Mmm, the Temptations immortalized as monument at Mount Rushmore that's a good idea and better than some old presidents. But do the Temptations deserve such an honour? Judging on their previous merits with nearly 5000 albums under their belt and giving us great songs, I would say that's worth discussing. And what about their recent releases and especially Awesome I can hear you say?! Well, that's a mixed bag. Their set of jazz-covers on For Lovers Only in 1995 was great and it added something of new life to some old flames like Night And Day, Life Is But A Dream or Some Enchanted Evening because the Temptations (although there has been a lot of replacements through their career) still sound great together and compared to Afro-American boygroups of the 90ies and the present they are still the measure when it comes to vocal harmonies (ok, and then there are the Dells, too. Another group from the past still recording today that consists nearly of all it's original members...but only few people know the Dells so it's a little bit difficult to set them as the standard).
Phoenix Rising was aptly titled because that was one of the best Temptations albums of original material in a long while. Even the production input of Narda Michael Walden couldn't spoil this set.
The follow-up Ear-Resistible wasn't so aptly titled in my ears because it really couldn't beat the perfection of Phoenix Rising.
And I'm afraid the same can be said about Awesome. It's more suited between Ear-Resistible and Phoenix Rising. Instead of engaging a plethora of producers like before Temps member Otis Williams produced the main part of Awesome. Other producers include Narada Michael Walden (again) and he really ruins the inferior title track. Awesome offers nothing that I would call awesome, especially the guitar by Vernon Black doesn't fit to the song.
But back to the hightlights: Hurt So Bad (produced by Mechalie Jamison and Andy C - never heard of them) is more like what you expect from the Temps; 4 Days is pure Temptations vocal magic as is the Sandra St. Victor and T. Hammer written Lady, Forget About It or So Easy.
If other people don't sample your songs do it yourself could be the motto of A Love I Can See that samples I Want A Love I Can See and it's a nice update of that song.
But the best songs are saved for the end of the CD. The Nat Adderly Jr. produced That's How Heartaches Are Made and the funky I Feel Good (not the James Brown song) with it's Hammond organ.
All in all an album worth listening too.