I love Sade's music - have most of her CDs and I have my favorite songs on each. This whole CD, however, just completely blows me away. The melodies (as always) are haunting and beautiful. I think my hands down favorites on this CD are "Somebody Already Broke My Heart" and "Slave Song" but they are all fabulous. Just beautiful. Hopefully we will not have to wait as long for her next release!

like one of the reviewers has said, i will buy any sade album without having heard the songs first. i was a junior in high school when sade first came out on the scene. lovers rock has brought her back to the world stage. her songs are evocative even erotic sounding at times. she has a souldfuk voice and anyone will recognize her songs anywhere. for the first time buyer of a sade album, i suggest you start with 'diamond life' and work your way up the ladder and top off your collection with this one and her lovers live cd/dvd

Four stars because only four tracks stand out for me, By Your Side, Somebody Already Broke My Hart, All About Our Love and Lovers Rock, plus all about our love is to short(2.40). But, she is more than five stars as an artist.

I have enjoyed Sade's music since the early 1980's and have enjoyed it ever since! Every song takes me down memory lane and echoes of those long forgotten lounge singer's of the 1940's-50's. If asked which is my favorite I can highly recommend BY YOUR SIDE. A powerfully moving title of the greatest sense of TRUE LOVE that today's music is sorely missing.

This cd is great to sit and relax and maybe do some light reading. It also sets the mood when you and your significant other want to heat things up! Very Enjoyable!

I borrowed 'Lover Rock' from my father years ago and played it over and over again till it got scratched up! He would always ask for me to return it and I always promised I would. Then last Christmas Eve of 2006, after buying toys for my niece's kids I decided as I walked into 'Virgin Records' to buy 'Lovers Rock' & 'Love Deluxe' as a gift to both my parents as a way to say I'm sorry and I love you. . .unfortunately my Dad was in Florida on Christmas Day (a Monday) but when he returned that weekend I made him open the gift over the phone - he was so surprise!!! Everytime I see "By Your Side" the music video and catch the part of elderly couple dancing togerther with Sade in the snow - I think of my parents:)

Everything can be wrong wrong wrong, Sade makes it all better better best.
Lovers Rock is a bandaid for the soul, a soft touch on Sunday morning and easy listening on Friday afternoon.
Buy it! If you enjoy bittersweet lyrics, melodies with a beat, swing with a hint of jazz you will be satisfied.

ROCK INDEED! This CD is great; when I first rec'd it I played it while I cleaned my house. Time and work breezed by as I enjoyed the music. Perfect; not loud and overwhelming yet not to soft. I love it. I've also played it while entertaining guest; everybody loved it. Although I already had the Lover's Live DVD, I had to sit in front of the TV to fully enjoy it. The CD allowed me to do other things while still enjoying the music.

This is my favorite album period. I have to admit that I am not too high up on Sade's first albums, But this one takes it. I think everybody that listens to the crap that is coming out now, needs to get a reality check and listen to the real. Alicia Keys......Yeah whatever.She can't hold a match compared to Sade. I just wish another album would come out. There is nothing lost in this album. And jeez, can Sade be any finer. The most gorgeous woman on the planet, with the best voice.

For all of you that may have thought I only panned dance compilations, get ready to feast your eyes on this review. I have been a fan of Sade since God was a boy. Her music, although viewed by many as simple, has more soul than just about anything you can hear on television or radio. Instruments used to deliver her mood ebb and flow like a gentle tide against a moonlit beach. One of her many talents is that she never feels the need to "kill" her songs with overblown meaningless orchestrations.

I loved every track on this CD; however, my favorite is "Somebody Already Broke My Heart". "I've been torn apart so many times. I've been hurt so many times before. So, be careful and be kind." I'm sure that just about every person who would listen to those lyrics could relate because if you've ever been in love, well...you get the idea.

Kudos to you, Sade. In a time where most music is souless, uninspired, and insipid, you are definitely a breath of fresh air.

