Soul Music Review

Music has been my emotional lifeline. A good song revives my spirit and makes me emotionally alive those times I want to sink into sadness.   The past few years though, music, for me, has been boring. 

With age, I’ve turned into one of those, “They don’t make music like they used to” type seniors that I swore I would never become. 

In fact, the last album that made me feel something different was Solange’s Seat at the Table – and that was released late 2016. 

Unlike anything streaming at the time, A Seat at the Table was both refreshing and raw.  Solange’s lyrics took my heart to places that quietly pushed me out of my emotional comfort zone.  I wasn’t OK.  I was at a place of vulnerability and felt rejected.  Solange’s formidable falsetto reached in, clutched my heart, twisted it and forced me to face the ugliness I felt, head on.  I had that album on repeat, wishing there were more soulful talents like Solange’s to pull feeling out of me.  I wanted emotionally transcendent music and I didn’t know where to find what I needed.  

Thank goodness for Twitter.  A retweet listed influential artists of the year and I decided to go down the list, hoping to find different music that mirrored just a taste of the beauty, depth and complexity that “A Seat at the Table” had given me.  I will say that 2018 has been a great year in terms of discovering amazing talent and I’m thankful for that retweet and a suggestion or two from a special someone who loves music as much as I do.

Here is my list of my favorite albums from 2018.

Fruedian – Daniel Caesar

When I hear Daniel Cesar effortlessly croon: “Who would’ve thought I’d get you?”  How can you NOT think about that unattainable guy or girl? Everyone has that one person.

For me, I’ve always had an ugly duckling syndrome.  Never felt I was the prettiest, never thought I was the smartest.  The distinguished gentlemen of Omega Psi Phi weren’t checking for me and my earliest crushes, like J.B, didn’t know I existed. 

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that everything I thought I didn’t deserve walked into my life.  He is the popular guy.  He is the likable one.  He’s smart and driven.  He’s the jock.  He’s handsome with a mysterious edge and women want to know who he is; there’s an incredible, attractive essence about him.  He’s the apple pie boy from the “Ill Mlil”, a balanced guy from a two-parent household.  He’s gold…. and he sees me. That one track on the album, “Get You” captures all of that for me.

According  to Daniel Cesar, the Freudian album came from the most intense relationship he’d ever had.  The album is descriptive of pain,  but he frames this  hurt in a saccharine way on record.   A relationship that taught him the highs and lows of love; Daniel’s honey coated vocals and flawless harmony reminds you of the sweetness of love juxtaposed by the hurt of not being wanted; not being seen.  Cesar’s delivery conveys a vulnerability not currently heard with modern day soul singers.  There’s a sweetness his voice releases and it’s comforting; like a verbal hug, through music.  When I want to feel the bitter sweetness of love, (both pain and pleasure of love)  “Freudian” is that album I’ve played.

Self -Titled – H.E.R

I only discovered this artist because of the aforementioned Freudian album.  The track, “Best Part”, on Cesar’s album, featured H.E.R.  On the song, H.E.R and Cesar’s voices blend effortlessly to create a wholesome, yet seductive harmony; I just had to hear more of her.  The self titled album, H.E.R with a hardy 21 songs, this album is a complete work.  H.E.R is a young artist, but her music is timeless– her singing cadence and complexity, to me, reminiscent of a young Billie Holiday. 

When it comes to men, I’ve played myself a time or two.  Listening to the H.E.R. album reminds me of these instances and the key lessons I’ve learned as a result.  Songs like “Let Me In” takes me back to the emotionally unavailable boy.  He’s the one I liked  and wished he liked me back, but he just didn’t; H.E.R’s voice makes you feel that disconnect.  The mid-tempo “Free” reinforces that emotional detachment.  As women, we tend to give our bodies away in the hopes that we’ll find love through the power of sex.  We buy into the delusion that if we give sexually, we’ll get emotion in exchange:

“I’m always gonna answer your calls.  Talking ‘bout come and see me. 

I know we ain’t even that deep.

I’m still coming anyway, maybe things will change…”

H.E.R made music in 2018 a delight for me. Out of all the songs I reviewed in this post, H.E.R’s album has been the most played. I’m determined to catch her on tour this year. 

