Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Not a big fan of an album that lectures me about what I do or don't understand. But I am sure there are some out there who are.
Lauryn Hill but modernized. I liked it less than Lauryn Hill's Miseducation but overall a fan.
Is there such a thing as too stripped down? We might be reaching it here. This album sounds pleasant, which is a stark contrast to the subject matter, but pleasant, sonically, is about as far as it goes. It never goes big, or small, it moseys along at its blithe pace and that's about it. It's good, but not great. I want something more. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 but I don't think I'm ever coming back here on purpose (wouldn't be mad to find myself back here, just not gonna seek it out) so I'm afraid down it goes. Weezy and Q-tip features not moving the needle.
I don't know if it was because I immediately started this after an album I hated, but I like the vibe of this one right from the start. It's not an incredible album, and it's not one I really see myself returning to, but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this one from start to finish.
Liked this more than expected, more than Beyonce's albums. R&B with a bit of pop sensibility. It was okay.
Half inventive, half bland.
I like this album, but mostly for how it flows. But I have similar issues with Solange as with the last album I had, L Cohen, it just doesn't excite me. A bit too minimalist. Sometimes I just want a boring old pop song.
#740. Damn. This is way worse than I expected. And I didn't really expect much. 1/5: yikes
I honestly liked this a good bit. Nice bass across the album. It also has lil Wayne and Q-tip on it.
1/5 RnB, Soul and Pop really aren't my vibe at all, this album is mainstream and very boring. Solange has a nice voice, but that's already everything positive I can say. Not a single song of this album was catching my attention. The will to skip through her songs and eventually start a different playlist was stronger than listening to this. I tried, but I'd rather listen to Taylor Swift. Also why tf does this have 8 Interludes?! The only thing they add is playtime. Should've read the bio first, the amount of times you find "Beyonce's sister" in it is a huge red flag.
A bit generic, nothing special imo
🥱
my preferred Knowles sister
3.5
Very very average
Very pleasant without really blowing me away. Probably would usually be a 4 but I'm scoring very generously here so far so I downgraded to a 3.
an album that not only sounds beautiful but also speaks to the heart, making it a modern classic that celebrates self-worth and cultural pride.
Fav: F.U.B.U (Feat. The-Dream and BJ The Chicago Kid) Least Fav: Mad (Feat. Lil Wayne) Not sure what part of this sounds remotely important for listening
Before I started this album I was wondering if I was going to nope out of it. In my initial research pre-album I saw that this was a double album and only the artists 3rd. What makes one think they can put out a double LP worth of bangers on only your 3rd shot. Is it because your sister is famous as fuck and you think that you'll be as good as that. Only a listen will tell. Well I made it through almost all of it, most if that was while I was on hold with a medical billing group so there is that. This does not deserve a double album or 21 tracks, the interludes were terrible, this album is terrible according to discogs she only put out one more album (as of 10/14/2025) so who knows.
Easy listening with nice melodies and production.
Sounds fine. Nothing really stands out in the album but also nothing that is abrasive or awful.
Was better than I expected, but an interlude nearly every other tracks is kinda dumb. Junie was a highlight, but the rest felt a little underdeveloped.
Remember really enjoying this album when it came out, especially the song “Mad” with Lil Wayne. Songs are good/catchy neo-soul, her voice is pleasant, and it’s not overly long or stuffed with filler. Having said that, some of the spoken interludes feel a little forced at this point and even dated (i know it’s 2016) but overall I enjoy this album. 3.5 stars with a round-up because Q-Tip is involved.
Nice but boring
4.5/5
Despite only knowing who Solange was because of her famous sister and not being au fait with her music, this was quite a refreshing listen. Felt like quite lo-fi R&B/soul, although at one point I did naively think she was singing about all her knickers in the world 😳
Gostei bastante, nunca tinha ouvido o álbum todo. Tem uma boa vibe, não sendo extraordinário.
11/10/2025 Nah not a fan, not great at all. Spotify listeners: 2.3 million
A good voice but I don;t like the music much. 3 stars or C.
Heard a lot about the album but it's my first time listening to it. It's fine but way too chill for me. No songs really stood out 2/5
Stilet, lækkert og fantastiske vokalpræstationer, men ikke noget jeg nødvendigvis vender tilbage til ofte
My first exposure to her. Her message is clear, empowering for the life and community she lives. While I can’t relate, it is helpful/powerful for me to hear her perspective on life. Allows me to understand
5/5. A fully realized record of rage and self-love, with vintage and soulful production while still feeling fresh and modern. I think this album has a lot going for it and has layers that I definitely didn't hear on first spin so will have to listen to it again but I think I have a good feeling for my opinion about this album. It's not perfect but there is a confidence through each track that convinces me otherwise, and not in a pretentious or boastful way, just a matter of fact way. It's hard to describe but it does feel important. Best Song: Cranes In The Sky, Borderline (An Ode to Self Care), Don't Touch My Hair, Junie
chillin', vibin', not gettin' it completely probably because of the language barrier
good, not my cup of tea. i liked the track with lil wayne, reminded me of early chance
Very boring. Couldn’t get through it.
That Knowles family seems to be pretty talented. But seriously: listening to this again reminded me of how much I loved Junie when it first came out--well, and the whole album, really.
Älskar Solange! Fint album, dock inte min favorit av hennes då den är lite för lugn och deppig. + Cranes in the sky, otrolig melodi
Would not buy.
Not my cup of tea.
Difficult to rate, as the album was not made for me. It seems like people on this site are way too hard to please. This was really nice record to listen to and the reviews unnecessarily harsh
Lowkey poignant.
This was brutal to get through. Basically the same song for 51 minutes cut up by spoken word interludes. Being Beyoncé's sister probably had nothing to do with her getting an album, right?
Enjoyed one or two but fairly mid. Not my thing I guess
I guess you really need to be American to enjoy this sort of thing.
Truly awful 🥹
Musically never gonna be my thing, but some powerful messaging on there.
I can admire the thought behind it, yet still find it kinda boring.
Super generic '90's r&b into pop r&b. Influence 1. Quality 3. Hits 1. So mid 2.
