Eternal

1	Move Your Body 5:17
2	Contagious 5:47
3	Warm Summer Night 4:56
4	You Deserve Better 4:26
5	Just Like This 4:20
6	Secret Lover 4:25
7	You're All I Need 4:50
8	Settle Down 6:31
9	Eternal 8:32
10	If You Leave Me Now 7:04
11	Said Enough / Jill Scott 5:10
12	You Didn't See Me 4:28
13	Ernie's Jam 4:51
14	Think 5:00

Barnes & Noble

Throughout their illustrious six-decade spanning career, the Isley Brothers have endured several lineup changes, but what has remained constant is the group's finely tuned sense of what R&B audiences want to hear. Their 1969 hit "It's Your Thing" set the pace for a string of classics that would later influence both R&B and hip-hop artists. The Isleys' latest disc, Eternal, finds Ernie Isley's trademark piercing guitar and Ronald Isley's flamboyant vocals sounding as vibrant as ever. On the seething first single, "Contagious," produced by R. Kelly and featuring vocals by Chanté Moore, Ronald reprises the role of his alter ego, Mr. Biggs, which was introduced on Kelly's 1995 hit "Down Low." The Isleys' classic soul mix is infused with even more youthful energy thanks to neo-soul siren Jill Scott, who lends her pen and her chops to the pillow-soft serenade "Said Enough," and former Tony! Toni! Toné! singer Raphael Saadiq, who produced several tracks including "You Didn't See Me," a harmony-layered jam about unrequited love. Other highlights include the seductive "Warm Summer Night," which is based on an instrumental song by Chic, and the dance-floor-ready "Move Your Body," both of which were produced by Ron Isley's wife, singer Angela Winbush. Eternal is a tribute to the Isley Brothers' status as rhythm and blues' elder statesmen and to their ability to change with the times -- a feat not many of their contemporaries have been able to accomplish. Neo Brentacious

All Music Guide

Within seconds of listening to "Move Your Body," the opener to Eternal, the latest by the Isley Brothers, audiences will easily agree -- the forefathers of boudoir faire still have it. Forty years in the business have not chiseled away at the talented brothers: Ronald Isley's falsetto is unwavering and remains inimitable in 2001, when the R&B market is saturated. Ernie Isley soars on guitar -- "Ernie's Jam" showcases the brother playing soulful and tasty solos, à la Jimi Hendrix -- adding further sexiness to this already sensual disc. Cheaters are blatantly busted on the slithering "Contagious," where the rogue-lover is caught in the act. The words coming from the jilted are so vivid and painful. Ronald specifically describes walking toward the bedroom, hearing his lover crying out someone else's name. Ouch. While it's all about sex and pleasing a lover on the arousing "Just Like This," the disc is not just skin on skin. The album poignantly explores commitment on such romantic slow jams as "You're All I Need," "Settle Down," and the title track. An impressive roster of collaborators -- writers, performers, and producers -- grace Eternal and they span old-school and modern R&B players such as R. Kelly, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Jill Scott. There is nothing groundbreaking on this recording, however, the longtime R&B legends prove they're still very much worth their salt and can keep up very well with the Joneses. Indeed, the Isley Brothers are eternal. Liana Jonas