2008 Woodie Awards
REVIEW: 'Sol-Angel' is not as soulful as it claims
Natalie Abreu
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Focus
Most know Solange Knowles as the little sister of music powerhouse Beyoncé, and after listening to her sophomore album, "Solange Presents: Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams," most will know her as nothing more than a dime-a-dozen R&B singer.
While the album starts off promising with songs like "T.O.N.Y," "Dancing in the Dark" and "Would've Been the One" featuring a cool jazzy/Motown sound with just the right amount of instrumentals to accompany Solange's voice, but soon takes a turn for the conventional worst.
Using too many synthesized instruments and overlapping voices on "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams" that makes it sound more like "So-Wrong and the Nightmare on Elm St.," ruining songs like "Cosmic Journey" and "Sandcastle Disco." Some songs just end abruptly, making one worried that something happened to the CD. What's worse, is when the song turns into another, different song like it does with the way-too-long "Cosmic Journey" and "Bird," Solange says, "I'm not done yet," before the song gets really weird.
Instruments overpowering Knowles' voice is also the least of her problems. Her voice is decent, but too nasally, high pitched and doesn't have enough vocal range to truly shine. She sounds like a good backup singer at best. Perhaps she should ask Beyoncé if she's hiring?
One of the good highlights of the album is the Neptunes-produced song "I Decided: Part I" for both good and bad reasons. Her voice seems to not have the range at all for this type of song and every measure sounds like she's struggling to keep her voice. But the tune is catchy; maybe it would be moreso if another singer came in to help her out. The Freemasons "Part II" version of the same song sounds like the love child of 70s disco and 80s pop songs. Maybe a good combo for the 90s, but not for 2008. The song does redeem itself near the end when the Motown sound of the song prevails against the bubble-gum pop sound.
While it may not be of any consolation to Knowles, it does appear that she makes a good effort to try to make this album one for the books, but all the elements that make a great, even a good album seem to be fleeting in this attempt. She seems sincere despite the shoddy lyrics, instrumental choices in certain songs, but it all just culminates in an OK effort rather than a smash hit.
While downloading or buying the whole album seems to be a waste, songs like "T.O.N.Y," "Dancing in the Dark" and "Would've Been the One" are worth a listen.
2 stars (out of 5)
While the album starts off promising with songs like "T.O.N.Y," "Dancing in the Dark" and "Would've Been the One" featuring a cool jazzy/Motown sound with just the right amount of instrumentals to accompany Solange's voice, but soon takes a turn for the conventional worst.
Using too many synthesized instruments and overlapping voices on "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams" that makes it sound more like "So-Wrong and the Nightmare on Elm St.," ruining songs like "Cosmic Journey" and "Sandcastle Disco." Some songs just end abruptly, making one worried that something happened to the CD. What's worse, is when the song turns into another, different song like it does with the way-too-long "Cosmic Journey" and "Bird," Solange says, "I'm not done yet," before the song gets really weird.
Instruments overpowering Knowles' voice is also the least of her problems. Her voice is decent, but too nasally, high pitched and doesn't have enough vocal range to truly shine. She sounds like a good backup singer at best. Perhaps she should ask Beyoncé if she's hiring?
One of the good highlights of the album is the Neptunes-produced song "I Decided: Part I" for both good and bad reasons. Her voice seems to not have the range at all for this type of song and every measure sounds like she's struggling to keep her voice. But the tune is catchy; maybe it would be moreso if another singer came in to help her out. The Freemasons "Part II" version of the same song sounds like the love child of 70s disco and 80s pop songs. Maybe a good combo for the 90s, but not for 2008. The song does redeem itself near the end when the Motown sound of the song prevails against the bubble-gum pop sound.
While it may not be of any consolation to Knowles, it does appear that she makes a good effort to try to make this album one for the books, but all the elements that make a great, even a good album seem to be fleeting in this attempt. She seems sincere despite the shoddy lyrics, instrumental choices in certain songs, but it all just culminates in an OK effort rather than a smash hit.
While downloading or buying the whole album seems to be a waste, songs like "T.O.N.Y," "Dancing in the Dark" and "Would've Been the One" are worth a listen.
2 stars (out of 5)
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