Best R&B Albums of 2012: ‘Write Me Back,’ R. Kelly

R. Kelly takes it waaay back to the retro soul days on his 'Write Me Back' album. There are echoes of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson in Kelly's vocal mimicry, which is paired with some wonderful orchestral soul productions.

Songs like 'Love Is' and 'Share My World' will remind you of the late Barry White, while 'You Are My World' is reminiscent of Michael Jackson's 1992 song 'Remember the Time.' However, Kelly holds his own on soulful gems like 'When a Men Lies' and 'Believe in Me.'

R. Kelly's 'Write Me Back' is an endearing love letter to the old soul greats.