It seems like Sade blesses us with her melodic stylings every 8 years or so, but her music is always memorable, and touches the deepest confines of my emotions and soul (it's definately not pop music).

I had the pleasure of seeing Sade live at Jones Beach years ago, she performs barefoot and appeared to be in her natural element on the beach, this all made the experience all the more sensuous, my date and I loved it. That whole night seemed on the verge of a major downpour, and this venue has no rain cover, needless to say this enchantingly beautiful lady and her music, kept the inclimate weather at bay, all night long, just providing a cool mist to keep us refreshed.

I guess Sade has been catogorized as a contemporary jazz artist but her music transcends normal parameters of classification. I put this CD on when I need spiritual healing. I just kick back with the headphones in effect and listen to track 7 "The Sweetest Gift" (dedicated to her child) and track 11 "It's Only Love That Gets You Through" over and over and over again. Track 1 "By Your Side" was the first song released after an excruciating long hiatus (8yrs), it was a hit immediately. I hope and pray that we don't have to wait much longer for this true musical angel's, return.

i usually dont add my two cents to highly reviewed music but in this fickle world you are only as good as your last album,and since we usually have to wait half a decade for you to spit out another this makes it worse. Ive seen Sade often in concerts and she has always had a great sound. this album is more pop. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Sade is a band, it is not a female singer. Sade was one of the biggest brittish groups of the mid-80's. Their jazz-pop sound made them stars and 'Diamond Life' was one of the best selling records in the UK for many years. Sade's discography can be described in chapters. The Jazz-pop chapter which includes the albums 'Diamond Life' and the masterpiece 'Promise'. Then we have the 'World Music' chapter. 'Stronger than Pride' has many spanish influences and latin american influences. also some reggae rythms can be traced.(Sade Adu lived for some time in Spain and married a spaniard). 'Love Deluxe' has an american r& b and rock influence within a brittish "trip-hop" frame (this has been their biggest album in the US). 'Lover's Rock' is a different album. It is not a jazz-pop album and it does not have the signature sound of 'Love Deluxe'(no electric guitars or strong drum machines). 'Lover's rock' is a mellow album with soft reggae and chill style sounds. It has a 'Lounge-chill' texture that is so popular in europe (there are many lounge -chill albums in the market and others like Bjork's Vespertine album follow this european music trend). This is a great album, the best since 'Stronger than Pride'.

Lovers Rock is one of the most greatest albums you'll ever come across. It hits a spot in your soul, and you can't help but feel the words, rhythm, and the beat. Sade is just that good. Whenever I listen to this album, it's always on repeat. I wish that she would bless us with another great CD because I've been hungry for more for quite some time now.

"Lover's Rock" by Sade is not a bad album. The lyrics are good, Sade's voice has not changed at all, and the production is alright at best. The album as a whole is good. It's on the mediocre side, but it is enjoyable. "By Your Side" is this album's only release, and it is a nice song. "Flow" is another highlight. The lyrics on this song are very memorable. The album's title track is nice as well. My beef with this album is that this group made no attempt to switch things up. The sound is the same throughout then entire album. When I listen to an album, I like to experience different feelings, different moods. Thus album's lyrics have variant subjects, which I appreciate, but the tempos of the songs were basically the same, and that made this album slightly difficult to listen to.

I would'nt necessarily recommend this album to people. I'd recommend it to Sade lovers, or big neo-soul fans. 3 Stars

1. By Your Side
2. Flow
3. Somebody Already Broke My Heart
4. King of Sorrow
5. Immigrant

Released in 2000, this album has come in many different options. The original album, which is this CD, has 11 songs and is 44 minutes long.

Also available is a Lovers Rock CD with some bonus live tracks on the disc. There is also two disc option, with the original Lovers Rock CD, and a bonus CD of a few live tracks.

Lovers Rock is also included as a bonus CD in the DVD Lovers Live (which comes in a standard DVD case). The best value is to get the Lovers Rock CD with the bonus Lovers Live DVD in the standard jewel case. Confusing?

THIS CD DOES NOT MAKE THE MOST OF SADE'S VOICE OR SONG WRITING.

This is really a stark, stripped down sound for Sade, especially when you compare it to her early work.

Seven of the tracks are driven by muted electronic rhythms and a muffled background music. I don't think the sound works well with Sade's vocal style. She sings flat and without emotion. All seven of these tracks sound alike and the CD gets boring and monotonous.

The songs that are good are where she drops the electronic rhythms and lets the emotion of her voice come through, or where she livens up and starts to rock.

On The Sweetest Gift and It's Only Love That Gets You Through, Sade sings to almost no accompanyment. Here she sings in a great jazz/blues style and really lets the emotion of her voice come through.

King of Sorrow and Immigrant are a little more upbeat rockers. (they are not really rockers, but do rock when you compare to the other tracks on the CD). Here she sings with more energy and variation.

So, if she is the King of Sorrow, I think I might consider turning gay.

This is the music to put on when you have had a hard day, need a pick me up, getting ready for a great day,well really anything. It is so good it makes you want to dance in public.

i think any true fan will appreciate any and everything sade put out.i know i do.i wouldn't dare give them under 5 stars on any of their cd,s.i have my favorites on this cd,but i really do appreciate all of their music and their talent combined is just nothing short of brillant.

Yes, SADE is back to form in Lovers Rock! This is one of those discs where one just slips it in, and while she works, you relax. It's remastered and you can get it at a good price! Just get your copy! Four Stars!!

Sade. What a voice . So smooth. The real hit song on this CD is Track 1 By your side. Sade has a voice which is very relaxable to listen to. That`s for sure. To listen to here is a fine cure for depression. Here voice has a certain mood over it, that realy makes you shiver in a good way. Some other trax are a mixed bag, but anyway the Cd shines quality all trough. The best thing about Sade is that she knows here roots. There are no hiss,rumble, and creative blip blop that some call music on this Cd. There are not to much tempo up beat songs on this CD, but why ? Track 4 Somebody already broke my heart is also a winner track with hit potential, with a very effective synthesier sound in the background which realy lift the musical picture all trough. There also some light reggea rythm on Track 6 Slave Song, for a change. Great song. Anyway. This album is solid enough to cure depression and make youre mind in better shape all trough the day.

I'll never forget the day that "Lovers Rock" came out. I had finished all of my finals and it was time to sit back and chill. So I go to the CD store to get "Lovers Rock" and then I went to Subway to get a meatball sub. So I go back home, put the CD in the stereo, and, let me tell you, I lost my appetite. I love all of Sade's music, but "Lovers Rock" is her most awful work ever and wasn't worth the wait. Out of the 11 songs on the CD, I only like 2: "All About Our Love" and "Lovers Rock." Everything else is slow, dull, and pretty much sucks. I mean, you can't even jam or get into a groovy mood. It's pretty much something the Geezer Boomers would listen to. Anyway, I sold "Lovers Rock" and I don't miss it one bit. To all of you Sade fanatics, "Lovers Rock" is one CD that you wouldn't even want to add to the collection. TRUST ME.

I Can Feel The Music. I think that's what separates group like this from those pop and urban, fly by night groups that release a album or two, and are never heard from again. A production by this group is always worth having, even if it doesn't have the material success of a more bubble gum, concept groups. I give Sony Music, (the label at the time of this CDs release, major credit). It had been 8 years since the release of Love Deluxe, and they could have pulled the plug on this album prior to release. By 2000, Sade was a Smooth Jazz Mainstay, but not a mainstream hit machine. Sony, gambling on the groups fans to come through with sales, released the Lovers Rock Compact Disc and a Live Concert DVD. Both had strong sales thanks to the quality of the music, and the loyalty of the fans.