She has a great voice and the vibe is nice, not really sure this is my thing though
Haven't listened to Solange's previous work, but I'm guessing this is much more personal. Love the half-mutterings about Black identity and the struggles that go with it but the immense pride as well sprinkled throughout. Also, Cranes in the Sky is a great ballad. Easily one of the best of the second half of the 2010s decade.
Solange seems like she's reaching beyond just R&B and soul. Yes, her music contains essences of these styles, but with modern production, songs in various styles and interludes focusing on black power, A Seat at the Table feels more like a deeply personal artistic statement for Solange. Solange's voice is great and she absolutely captures a vibe I deeply appreciate.
8/10
Uma delícia de álbum. Mulheres negras ouvem Solange.
I thought this was a really good listen.
Never heard of her and off the back of this I won’t be rushing to check out more of her stuff. It wasn’t bad or anything, in fact she does have quite a good voice. I just found it dull for the most part.
Very nice
Soulful vocals, R&B/Hip-Hop electronic beats, piano melodies. Pleasant, but not for me.
I haven't listened to hip hop and what is being served here at 1001 is turning me off it.
Dude, this is fuckin’ GOOD.
Rubno neslušljivo 😬 na trenutak mi se učinilo da bi moglo biti zanimljivo i onda je postalo naporno. 1/5, 1/10
This just falls into the I didn't really connect with this music category. Not sure I am anywhere close to the target audience.
Very nice, chill album. The vocals are very nice, it's just that nothing really happens in the songs, although they do have that calm vibe, so it's great having in the background while doing stuff, or even playing that at a fancy restaurant would be nice.
Favorite Track: F.U.B.U.
Ja!!! 5 stjerner, men mye mer fem stjerner enn Dire Straights!! Så variert og fint album (litt for poppete noen steder kanskje, bittelitt kjedelig noen steder, kulest når det er mer RnB-aktig) og hun synger så vakkert🥰 er hun kvinnelige Frank Ocean? Som jeg innerst inne liker godt noen ganger?
Cranes in the Sky må være en av de beste låtene fra sitt tiår. Det er synd resten av skiva når de samme høydene, sporet som kommer nærmest er nok Borderline for min del. Ekstrem godt produsert album som er best når den prøver seg på poppy indie soul og dårligst når den faller ned i contemporary R&B rutiner. Kunne som (nesten) alltid klart meg uten interludes, men dette er langt ifra å være et skrekkeksemplar.
Dette høres ut som modernisert 70-talls Motown, da superstjernene hadde pumpet ut hit på hit og endelig fikk frihet til å lage auteur-plater om samfunnsproblemer og identitet. Solange skriver sitt eget kapittel av den historien, som en naturlig etterkommer av for eksempel What’s Going On. Hun pakker politiske og personlige refleksjoner inn i silkemyk soul, minimalistisk funk og små doser psykedelisk R&B. Derfor finner man kanskje ikke store bangers her, men man finner en helhet. Når jeg holder plata opp mot Gaye, Mayfield og Wonder, er det kanskje akkurat fraværet av bangers som gjør at den ikke helt når opp. Det er nok en personlig preferanse, men for meg ligger magien i når kunstnere klarer å levere både helhet og hits
Well, like they said on the album, this ones not for me. And that's okay! Different strokes for different folks and whatnot.
And here we are again: some totally average album gets canonized on the “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” list, as if my ears haven’t suffered enough. It’s perfectly fine. I’ve heard it before, liked it in the same way I like plain toast, and then never thought about it again. Just listened to the whole thing, and I probably won’t hear it again until 2034—by accident.
Her voice is pleasant but not all that great. The songs that hit like Cranes in the Sky are quite good but most of the rest I just get bored with it & want it to end The music itself is a nice music collage. Songs start to blend together. I get it, there's strong themes here & its fine. Is that the reason this is on the list? Or is it because of who her sister is? I'm not a huge Beyonce fan, the hits on the radio are fine if that's the type of music you like. I'm gonna guess that Beyonce's albums on this list are better than this. At least, One would hope. 2 By the way, that's Master P on the interludes. It was driving me nuts as to who this guy is & why we should listen to him.
Yeah, yeah, we all know the whole "Thank You, Beyonce" phenomenon so I sort of cannot blame Dimery for including this album on this list. Nobody deserves to die over music. He's just watching out for himself, and his name is out there. But my account here is anonymous and I have nothing to fear. It is an embarrassment that this nepo-inside-job made it on to the list and no Bill Withers. No Tame Impala. No INXS. No Shania Twain. I smell a rat. And this album is not good. One star, easily. Vapid lyrics. Washy sound. Momentum-killing interludes. No thank you, Beyoncé. YOU HEAR ME? ONE STAR I don't care who hears about... oh hold up. Someone is at my door. Let me just get this and I'll be right back...
2.75
p945. 2016. 2 stars. Bland Gen Z US soul. Well done of its kind, but eminently forgettable. Once heard, never remembered.
Good RnB sound, well produced. A couple of good tunes on that id listen to again, lost concentration a couple of times and not an album I'd go back to but only because its not my type of music. Can see why some would really like It. 3/5
Great album to start!
Dark nightclub vibes for sure. Drinking a sophisticated drink at a hightop with a little smoke in the air and a dimly lit Solange at the back of the room. Blue stage lights slowly cutting through the smoke as they travel lazily across the room. Having a night out with the wife that will be continued in the downtown hotel room that awaits 50 stories above this very lounge.
Psychedelic Soul. Great album to start this musical journey. Great songs with outstanding production. The vocals, drums, bass, piano, horn inflections! It feels like you are sitting in the room with the musicians. Definitely has a vibe to the album- Black America runs throughout. The interludes and song themes and album title definitely tell a story and it flows together so effortlessly. Elements of Badu, Beyonce, Withers, Gil Scott-Heron, The Roots, and more, yet uniquely Solange and fresh sounding at the same time. Too many highlights to name, nothing about this album I did not like.
This was a very impactful album that’s heavily driven by mood and texture. It definitely sits within the world of contemporary R&B and neo soul, but what really stood out to me was the way she uses recorded conversations and layers them into the music. It plays perfectly into the somber, ambient vibe of the album and adds a deeper sense of intimacy. It breaks the ice and makes you feel like you’re right there in the room with them.
Songwriting felt tight. Good production that builds a palpable atmosphere
I really have this one a good go, think I got halfway before tapped out. Really uninspiring, another album that somehow made this list.
