-'80s standards, they are nevertheless pleasant, which makes the record a worthwhile purchase for fans.
-
Chicago Tribune
"Louder Than Words" is a mixed bag. Some of the selections are little more than filler--but when Richie is fully engaged, he comes up with music that's truly exhilarating.
-
Entertainment
Louder Than Words, his first album of new material in a decade, he makes it clear that he hasn’t lost his touch. From the singalong charm of ”Ordinary Girl” to the slow-boil balladry of ”Piece of Love,” these songs are very much in the vein of his ’80s output. In fact, the soulful ”Don’t Wanna Lose You” sounds as if he were back with the Commodores.
-
The New York Times
Outside of this thematic change, Mr. Richie makes little attempt to update his sound on "Louder Than Words," despite collaborating with contemporary hit makers like Babyface and the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
-
2 Bing
After the greatest-hits collection Back to Front disappeared without a trace in 1992, Lionel Richie spent four years making Louder Than Words, his first album for Mercury Records. Although there are some slight attempts to incorporate new jack and hip-hop influences into Richie 's sound, Louder Than Words relies on his trademark balladeering, which remains his forte.
-
Biography
Following a lengthy hiatus from the studio, Richie unveiled his fourth album, Louder Than Words, in 1996.
-
Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews
Louder Than Words (Richie: 1996) Richie recruited a bunch of big names for this comeback attempt: producers include Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and everyone from Robert Palmer to Peter Gabriel guests. Richie even tries to rap on a few tracks.
-
Off The Tracks
That of course didn’t stop me dipping a toe in for the below-middling Louder Than Words and other unneeded post-Greatest Hits albums.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments