by Stephen Thomas ErlewineThe Persuaders are best-known for their biggest hit song, "Thin Line Between Love & Hate and rightly so. Detailing the moment when relationships break down in a storm of suspicion, jealousy, and, ultimately, violence, it's a melodramatic masterpiece -- one of the greatest soul singles of the '70s, and arguably one of the greatest ever. That the rest of their debut album of the same name doesn't live up to such high expectations shouldn't be a surprise, given how good that song is. Still, it's hard to listen to the record and wish there wasn't at least one other song close to its brilliance. That's not to say that there aren't any good songs here, or that the group is without talent, because neither statement is true. They have a fairly solid set of material, and the group is blessed with deep vocal talent; not just in their lead, Douglas Scott. What prevents the album from being as transcendent as that hit song are the twin problems of generic-ness and inconsistency. Generic shouldn't be read harshly, however -- this is "generic" meaning that it's a genre album of its time -- trying a little bit of everything from heartbreak ballads, up-tempo tunes, and lush romance, to silly pop-soul, and gritty, mournful, regret. The sampler nature of this album makes it inconsistent, although there are several highlights along the way, notably the second single "Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out)." As a period piece, it's fine, particularly for those looking to delve deeper into the sound of '70s soul. Those who do pick it up shouldn't expect anything as good as "Thin Line Between Love and Hate," though that itself is worth the price of admission.