I was not expecting to like this. Really well put together. Very well produced and a really good listen.
Another artist I'm not familiar with, but apparently she's related to someone who's kind of famous? She's got a smooth voice and the album went by very quickly. I'd listen again. 3.5/5.0.
A lovely introduction to an equally talented sister who shined bright before fading away from the spotlight.
Solange sounds like a soap brand
Beyonce may be a better performer, more facile with capital B, capital I Big Ideas, and maybe the most collaborative pop star of our age But Solange... since the elevator, Solange has been the best writer and the best singer in the Knowles family, which is saying something. Just thinking about "Cranes in the Sky" makes me feel things that almost no other song in recent memory can. Hearing it? Perfection.
Nice voice. Not my kind of music. But, pleasant.
I think I've listened to this album before, but I'm not completely certain. I went through Rolling Stone's best albums of the 2010's, and I seem to remember this being on that list, but I'm not sure, and I don't feel like looking that up right now (I lied, I looked it up, and it's on there, but maybe I didn't make it through the whole list?). Whatever, I'm gonna pretend like I've never listened to this before. I'm not a big neo soul or R&B guy, so it's going to take a lot for Solange to wow me, but if anyone is up to the challenge, I'm sure it's her! A Seat at the Table, was fine, but I certainly wasn't wowed by it. The biggest asset that Solange brings... er, to the table on this album is her songwriting. She has a real knack for taking her own personal struggles, feelings, and thoughts, and tying them to the bigger things going on in the world around us. I can't imagine what it must be like to be the sister of one of the biggest and most influential artists of all time, but Solange is quite the songwriter. Musically though, this album was a bit of a bore. I didn't mind the softness of the sound, and I thought the production work was good, but I just wanted something to pull me in musically, and this album didn't really have many catchy hooks or melodies. However, the songs that did pull me in musically were really fantastic. "Cranes in the Sky," "Don't Touch My Hair," "Junie," and "Don't Wish Me Well" were all great. On "Cranes in the Sky," I thought the percussion, bass, and strings were awesome. The melodies and vocals were really beautiful. I loved that organ-ish sound on "Don't Touch My Hair," and horns at the end were excellent. "Junie" was really poppy and funky, but it still kept the overall neo-soul sound of the album intact with its gentleness. The synth melody of "Don't Wish Me Well" was amazing. I wish the whole album had more hooks and melodies like this song did. A Seat at the Table was fine, but other than the few standout tracks, it's not something I'd feel drawn back to.
Powerful. Cool to hear her after not listening since 2002.
Probably one of the chillest albums i’ve heard in awhile. i can see why it had critical acclaim. i like how she tied in Master P’s life story into it.
I like about half this album, despite it being cool, calm and collected. It’s jazzy and soulful and honest, but it is not an every day listen for me. I listened to this 3x this morning, and I will be okay not hearing it for a while, in the least offensive way. Feels a little stark or bleak, I guess, but maybe it’s just me!
This album is great, don’t get me wrong, but being that I am NOT a black woman in America I think a lot of it is lost on me. Excellent concept, songwriting, and sonics. Might revisit it later in a different headspace, but for now it gets 3.5/4 stars. … on my second listen and as predicted, It’s a much better experience. The minimalism of the beats, the softness of the vocals… this is a modern jazz album. It gives off “whispered conversations at a speakeasy” vibes that make the listener “lean in” to hear the story better. I’m still not a black woman though, so most of its meaning probably still eludes me.
I thought this was interesting, liked the minimalist production and her vocals but the number of interludes did break up the flow of the album for me and make it seem longer than it's runtime. I'm going for a light 4 because I think I could really like it with a few more listens.
Deserved.
This was a very impactful album that’s heavily driven by mood and texture. It definitely sits within the world of contemporary R&B and neo soul, but what really stood out to me was the way she uses recorded conversations and layers them into the music. It plays perfectly into the somber, ambient vibe of the album and adds a deeper sense of intimacy. It breaks the ice and makes you feel like you’re right there in the room with them.
Not offensive but some of the most boring music I can think of.
Full of slow jams. A little boring at times.
There was plenty to appreciate about this album: the production quality was great; her voice is pure, the story telling in the interludes was good, and it was different from her family’s normal modus operadi. That said, I’m not sure there was anything here not offered in the 1990s by Mariah, Lauryn and the other late-century R&B artists. It’s very D’Angelo, which is great for D’Angelo fans. I struggled to maintain attention honestly. The two songs that stood out for me were Borderline feat. Q-Tip and FUBU. If this was playing I would note it, but it wouldn’t be the focus of my attention.
Random thoughts: * Solid listen. I've tried to listen to Solange before and I've realized this just isn't my kind of jam. Which is ok. Not everything is for everyone. * It was good music and I was even bopping my head at one point. Not sure which tune though. * I liked the theming and interludes. * I'd definitely listen again but it would be unlikely for me to thoughtfully pick it out. * Overall, I liked this but didn't love it.
6/10 - chilled RnB, but no real standout
There were some songs with some pretty cool beats. For the most it felt like a very chill R&B album. Nothing I would personally come back for. 2.5 roundin up.
Interludy mnie denerwują, gdyby nie to, to ładne, spokojne, na randkę, 3/5
Could do without what I presume to be Jay-Z talking over each track, aside from that good vibes
Solange is not breaking new grounds when it comes to her music, but her reflexivity and vulnerability elevate the songs to a higher level.
This album doesn't really do it for me. I have had it on my streaming service radar for some time now, but never took to it. I don't get why it's seen as a great album, and indeed it doesn't appear to be listed in the edition of 1001 albums I have on my Kindle.
Solange: A Seat at the Table: Eh really not for me. Nothing really stuck out, though it wasn't awful. A lot of interludes that really don't add anything imo. Just kinda an album I guess. I don't plan on listening to anything from it again, but it wasn't awful. 5/10
Gave this a brief spin. Beautiful voice, but slow out of the gate. Too dreamy for me.
It was alright, enjoyed listening to it. Best song: Rise Notable(s): F.U.B.U.
I have never even heard of Solange before this, and thank goodness that has now been corrected. Gorgeous vocals and lyrics. I love how many songs are prefaced by spoken wisdom from her parents. Lovely declaration of pride and resilience.
impossible for me to not cry at cranes in the sky. i wonder if tarzan has ever listened to this.
AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! first the eagles then kanye and now solange!!!!!! top tier fire albums back to back just for me 🤍 it's funny cause cranes of the sky is the title track here and i honestly think it's one of my least fave songs on this album (not bad i just really love the others more)! this is my style of music tbh so i already know the i'm gonna be wildly biased but idc : ) she and cleo sol are super similar and that's my other bitch! she's making my morning coffee taste extra sweet!
Hyvin kappaleet soljuu toisiinsa, levy tuntuu yhtäläiseltä. Modernia RnB / soulia ja semmoista perus pop tyylistä. Kivan tunnelmallista ja siistit instrut. Parhaat: Dont You Wait, Dont Wish Me Well, Scales
Æ hørte litt på det i sin tid, men ikke mye nok til at det satt sæ, men det e et bra album. Æ like det.
700+ albums in, I feel like a broken record when I am questioning why these albums from the last decade are included here. Is this a good album? Yeah, definitely. It's also not surprising, given the access Solange has to music industry resources.
Really not good, so boring despite what its singing about
2 o 1??? Que aburrido disco, misma tonada, nada de valor
Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice listen. I liked "Weary" a lot, and most of the songs were decent.
Sweet
Today I learned Beyoncé has a sister, and they both had a number one solo album in the same year. Neat! While R&B isn't my regular jam, A Seat at the Table is a pretty good representation of the genre. "Where Do We Go", "Don't Touch My Hair" and "Cranes in the Sky" were the best songs, imo.
R&B is not my jam. She sings nice, but this was a typical boring R&B slog.
First one down
Modern R&B - reminiscent of Frank Ocean's Channel Orange which isn't super surprising considering CO came out in 2012 - and A Seat at the Table was released in 2016. Beautiful stacked harmonies, sparse modern instrumentation with some great features (Lil Wayne, Sampha, Q-Tip, and more).
There's a type of female pop singer that I just can't care about. It's that airy, insubstantial singing that has no weight. It feels inherently ephemeral. It sounds like idle thoughts whispered. This is that. It's not bad, but it's definitely not for me. I can't hum a single bar or sing a single lyric, and I started writing this seconds after the album ended. I was going to say I'd never actually heard a Solange song before, but after this, that may not be true. I may have heard her thousands of times, but I wouldn't remember it.
I started off really liking this album. By the end I got quite bored. She has a great voice and production is there, it just started muddling together, even with all the interludes
Warm relaxed neo-soul jams with organic lush instrumentation and deep RnB grooves paired with some high tech production and computer drum tracks. Horns, guitars, keyboards, and lots of backup singers - it all has a chilled out hanging out feel to it. Nice features from Q Tip and Lil Wayne add to this feel. Solange's vocals are fluttering falsettos and altos, whispered and sung in fleeting lines that float on the beats. Ephemeral and ethereal, it's all vibes and no hooks - there's nothing as good as the amazing 'Losing You' on here, but it's a jazzy laid back time. Interludes are annoying, trite vox pop rambling cliches.
Soft rap
Really great concept album with rich vocals
Nice as background music or to lie down in bed, close your eyes and listen. Very good!
a lyrically important album but it’s not really for me this one. there were a few songs i liked a lot. songs i liked: don’t you wait junie don’t wish me well
4/10 It came, it went. I couldn't tell you a song, but at least they are kindly separated by some interludes, as otherwise I'd struggle to know where one ends and the next comes along. It's just a meandering dullness I tolerated - how someone can be excited by it is a mystery to me, but hey, it's cool, I ain't going to like everything
Enjoyed this album.
Technically excellent but it never changes gear at all
I loveeeee this album. I'm so happy it made it on to the 1001 albums. Taking off a point because it is a bit too long and from borderline, the album peters out. 4/5
3 sterne
Wasn’t familiar with this album but had a few songs I really enjoyed. Best ones for me were Rise and Junie.
I listen to this on repeat several years ago. Really like it
1.66
Fantastic Latin grooves and some funky slap bass lines. Didn’t understand a word but sure makes you want ti dance.
Well produced neo soul/R'n'B album by Beyonce's sister who can sing nicely (her voice is similar to her sister's), though no songs stand out/nothing is really memorable on it. It's one of those albums I wonder why they are on the list.
When people say things like "You could make a whole album like this", I don't think they quite literally expect you take one idea and stretch it so thin. I'd happily listen to first few tracks, but I was waiting for it to end about half way through.
Waaaaay too long
Absolutely gorgeous album. Solange carries this record so fluidly with her beautiful voice and lyrics. The production is so calming and pleasant on the ears. I listened to this when it first came out but forgot about it. This was a nice reminder because it is a very good record.
Solid: cool sound and meaningful interludes (not Solange's fault that, by comparison, I was at the Cowboy Carter show yesterday)
Not my kind
at certain points of this album, i really did believe i could go to sleep and wake up and be back in 2016. beautiful, and probably more of a time capsule to me than it deserves to be.
My first thought was, wow, great voice, excellent production… how have I never heard this before? This is beautiful. Well, I’m really out of the loop, so the second I read Solange is Beyoncé’s sister, I was like, ahh crap. She must be riding the coattails. But, to Solange’s benefit, even though there aren’t many bangers on here, I think I’d rather listen to this in full than any of Beyoncé’s albums, and that’s saying a lot! A major criticism I see about ‘A Seat at the Table’ is that it’s flat, and all the songs are too similar. I’d argue that it makes for a super chill and consistent listen. The interludes start to come off as preachy, but they hold together the overall theme and style. It’s an overall vibe, and it’s very unlike her sister’s.
first woman of color album on this project, couldnt be happier - mix of soothing, jazz, and hip-hop with a message on black culture
I don’t think I needed to listen to this
Really really love the production of this album. Listened through while working and it holds an awesome narrative thread. Otherwise just liked it! Fav Track: Cranes in the Sky
Stunning.
Really not for me. Even the initial redeeming qualities faded into meh by the end.
What the duck is this shite.
