On
Still
,
SWV
's first album since the remarkable 2012 return
I Missed Us
, producer and songwriter
Cainon Lamb
once again works closely with the group, as does associate
Derrick "Bigg D" Baker
, along with a small cast of additional contributors. "MCE (Man Crush Everyday)," a sparkling slow jam, is among
's best, while the throwback ballad "When Love Didn't Hurt" and relatively contemporary "Miss You" are close behind it. Other songs are more likely to make a listener think of
's catalog or songs by other artists. "Still" sets the tone, relying upon a hook of "I'm still into you," in clear reference to "I'm So Into You," one of the group's biggest early hits. Samples and references to the likes of
Patrice Rushen
, the
James Ingram
-fronted
Zingara
the Four Tops
, and
Amy Winehouse
are frequent, a major component of the album. ~ Andy Kellman