Denise Lopez - Every Dog Has Her Day!!! (1990)

Even though it was a commercial disappointment, Lopez's sophomore album is more versatile than her first if not as consistent. She shows she is equally comfortable with pop-dance workouts, moody ballads, and midtempo funk romps. But it's the trio of ballads that do the trick best. Lopez co-wrote the deeply understated choker "I Want You to Know" and the romantic and ethereal album closer, "Everlasting Love"; and her emotional attachment to each shines through. Some of the uptempo ditties are too heavily produced and, combined with the singer's no-holds-barred delivery, come across as caustic and harsh. This is especially the case with "Causa U" (featured in a different incarnation on Truth in Disguise) and the somewhat disheveled "Land of the Living" Underneath the surface, these songs are compositionally impressive; their melodies merely get buried a bit in the mix. It seems the singer was trying to expand upon the success of her breakout hit "Sayin' Sorry (Don't Make It Right)," by infusing the elements of many sub-genres into her style. That song had crossed over from the dance market into pop, but didn't quite get to "hit" status. The finished product proves her to be a more capable vocalist than one might expect, but isn't as easy to enjoy in one listen as Truth in Disguise.