Absolutely drivel. Crockashit waste of my time
Pretty shit but not quite as shit as I expected
It’s ok I guess
Not as bad as I thought it would be. Still not good and have no plans to listen again
Isn't my cup of tea but it’s kind of catchy
Almost screamed when I got this album, I used to listen to it often on the way to my college classes. A timeless album about being black and dealing with hate. However theres a lot about finding self love and love for the culture. An album about being unbreakable, even if you feel broken and always finding a space for yourself.
Nice soul, great vocals, a solid album overall.
Learned that Solange is Beyoncé’s sister. While I appreciate the message…the music is not for me.
Not for me this one.
Dave Davies, Dennis and Carl Wilson, Mike McCartney, Martin Kemp, Danii Minogue, Liam Gallagher. Rock & roll is littered with the less able, slightly less attractive siblings of talented musicians who only got in the band because of mothers' threats or who got a record deal because an executive thought that talent must run in families*. They were wrong and Solange is a fine example of that. In one song I genuinely thought she was singing about shitting her knickers. But she wasn't. And that's about as exciting as this album got. Bland, monotonous and boring. With tedious 'interludes' (if I want to be talked at I'll listen to a podcast or the news thanks). 2 stars as it might have some use as background. But then with songs about shitty knickers maybe not even that. * Bros and Jedward? Not even going there!
Not bad for R&B but I don’t care for that stuff much.
Not for me.
I really liked this album. I wasn’t sure what to expect. This was just great. Definitely I would listen again.
Not bad. Nice Voice. Maybe should listen to twice to better grasp. Kinda sleepy. Wouldn't be in my top 1001. Love RnB, but this is just downright boring.
Good production values ok voice
Can't overcome the boredom
Ehh. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it
Didnt really hate it but I don't think it was good by any means.
Skits and interludes on otherwise good albums need to end.
Watered-down Lemonade. Not memorable at all to me.
I really respect how different her music is than her sister's. Fine by me, just not totally for me Best Song: Cranes in the Sky Rating: 6.5/10 (Fine) Stars: 3/5
5/5
Day550 - that sounded like i’d rather take a beating than listen again
Overall not a bad album. Good production and she has a great voice. No really outstanding individual tracks but works well as a collection
Попса да и попса. Что тут оригинального?
It’s a pretty good R&B record that suffers a bit from limited lyricism and overuse of basic harmonies. Some great vibe moments and good intention thematically pump this album up. Artful and expressive.
Not my jam really, but her voice is beautiful.
Nice but not for me.
Pretty voice. The album had an agenda and they stuck with it. I can respect that. I don’t know that the songs reflected the agenda as much as the skits. So it felt a little disjointed. This isn’t my normal genre jam, so if I were in the mood for it, I could come up with several other artists I’d play instead.
Listens: 2 Standout tracks: Mad, F.U.B.U. The use of interludes is kind of excessive. I understand the context and long history of using skits and interludes in rap, hip-hop and RnB genres, but damn there's 8 interludes and a closing in an album with 21 tracks. That's 42% of the album dedicated to basically not music. There are a couple of good tracks. Mad with Lil Wayne is decent, F.U.B.U. is great. I would also say anything with Q-Tip is good, but he's barely on the track.
I am a middle aged Irish man. I am not the target demographic for this. While the production is excellent, the subject matter is not something I relate to.
Not an artist I would ordinarily listen to - but I suppose this is the whole point of the project and I am glad for it. Really enjoyed this in particular the spoken parts. Solange's voice is very mellow and made for an interesting juxtaposition against the spoken realism. Talent clearly runs in the blood of the Family.
Nice
Awful bland soul
I am somehow following this artist already on Spotify. I don't recall when or why, but I'm excited to find out the why. Ah, it was the Don't Touch My Hair song. I liked it. I'm not a fan of Lil Wayne, so I could do without that song, but overall, I like the music on the album. Solange's voice is good. This isn't a particularly moving album, but it's chill and groovy. Junie was a favorite. This was a 3 for me.
This is not my favorite Solange work; that would probably be the stuff she did with Blood Orange. But I enjoyed this, I liked the thematic focus of it, and I especially appreciated the interludes, like NPR StoryCorps interviews that really helped frame the subjects she was presenting. 3.5
Good voice, interesting sounds and production, but it didn't really pull me in.
It’s very difficult to be objective about solange. It just felt like boring R&B to me.
Too long. Not good. 2 stars is generous.
Same thing for me here as the Mariah album, she’s got a great voice but I didn’t love the songs as much. Exceptional album cover though.
I always have trouble rating R&B since I really am not a fan of the genre. Actually didn’t know who Solange was until after listening to the album. As I said I’m not into R&B 😃. It was ok - the interludes for me were much more intersecting than the songs!
This really didn't do much for me. Admittedly, it's not my cup of tea, but nothing really jumped out at me as "oh, I see why some people love this album." It was too mellow and just didn't have many hooks that I noticed.
I appreciate that this album made the list. Listened to it when I came out and enjoyed it. Musically though it never transcends beyond background music for me though.
C’est bien, en vrai, un ptit album bien relax, ça fait changement des albums weirds et rugueux des derniers jours
4/5
Partly very nice. Like the soul sound although at times it goes too much into pop in my opinion. But overall a nice album.
Slow, chill, not for me but had a clearly said what was set out to be said and sounded good doing it
Ok ok, Queen B zelf nog niet gehad, maar we krijgen nu Lil B te horen! Ben wel benieuwd, ik hoorde de hype om dit album toen maar ben eigenlijk compleet vergeten om het ook daadwerkelijk te luisteren. Het begint heel nice, wat een stem heeft Solange! Het album glijd heeeeerlijk door, de productie is erg prettig door lekker traag en stripped down te zijn. De ster hier is Solange, dat is duidelijk, de nummers worden om haar stem heen gebouwd maar mogen niet de aandacht afleiden. De features zijn echt super hier trouwens; Lil Wayne die zn best doet? Sampha?? BJ The Chicago Kid? Stuk voor stuk dragen ze bij en begrijpen ze wat de opdracht was. Wel jammer dat Q-tip geen verse op zn nummer heeft, echt een gemiste kans! Dit album, het is lekker, er zijn best wel wat nummers die er uit springen, maar toch vind ik het in zn geheel toch niet echt een album wat ik snel nog een keer aanzet. Daarvoor kabbelt een groot deel toch te veel voort. De skits voegen wel wat toe, die waardeerde ik ook wel, maar uiteindelijk klinkt een deel toch best wel als 13 in een dozijn R&B. Jammer! Maar het is zeker geen slecht album, gewoon niet zo weggeblazen als ik aan het begin gehoopt had. FAVO: Cranes in the Sky, Mad(Ik ben een sucker voor Lil Wayne features), Don't touch my hair, Borderline
This woman has been through some shit. The music is good, but there’s no hope in it. Listening to the whole album really brought me down.
