by Jon Azpiri
Best known for her duet with fellow Chicagoan R. Kelly, Sparkle makes her debut on Motown Records with a tepid effort, one that is difficult to distinguish from the likes of Brandy, Aaliyah, Mya, and at least half a dozen other R&B divas. The album's first single, &It's a Fact,& is the album's highlight, featuring a sensuous guitar line and confident vocals. Unfortunately, most of the other tracks are completely indistinguishable from much of modern R&B. Songs like the &Good Life& and &I Don't Know Why& wallow in empty materialism while &Lovin' a Man& is a boring re-tread of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's &Your Precious Love.& Even the song titles on the album are derivative, with names like &The Ghetto& and &Never Can Say Goodbye& that borrow from classics by Donny Hathaway and the Jackson 5. While her name may suggest otherwise, Sparkle's debut lacks luster.