My Love Is Your Love

The octave-crushing diva opts to embrace the power of restraint on her fourth album; the mellow, reggae-inspired title track, especially, does more with less, as Houston rarely rises above a hush. On tracks like the ice-cold R&B burner “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” she makes uncharacteristically experimental beats her own, using their hyperkinetic energy as a springboard for her dizzying runs. And for her finale, “I Was Made to Love Him,” Houston flips a Stevie Wonder classic into earthy, free-spirited funk.