I do enjoy this a bit more than most of what Solange's more famous sister does. But it doesn't quite connect with me musically, although I appreciate the audacity present in the lyrics (both sung and delivered as spoken word).
Love her voice, like her songs, really dislike the interludes.
A classic of the genre "albums without any songs". It feels like everything was built in a studio with layering "sounds" then singing "something over the top". I'm sure it's all very punchy social comment, but it's not music to listen to.
Fantastic album. Love it.
I wont downplay her messaging on personal, political, or racial struggles because they're all valuable and important. However, listening to these musical ingredients the way she puts them together is like eating a nutritionally complete meal in bar form. Dry, rectangular, tastes like cardboard, and just ain't the same as real food. Sure, you get everything you need from it and technically it's all you'd ever NEED to eat, but it's not satisfying or something you're looking forward to. I don't think this album deserves the two star rating I'm going to give it because it is indeed nutritionally complete, but I don't want to eat it ever again. Because it's something I'd never look forward to, like other albums I didn't like for different reasons, it gets that rating from me. I do think this artist is capable of getting a 5 star rating from me on an album because it's clear she's very talented. It just wasn't this one ⭐⭐
Gorgeous production on this. The interludes are reminiscent of Robert Glaper's Black Radio 2. Favourite tracks: Rise (love the slightly 'hot' kick drum; punchy!), Weary, Cranes in the Sky, Where Do We Go.
not bad, just kind of boring imo :,)
It was a well produced and interesting album. Some good songs. However, I would not listen to it again. Not a fan of interludes.
This was unexpectedly good. Each song is better than anything Beyonce has ever done. It's smooth R'n'B with a genre cross into some other styles. Enjoyable, but some of the chit chat gets annoying.
no
Bland and unmemorable
Why is this an album I must listen to? Having listened to it I couldn't identify one of these songs as a Solange song if you put a gun to a puppy's head
Trash
Rnb not my taste
The vibe of the album is intentional, pure, sparsely adorned, and holds your attention. The beats and arrangements are generally mellow and ride somewhere between jazz, hip-hop, funk and R+B. The instrumentals themselves are subtle and provide the solid foundation for the vocals, which always take center stage.
Pretty cool
Milquetoast and white gulit.
Another album I can remember listening to shortly after it dropped. Solange's vocals are the clear standout here, but an underrated aspect about this album is the cohesiveness of it all. The songs flow from one to the next so flawlessly. Solange manages to do this while also having every song sound unique. It makes for a great listening experience.
I really enjoy her voice, but the tracks for me just weren't that memorable or standout.
This one really surprised me. On paper this is not something I would expect to enjoy. I didn't love it, but it was a solid 3/5.
Totally get it. Solange's got pipes for days, no doubt about that. But yeah, if you're craving that genuine, old-school R&B groove, the last 20 years on the radio can feel like a yawn. The 70s and early 80s R&B? Now that's where the soul was. Forget the cookie-cutter stuff – you want the real deal, and those decades delivered it in spades. You're talking about the masters of the groove, the legends of the vocal, the real architects of the sound.
Helt kiva. Bra vibes, bra message! Lite lång.
Not for me, but not without merit. I like the social justice bend here in the lyrics.
Couple of really good tracks, I like the jazz influence hip hop used to have. Kind of monotone rapping of the lyrics, not much energy. Good album, not great.
Lovely lovely lovely
A now classic conversational album by an artist who certainly deserved a seat, the conversation very neatly expands beyond Solange herself to carry a dialogue about how arts and cultures should be considered across racial divides. 3.5/5
This is an engaging, compelling, and interesting album. I am an almost 60 year old white guy, but this album really worked for me. At times, I didn't feel like I was the intended audience, but at other times, I felt that it was speaking directly to me. Musically, it was very well done. I don't have the vocabulary to explain it all, but its empirical value is evident. Well done.
One of those albums where I hate to rate them low because the artist is competent and clearly put in the effort... But the end result just doesn't speak to me. If I go through the album feeling bored and just wanting it to be over already, well, it clearly isn't for me.
The album has a nice mellow voice and she has a very pleasant voice. There is a bit of a 70s throw back vibe going on. Overall, it’s an ok album.
this was really beautiful
There are several genres on here that I don't enjoy and no really interesting sounds.
10/10 really beautiful stuff here
4.5/5. More than just Beyoncé’s sister, this is seriously the shit.
Using other people’s struggle as a nepotism no problem is certainly a choice.
