On her earnest debut disc, Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness, newcomer Syleena Johnson exhibits a vocal maturity lacking among her contemporary soul counterparts -- which is no surprise, given her musical lineage. Johnson, whose voice suggests Regina Belle and Randy Crawford, attributes much of her commanding, bluesy style to her father, legendary blues and R&B musician Syl Johnson. Throughout Chapter 1, this Chicago native vividly depicts the woes suffered by a young woman in a torrid relationship. Drawing on her own heartbreaking experiences, Johnson's lyrics describe a vicious cycle of codependency, betrayal, and domestic violence on mournful slow jams such as 'I Am Your Woman' (written by R. Kelly), 'You Said' (featuring Liberty City), and 'Hit On Me.' While the 25-year-old sprinkles in a few mid-tempo tunes like 'You Ain't Right' to offer the listener respite from her anguish, it isn't until the disc's finale, 'The End (Outro),' that Johnson expresses a desire for healing, empowerment, and forgiveness. Thankfully, this painful tale has a happy ending, as it introduces a promising artist connecting with her many talents. Simone Dougan