ALBUM REVIEW: Estelle
- Posted on April 23, 2008 10:10 AM
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Estelle
Shine
Review By Cheryl Jacobs
By the time you’ve read this review Estelle is likely to have spent her third consecutive week as the UK’s number one selling singles artist.
However, anyone expecting an album of hits in similar vein to the ever-so-catchy retro soul-hip-hop chart-topper ‘American Boy’, could be in for disappointment.
After a turbulent few years in the music wilderness when dropped by V2 records, it’s hard not to admire, nor begrudge Estelle her recent success.
Where most would’ve given up, the West London born rapper/soulster upped her bags and headed to the big U.S of A , recruiting heavyweight help (Mark Ronson, Kanye West, Gnarls Barkely vocalist Cee-lo, and John Legend) along the way.
However, Shine is a slow burner to say the least, despite it showcasing a previously unheard softness in her urbanised vocal.
Opening track ‘Wait a Minute’ (Just a Touch), with its hard bass and brash rap introduces itself loudly, but doesn’t really leave much of a lasting impression.
Not lacking in slickness, or soulful vocals, the albums contents move along swiftly, and flick competently from edgy reggae, and hip-hop, to soul ballads.
But it isn’t until half way through, where Estelle and her American superstar collaborators give us anything memorable.
.
The striking and intimately beautiful ‘You Are’, a collaborative affair with soul smoothie Legend is a standout moment. Spine-tingling romantic, it leaves you wondering if Estelle and Mr.Legend are actually creating more than just sweet music together in real-life.
All –in all, this is an ok comeback album. But, for Estelle, who once rapped about being born in 1980, it seems like born in the U.S. A. would now be a more apt tag to give her current work. This album works best when you can hear its lyrical British identity, such as the street slang (“I’ll take you to my bredrin”) on American Boy.
Sadly, most of Shine feels like it’s been overly Americanised, and an altogether faint effort.
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