Newcomer Vivian Green makes her R&B mark with her Columbia debut, A Love Story. Properly titled, the set highlights the many shades of love through the eyes of the Philadelphia native. Opening track “Wishful Thinking” is one of those head-nodding joints that’s impossible to resist. At times, Green attempts to do too much. “Music” comes off as generic, while the lifeless “Affected” seems out of place. Having said that, songs like “No Sittin’ by the Phone” and “Final Hour” fully redeem the burgeoning songstress. With its haunting emotion, the latter’s piano-fueled track perfectly illustrates the feeling of loss expressed in the lyrics. The set’s gem is clearly lead single “Emotional Rollercoaster.” Free from all the bells and whistles that clutter contemporary R&B, the single is a dramatic ballad in its purest form. Welcome to Green’s world.—RH
