Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness

1	The Beginning (Intro) 0:44
2	I Am Your Woman 4:26
3	You Said 4:09
4	Baby I'm So Confused 4:48
5	Meanwhile... (Interlude) 0:43
6	Everybody Wants Something 4:38
7	You Got Me Spinnin' 4:26
8	Hit on Me 4:26
9	And Then... (Interlude) 1:08
10	He's Gonna Do You In / Buddy Guy 4:34
11	You Ain't Right 4:42
12	Ain't No Love 4:48
13	One Day 4:59
14	I'd Rather Be Wrong 4:41
15	All of Me 3:46
16	The End (Outro) 1:02

Barnes & Noble

On her earnest debut disc, Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness, newcomer Syleena Johnson exhibits a vocal maturity lacking among her contemporary soul counterparts -- which is no surprise, given her musical lineage. Johnson, whose voice suggests Regina Belle and Randy Crawford, attributes much of her commanding, bluesy style to her father, legendary blues and R&B musician Syl Johnson. Throughout Chapter 1, this Chicago native vividly depicts the woes suffered by a young woman in a torrid relationship. Drawing on her own heartbreaking experiences, Johnson's lyrics describe a vicious cycle of codependency, betrayal, and domestic violence on mournful slow jams such as "I Am Your Woman" (written by R. Kelly), "You Said" (featuring Liberty City), and "Hit On Me." While the 25-year-old sprinkles in a few mid-tempo tunes like "You Ain't Right" to offer the listener respite from her anguish, it isn't until the disc's finale, "The End (Outro)," that Johnson expresses a desire for healing, empowerment, and forgiveness. Thankfully, this painful tale has a happy ending, as it introduces a promising artist connecting with her many talents. Simone Dougan

All Music Guide

Songs about breakups are a staple of modern R&B, so it's no surprise that Syleena Johnson has dedicated an entire album to a relationship gone wrong. What is surprising is that Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness is good enough to keep the listener's attention throughout. Johnson is the daughter of singer Syl Johnson and, like her father, Syleena has a powerful voice that is suited for both blues and soul. Highlights on the album include the infectious "I Am Your Woman," written by R&B heavyweight R. Kelly, and the jazzy "Everybody Wants Something." Even when she sings MOR numbers like "I'd Rather Be Wrong," Johnson brings a complexity and maturity to the music that is rare for a debut artist. Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness is a remarkably polished effort and, as the title suggests, Johnson has only just begun. Jon Azpiri