Meh
Let's just get through this thing and see what it has in store. Seems to be fairly popular based on the streaming numbers. Don't know what to expect, but I'm worried looking at some of the features on here. Quite like the album cover. Rise Feels like a bit of an extended intro. Sounds alright for what it is, though doesn't really do much to qualify it as a fully blown song. Unrated/5 Weary I like the vocal layering. The production is low key and pretty. It's a pleasant song without doing too much that's out of the box. Nothing wrong with it, just not particularly exciting. Fine. 3/5 Interlude: The Glory is in You Short and straight to the point. Cranes in the Sky I like the instrumental quite a bit. Feels succinct enough for the style of song without being too sparse. Pretty chorus, feels like the main event here. There are times where the vocals are a bit much. Interlude: Dad Was Mad The piano is a bit overpowering. Kinda hear what they're saying. Mad (feat. Lil Wayne) It's a cute concept. The RnB sections are pretty solid, though not particularly special. Lil Wayne's verses are fine. Have heard him drop much worse. Feels like it's missing something. Fine. 3/5 Don't You Wait I like the electronic elements of the instrumental. I appreciate that the track takes a bit of time to get going. The verses have a nice structure to them. Weak chorus. Fine. 3/5 Interlude: Tina Thought Me Yeah that makes sense Don't Touch My Hair Has some great feminity to it. I guess it could be empowering to some. I find some of the language in the chorus a bit goofy. I like the harmony in the end section of the song. Fine. 3/5 Interlude: This Moment Fine inclusion I guess Where Do We Go Kinda beautiful. Very pretty chorus. I like how there's a bit more instrumentation to this track. The bassline and the piano work really well in tandem with the layered vocals. Decent. 3.5/5 Interlude: For Us By Us Awkward transition. The spoken word is inspiring enough. F.U.B.U Really like the instrumental. The vulgarity feels a bit awkward in this style. I guess I'm just not used to it. It's a bit sluggish, don' really find it too exciting. I like the features I guess. Average. 2.5/5 Borderline (An Ode to Self Care) (feat. Q-Tip) Sounds a bit busy. I think the very loud and flat sounding electronic drums take up way too much space in the mix. The post chorus melody is really pretty. Disappointed by the feature. Interlude: I Got So Much Magic, You Can Have It. That was quite a nice break. You can hear there's a bit of personality there. Junie Fun and a bit funky. Really like the looser more up tempo track. Feels colourful and pretty. Love the electronic elements. There's a lot of personality in the lyrics. Kinda liked that. Good. 4/5 Interlude: No Limits Nothing to say here Don't Wish Me Well I like the addition of the synths here. There are some really pretty vocal moments on this track. Otherwise it's just solid throughout. Doesn't do anything particularly exciting, but what it does it does really well. Great performance. Decent. 3.5/5 Interlude: Pedestals Decent sentiment I guess. Scales (feat. Kelala) Got nothing from that. Kinda bored me to be honest. I guess it's performed well, but it feels like a bit of a weaker entry. Did not like. 2/5 Closing: The Chosen Ones A bit of an anticlimatic way to end it. I found this to be mostly forgetable to be honest which is a shame. I feel like she is talented as a singer and as a commentator on culture and identity. And that the themes in this albums are pretty solid and consistent. However the songs don't exactly stick out as anything special. It's competent, listenable, safe and pleasant, which makes it sound good on the ear. Sadly this also means that it just sorta blends into the background, meaning you have to really scour through the song afterwards to find the intention behind it. The well intentioned and thematic, but rarely too interestingly produced interludes, slow down the pace of the album quite significantly. This makes the listening experience lack some of the smoothness that the nature of the tracks try to convey. In other words, this album is just fine. There's nothing that sticks out as outright bad, but I wish it took more risks. You could say it's worth listening to just for the layered harmonies and the production quality as those are probably the highlights on here. Shouldn't be outright dismissed, but can't say I'll be returning to this one much. 3/5, though I may just be missing something.
Am I likely to add this to the rotation? No, it’s probably a true 2/5 to me. But I have to reward it for sounding so much more human/less vampiric than anything I’ve heard from her sister. That’s worth something.
Favorite song Bordeline I like the ft lil wayne I love the interludes
Solange has a nice voice. I don't think the rap genre is particularly good for her to highlight it though. It isn't damaging or wasted or anything bad, it is just not so traditional in a way, and they do cover really heavy social justice issues here. I suppose, on balance, this album is OK. Nothing outside her voice really stood out and as I said, the genre under-uses it. I don't often have this feeling, but I have on occasion and will try to point it out when it occurs. Perhaps socially relevant pop is too oversaturated but I think Solange has the voice to thrive in it. Maybe she has? IDK, I only listened to this album, and it is socially important, yet musically mediocre.
Evidently having a very successful big sis gets you…(insert album title) This wasn't horrible but just a little too one note for me. 2.5/5
Does this album deserve a seat at the 1001 table? Not a bad listen, and it’s clear she’s trying to stylistically separate herself from big sis. Still, every song clocking in around the same tempo really helped this one become utterly forgettable.
Really enjoyed this. A great example of an album I definitely would not have heard without running through this list. Cool production throughout, and a refreshing perspective
She sings good. But overall I found this a bit boring. 🥱 And that’s a lot of Interludes. Also, big thanks to lil Wayne for dropping the mother eff bombs while I was listening to this in the car with my kid. But I guess that one is on me. It’s like jumping in a cage with a tiger and not expecting it to bite you. 2.75
Rated this as a 3* when Apple’s top 100 albums came out. I enjoyed it much more this time. Still not sure it deserves the level of praise it receives but it is a solid album. Rounding up. 3.5/5
4 stars for the meaning of the album but it wasn't my favorite sonically. Lil wayne got a feature tho
This album was fine, has a very chill sounding vibe going on, it's just not what I was wanting to hear at this moment.
This was just OK. It had a chill vibe throughout which I mostly enjoyed. As usual, the interludes on albums are a waste of space. I'd listen to this over anything Beyonce every single time.
This album also raised me
Iconic!
Pretty medium, but I do like tambourine man
Another twenty tenner. I would normally complain about the quality of the selections from this decade, but I'm feeling empathetic today. The 2010s really feel like a culturally stagnant decade, which in my eyes extends to the music industry. I can think of numerous albums from the 90s and noughties that are worthy of consideration for this list, yet I can think of very few tenners that I'd throw into the mix. "I See Seaweed" by The Drones was pretty cool. I'm surprised that album isn't on the list. "Purple Mountains" was also good. That's it. That's the list, buddy. One would usually chalk my inability to see the merit in anything up to miserablebitchitis, though I think there's a more sinister hand at play, that being hip-hop usurping rock music as the dominant form of musical expression. The hip-hop revolution and it's consequences have been a disaster for the rockist race. Anyways, the album. This is purely conjecture, though I feel like these "personal exploration" R&B/hip-hop concept albums were dime a dozen throughout the 2010s. "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" is another album I have listened to which scratches this same itch. Granted, that's a 2021 album, though my point still stands. I think Kendrick was responsible for popularising this subgenre of music, particularly with "Good Kid, m.A.A.d City". It's difficult for me to say whether these albums fail to resonate due to lacking substance or because they belong to a genre of music that I don't like, though I'm inclined to believe the former. I don't understand why these albums have infinity interludes on them. They don't bookend any parts of the album or coincide with any themes, which just leads to them feeling like inconsequential wank. My experience of listening to this album was very dull overall, though fortunately the inoffensive kind of dull.