Sade rarely dissapoints, she picks it up where she left it and this album will sound exactly like we're used to hear her. Her very personal and original smoth and sensual music once again shines. If you have the "Best of" album then this is a natural step forward for your collection. This album deliveres what It should, with melancholy "By Your Side" as the highlight. As always it's not only Sade's sensual style that is great with her albums but also the very diffrent use of instruments thanks to her band, no modern computer made music at all, just a live band using great instruments, We can hear on "Slave Song" for example with keyboards, drums and great lyrics. The title track "Lover's Rock" is one of the best songs aswell, it's sad but emotional. Other good songs are "King Of Sorrow" "All about Our Love" and "Immigrant Song". "Lovers Rock" delivers no major contemporary surprises, but keeps the wonderful formula that Sade started in the 80's. listening to this album you'll get very relaxed and a beautiful musical experience as well. One of her best albums I think. Buy

Sade's "Lovers Rock" is an excellent blend of Traditional R&B, Soft Rock, and Light Pop. Her ballads have a very unique sound and they keep you wanting more.
1. By Your Side- 5/5
2. Flow- 4/5
3. King of Sorrow- 5/5
4. Somebody Already Broke My Heart- 4/5
5. All About Our Love- 3/5
6. The Slave Song- 5/5
7. The Sweetest Gift- 5/5
8. Every Word- 4/5
9. Immigrant- 3/5
10. Lovers Rock- 6/5 This is the best song!
11. It's Only Love That Gets You Through- 4/5

Very good album. But very very sad. I think Sade or someone in her band got their heart broken and wrote about that over and over. Also Sade's father passed away, so that was the focus of the album. I hope Sade and her band are okay and will write peaceful happy songs from now on.

im 17 years oladn i think sades song by your side is a song for the early 2000sit represents our progression as human beings

Who'd have thought that after an eight year layoff, and roughly fifteen years after their debut, Sade would deliver their most consistant, most rewarding, most SOLID album ever. I have followed Sade since "Smooth Operator" was a huge hit on the pop chart and found them to be a pleasant "alternative to the alternative" of the late eighties, early nineties music that was (mostly, in my opinion ) crap. A few of Sade's albums have been a bit heavy on the filler, with a few amazing songs and brilliant singles sprinkled throughout. Lovers Rock is astounding, there is not one song on this album I skip over. They were smart not to resort to cramming the entire cd full, as most newer pop artists do, in the age of compact discs.
( Knowing that you can fit 80 minutes of music on a disc is one thing, knowing that you have enough good songs to do it is quite another. I can name TOO MANY pop and soul artists who are doing the former, not The latter.) Soulful, rhythmic, thoughful, considered music. Beautiful vocals, as always. Ms. Adu's voice grows more mature, more assured with each outing. The musical arrangements are mostly quite spare, and the production is crystal clear. I love the way you can hear the fingers sliding up the fret board of the guitar during the chord changes in "Every Word". In this case, less is definitely more. You won't find trendy, slick beats, layers of synthesizers, or digital trickery. Just the band, Sade, in all its glory.

THIS IS A PRETTY NICE ALBUM ESPECIALLY FOR A RETURN CD. MY FAVORITES ARE : BY YOUR SIDE, LOVERS ROCK, AND KING OF SORROW. I LIKE THIS ALBUM AND I ENJOY IT. IF YOU LIKE SADE THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU BUY THIS ALBUM IT IS PRETTY GOOD!!!!

Love this album, but it's lacking certain things. No instrumental solos, tempos are consistently too slow. You know, no hot sax solos, no guitar solos, no drum solos. What's the matter? In places where the band should've been kicking, they kill time with noodling long tones or sprinkles of notes, particularly from the keyboard. The tunes are good and Sade's vocals are fine, but the band seems to be playing inside a straitjacket. Also, I always hear Sade's music as background in stores, shopping malls, banks, etc. I hear tunes from all of her albums, except this one. The band let her down on this one, but probably the decision for them to play softly like this came from the producers. Why? And get rid of the drum machine!!!

