Nothin But Love

The differences in Robert Cray albums are subtle but noticeable to fans of the veteran soul-bluesman. Lyrically detailed story ballads about the trials and tribulations of love, with an emphasis on broken relationships, remain his strong suit as song titles such as "Sadder Days," "Fix This," "I'll Always Remember You," "Won't Be Coming Home," and even the album's title imply. Yet there are enough change-ups and excellent songs here to keep the pace varied. Horns that Cray hasn't utilized in a while make a welcome appearance on a few key tunes such as the big-band swing of "I'll Always Remember You" (which seems like a tribute to Ray Charles) and the terrifically melodic, midtempo "Blues Get Off My Shoulder." Even if the guitarist has worked this terrain plenty of times before, he is still refining and even improving the template. That makes this another quality entry in a catalog of albums over a three-decade-and-counting-year career that has remarkably few weak spots.