I recently purchased this CD at the prompting of a fellow Gino Vannelli fan who posted links to a few cuts from this album on her Facebook page. I first became aware of Gino's music in 1981 when Nightwalker came out, and until recently, was only aware of his albums released in the '70's and up to 1981. All I can say now, is that I've missed out on a lot of good music from this gifted artist and I am happy to be catching up.Slow Love is the most recent addition to my GV music collection. It is a gem of an album from Gino Vannelli, an inspired and (again, the only way I know to describe him) GIFTED singer, songwriter, musician, poet, conductor and AMAZING entertainer whose talent knows no bounds and only seems to improve with time. When I say that his talent knows no bounds, it is because this album is a perfect example of his ability to transcend musical genres. While he may be primarily known for some of his bigger hits (commercially speaking) such as "I Just Wanna Stop", "Black Cars", and "Wild Horses", his body of music is so much richer than the most popular tunes he is best known for, primarily because he refuses to be pigeon-holed and has always remained true to himself in terms of his artistry.Slow Love could have easily fit into the Smooth Jazz/R&B genre for the time frame in which it was originally released (1998). Other popular male vocalists with releases during this time frame (late '90s) are/were Will Downing, Brian McKnight, Eric Benet and Jonathan Butler to name a few who also happen to be among my favorite singers. It is disappointing to realize that the Verve label just may not have understood how to market this album, since it is such a departure from the hits he is so well known for. I believe that GV could have given the aforementioned artists a run for their money if this album had been promoted correctly. With backing vocals and supporting musicians like Lori Perry, Maxayne Lewis, Phillip Ingram, and Rachel Z, Slow Love definitely fit the Smooth Jazz/R&B formula; needless to say this was a sorely overlooked album for its time and potential audience.Having said all that, Slow Love is an exploration of the joy, pain, ecstasy and agony that anyone who has ever been in love or experienced heartbreak can identify with at every stage. "My, Oh My It's A Miracle" speaks to the sheer bliss of being in love and evokes images of a romantic morning at an outdoor French café. Other standouts for me on this album are the title track, which speaks to the desire for a meaningful and long lasting relationship, "I want some slow love...a love that leaves me never, the kind of love that lasts a long, long time...", "Lost and Found" which expresses the joy of finding love, "A Woman Crossed In Love" (which I have been), and "Alive By Science", a clever theme addressing the whole " `til death do us part" vow in a practical way.My favorite tracks are "Words Can Kill" and "Down With Love". In "Words", Gino finds such an eloquent way to ask for reconciliation - "Lay your sorrow on my sadness...hold me close now, stop this madness..." what an awesome way to say let's kiss and make up! "Down With Love" is a sultrier rendition of his song originally released on the "Big Dreamers Never Sleep" album. This updated version gives a seductive depiction of being lovesick "One thing sure, there ain't no cure, when you're down with love", with a sly allusion to the physical impact of intimacy.With all of these songs, GV demonstrates his mastery in songwriting and arranging musically and lyrically, and his delivery ranges from subtle to passionate in a way that never fails to draw this listener in. Lyrically, there is a line or a thought that I can identify with in every song on this album based on my own personal experiences, good and bad, with relationships past and present. That in itself will makes this an album worth returning to again and again.