ACOUSTIC, LUSH, DECIDEDLY SPARSE AND BEAUTIFUL. SADE never disappoints especially here on LOVERS ROCK.The countryish opener of "by you side" which uses hope as its core, remember hope is an agent in this world of dismay and hunger for tenderness and truth;JUST as sure as the album opens with that sheer hope it closes with the same joy and openess. Each of SADE recordings shine and shift, but here there is a distinct sound. a change to a more cohesive nod to reggae gentle and perfect in delivery and content. IT IS POWERFUL in its vuneralbilty.SADE IS JUST SO COMPLETE AND TRUE. THIS BAND IS CONSISTENT. A MUST FOR THE MASSES. BEYOND WORDS.BRAVO.

I purchased Sade's Lover's rock album back in 2000-2001. I found her album to really satify my need to relax and think about situations I was going through. Her delightful voice combined with her soulful lyrics produces a serine enviorment for any true music lover. Lover's Rock is not much different from any other album she has previously released. Her songs are based on the same topics, love and relationships which I feel to be a good thing it shows consistency. Lover's Rock has proven for me to be the best song on the album, and it's also the the title for the album.Her hit single King of sorrow also display her talent and ability to touch her audience. I plan to have this album in my cd rotation for a long time.

A few months ago I bought Sade's ''By Your Side'' CD Single because I thought it was a awesome song that reminded me allot of the previous hit ''No Ordinary Love''. Well, what I didn't know is that there was a full and great album out there ''Lovers Rock'' that I didn't have. So on another occasion, I was browsing through contemporary R&B, Soul, Trip-Hop and I found ''Lovers Rock'' there.-- I was curious, so I HAD to get this.

And what I found was a excellent soulful album that has space for everything that keeps you calm and chilled-out. I think that this is Sade's best album to date, really great!. I hope she releases another great disk like this!.

My favorite track is the title track ''Lovers Rock'' which is a esque-portishead trip-hop track, with great production value and the chorus rocks!!!. Other great one's are ''By Your Side'', a deeply entrancing and sensual song with great lyrics (check out Shania Twain's ''From This Moment'' for a almost identical track.), ''Somebody Already Broke My Heart'', ''All About Our Love'' and ''It's Only Love That Gets You Through'' are nice songs to sleep to, very relaxing.

This a essential album that would satisfy any Sade, Dido, Massive Attack, Portishead and Sinead O'Connor fan. Excellent!. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!.

Enjoy!

Sade proves that music with style and substance reigns supreme. This cd is absoutely wonderful and showcases what she does best..mellow music. "All About Our Love" is hands down the best song on the cd, but is is too short and leaves the listener longing for more. However, every song on this cd satisfies in a simplistic and classy manner.

I NEVER get sick of this album. Few albums are timeless...This is one that I expect to be listening to in 25 years.

I love all her albums, they isn't one better than the other, all her production is very good. And I realised SADE is not that kind of band which fits in an genre, as I have found on "Diamond Life" and "Promise" her jazzy music which changed in "Stronger than Pride", where she texturized her voice and music more haunting as good as "Love Deluxe" . And you maybe find "Lover's Rock" more different than the rest, after 8 years..

This album is dominated by keyboards, and there is some influence of hip-hop beats in "Flow" and "Inmigrant", trip-hop in Lover's Rock, melancholy on "By your Side", "The Sweetest Gift", and a relaxing ending with a sweet melody as "It's Only Love That Get's you Through".
And saxophone has disappeared, but Shar-Day still having a sensual voice and good music which doesn't have much difference with "Love Deluxe", for example, if you hear "Cherish the Day" you'll see its "tempo" influence on the songs.

Lover's Rock is a quieter album, but I think is more modern, and if you like"Love Deluxe", or maybe others singers as Dido or Erika Baduh, be sure to have it, still doing fine music, tempo beats, and relaxing with her soulfull voice. She has improved a lot, maybe this is the album I hear more frequently, but I hope she doesn't take too much time to do another great album, SADE has always done fine music on the 80's, 90's, and I hope they still doing haunting melodies.