Gemini

by Jason Elias El DeBarge's first solo effort failed to suitably lure the pop audience and disenchanted R&B many fans. 1989's Gemini comes close to achieve the potential of a solo DeBarge. Since Gemini is a self-production and DeBarge had a hand in six of the eight tracks, it bares his harmonic imprint. In every way Gemini makes good on DeBarge's and is more adventurous than many R&B albums were at the time. Although his earlier dancefloor endeavors were patently clunky, the synth-based "Real Love" does get some traction. Heartbreak seems to figure prevalently on Gemini and his fans wouldn't have it any other way. DeBarge does dome top-notch moody and hooky ballads with "Broken Dreams" and "Turn the Page," and the disconsolate aesthetic here even informs the mid-tempo "Somebody Loves You." While having DeBarge prospering on well-thought-out tracks is no surprise, Gemini even succeeds where DeBarge previously tumbled. The pure pop of "After You" and "Love Life" has DeBarge retaining his identify and offering more grit to the usual like-minded fare. The final track, the randy "Make You Mine" succeeds in almost misfires if it wasn't for his quirky ear on the bridge. While this wasn't a big seller, Gemini features DeBarge in great voice, and the effort has aged extremely well.