About Time – Sabrina Claudio

A very special someone and I, of the many ways we connect, music is probably our strongest point of attraction.  So, one day, when he shared a Sabrina Claudio song with me; I knew she was worth a listen.

Sabrina Claudio’s About Time is a titillating journey through love, both the emotional and physical enjoyment of.  Sabrina’s voice was built for this; singing just barely above a whisper; hearing her, you want to make love.  “Unravel Me” is one of those stand out tracks that takes you there.  The way Sabrina’s light voice flows above the music, it makes the listener want to submit and unfold; both physically and mentally for your lover to explore every crevice and sink into every fold.  Listen with caution – About Time is baby making music.   

Always Never Home – Syd 

Before I address the sexiness that spills from this album, allow me to preface something: I am a straight woman.  However, I can see where an album like Syd’s Always Never Home can make any girl a bit curious.  Syd is a lesbian singer and song writer, and like many, if not all artists, she embeds her sexuality into her music; Syd sings her sensual songs, and her audience is women.  Her music is raw, but she somehow manages to strike a balance between raw, sensual and unique.  The production on this album is on point – tracks like “On the Road” give you engaging futuristic beats that draws the listener in and Syd’s word play shows you how multifaceted she is an artist:

“I’ve been gifting N*ggas call me Santa Clause…

Get to trippin’ turn the cameras off

I can get you lifted, call me Adderall”

When I want soul music with an edge, something both irreverent and refreshing, “Always Never Home” is the album I’ve played the mess out of in 2018.

 Ctrl –  SZA  

SZA is the Bad Girl of Soul and don’t @ me on this one.  The Ctrl album is an irreverent work that pushes the limits of propriety to bring a more complex message of vulnerability; one that is specifically characterized by the feeling of not being in control.  SZA’s music on this album is softness wrapped in a brash exterior.   I find myself emotionally connecting with songs like “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott.  “Love Galore” tells the age-old story: girl likes boy, boy only wants one thing, girl gets played.  When SZA sings: “Why you bothering me when you know you don’t want me…” I feel that in my soul. 

“Doves in the Wind” a song blessed with a feature from Kendrick Lamar and sound bites from Redman, comes at the neck: 

“Real N*ggas do not deserve p*ssy”…

Sza brazenly calls out the cowardice of weak minded men.  The standout track for me though, is “Drew Barrymore.”   Aside from being a huge Drew Barrymore fan, SZA uses the iconic actress to illustrate being in a space where you feel as if you don’t fit in.  You are the oddball, the reject:

“I’m sorry I’m not more attractive

I’m sorry I’m not more lady like

I’m sorry I don’t shave my legs at night

I’m sorry I’m not your Baby Mama…”

Profanity laced and hardcore, I love this album.  When I feel hurt, and I want to feel a sense of control by masking the pain, Ctrl is the record I put on blast.   

After 4AM – EP Amerie

Talking about getting that ole thang back! OK, Amerie is far from old, but she does come from a generation of real R&B music where she might not be recognizable to those younger than 25. To hell with a millennial though– Amerie is the real, soulful thing and she came back strong with her after 4AM EP.

Beats airy and smooth, the laid back and sexy album takes me to SWV circa 1997 with the “Release Some Tension” album. Amerie’s After 4AM takes me back to that time in r&B where the focus was on producing tracks that brought folks close together – encouraging touch – not text as the prominent way of communicating.

Just look at the title: after 4AM – an intimate hour. What’t the saying? Only a couple of things are open that late…

Yet, right from the beginning, the very first track tells you who this album was written for: ” 4The Lovers”. Vintage and super smooth R&B inspired beats carry Amerie’s flawless voice. This isn’t an EP praising fake asses and all things materialistic; it’s for the grown folks enjoying the company of each other. Really enjoyed this album, it really does take me back to a great time in soul music, but it is perfectly framed for the present.

There are so many artists I have yet to discover, but I now have my core.  Daniel Cesar, H.E.R, Sabrina Claudio, Syd, SZA and Amerie, thank you for helping save music in my heart.

Music Lives.

Blissfully Yours Friends,