Van Hunt Holds Me Over

Like many, I thought Van Hunt's 2004 debut would do better. But a lack of a hit single kept it from going the way of John Legend. His followup, On The Jungle Floor is as good. If Hunt has a problem, it's that he's indebted to the legends of his record collection: Mayfield, Gaye, Prince. Lyrically, he's more direct than the first two, and on a par with Gaye's Here My Dear days. I'd like to see him break free more often. He's funkier than Maxwell, who uses the bedroom to explore his reltionships. This will hold me over till Maxwell comes out with a new one.