Count me among those that found this album to be musically boring. Solange is a talented vocalist with an important message, but the tempo changes very little if at all throughout the album, the songs bleed into each other for the most part, and the whole thing is just too long. I would probably feel differently if I were not an old white dude, but I just wasn’t drawn in enough by the music for me to hear most of the lyrics. The boredom factor makes this a two star album for me.
Generisk R&B som i bedste tilfælde er kedeligt.. Hun må være på denne liste pga sin søster.
Det var godt nok kedeligt og fyldt med interludes
Not a bad album but nothing for me
It's absolutely good, but it isn't blowing me away like I expected. I see a lot of people calling it one of the best of the decade, and it feels too similar to other contemporary RNB for me to see it at that level. Still, great musings on black excellence and solid performances all around.
It was okay.
No
Meaningful and powerful verbal interludes with background music. The music itself is beautiful, mellow, dreamy. What a great album.
21 songs, just under an hour of soulful oooohing and aaaahing. Wasn’t for me in the slightest. Only time my ears pricked up was with Lil Wayne coming on for a bit and doing his thing. Will almost certainly never listen to this again. Having said that, for its genre and followers of that genre I can imagine this being a big hit.
This is as good as everyone says; however, her first album has some all time hits! TONY??! Come on.
6.5/10. It's quite smooth, but it doesn't seep into my body.
Medio repetitivopero buen sonido
2.5 - Meh
INTERLUUUUUUUDESSSS
Some beautiful, soulful songs on this album. I want it in my collection.
Not a huge solange fan
NO
"A Seat at the Table" is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Solange. Neo soul, funk, R&B and pyschedelic soul are the Wiki-listed genres. OK. It was a project for Solange on identity, independence, grief and healing with songs written with a piano. A variety of collaborators were involved including Lil' Wayne and Q-Tip and 18 people are credited as producers. The album was and is widely acclaimed. Commercially, it reached #1 in the US and #17 in the UK. The album begins with "Rise." Hi-hat drums and soulful vocals. Inspired by by the police killings in Ferguson and Baltimore. "Weary" is a mellow downlow R&B song. Bass, organ and guitar. Very subtle and suitable for the theme of weariness and loneliness. The sole single "Crane in the Sky" was written eight years prior to album. Nice strong, emotional vocals as Solange sings of of alleviating pain with alcohol, music and sex. Lil' Wayne makes a guest appearance in "Mad." Solange is definitely amping up the theme seriousness as this song deals with racism, indignation and anger. Nice layered high-pitched vocals. "Don't Touch My Hair" gets a slow R&B groove going. The song builds. Sampha joins in on backing vocals. A song about the common experiences of black women. Solange goes back to the weariness theme in "Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)." An electronic dance beat, a spiraling synth and smooth R&B. And, Q-Tip makes a guest appearance. This album has , musically, a downlow, soulful, chill and subtle vibe. I don't want to say a minimalist approach to instruments but most songs just have drums, bass, guitar and piano/organ with not really a dominant one. The instruments tend to be in the background and support the vocals. It's interesting since there are 18 different producers, you would think you might get overproduction. Not at all. A lot of songs had spoken-word interludes which essentially spelled out their themes. I thought this worked really well since you didn't have to go searching for their meaning. Sometimes, you do want to search. Mostly soul and R&B with some funk. Overall, a really good and solid album.
Really good album. It was a bit slow and melodic for my personal taste but the overall progression of the album with the interludes was very arresting. I really enjoyed this!
9 interludes?? Really? Apart from the excessive amount of interludes I did enjoy this album for most part. Starts a tad slow but with enough listens you can catch the atmosphere, the nice vibe, and the cohesiveness that it brings. Top 4: Cranes In The Sky, Don't You Wait, Borderline (An Ode To Self-Care), and Junie No bad songs (besides for the interludes that water down the album) 3.55/5
A lot of important messages here that are weaved in nice songs. But it was all the same, nothing went extra hard or slowed down a lot, it was all just kind of there.
This album is fine. Mostly chill grooves. I wasn't annoyed by it but it wasn't especially my cup of tea. I like the bass playing. And I agree, being pro-black doesn't mean you are anti-white.
So boring. Not a single exciting sound happened in its entirety. I’m not sure why this is considered one of the best albums of the 2010’s. Probably because Solange is Beyoncé’s sister. That doesn’t equate to quality music.
I loved all the lyrics and messages in this, especially in the interludes, and she sings beautifully, but there’s something about this slow style of R&B that doesn’t hook me. It got a little boring after awhile.
Quirky and meandering and unpredictable. Mixed feelings 3.2
Did not see this coming. The album was just fun to listen to--had a great sonic quality. Plus Master P on the interludes.
Pretty good. Would have liked to have got to know it more but too many albums to listen to!
Mdern music is rubbish. Gave up after 2nd song.
I was excited to listen to this because I heard Cranes in the Sky before. Unfortunately for me almost all of the interludes were spoken word and there's almost as many interludes as actual songs. She's a good singer. The instrumentation is nice. I'm just not into spoken word.
it was reasonably listenable
Highly creative songwriting and production.
good R&B record flow show but "cranes in the sky" is so good it makes the rest of the album pale in comparison.
This is good.
This cover felt pretty recognisable, I feel like I remember it being a big deal at the time. It's a solid album and if this was the kinda music you're into then I can see it being highly rated. It's not something I'd actively listen to on repeat but it was a good listen
Excellent music
Nette Stimme mit guten aber auch plattitüden Songs. Kein Kopfschmerzmacher aber auch kein Repeater.
I came to this late only a few years ago, but I remember the buzz, and the brilliant Cranes in the Sky without knowing it was her. Far better, and more important and powerful, than any of the Bouncy albums I've heard including the ones in this book, neither of which I enjoyed. Mad, FUBU, Rise, Weary, Junie all great. Just a really great neo-soul record with a timely message. It's really of a piece, often records filled with skits or interludes get annoying but here they simply work, adding to the vibe. Not perfect as there's a couple of lulls, but it's still engaging throughout and is scoring highly for me.
A really good album, I liked Cranes in the sky the most.
oh hell yeah absolutely lovely and raw af. i like the interludes too good ass album
Good album to work to but otherwise I wouldn’t choose to listen to this.
Gotta give it a 2 because though I didn't hate it, I didn't really like it. Quite uninteresting in terms of instrumentation (whether that's the fault of the genre or artist I'm not sure as this isn't a style that I really like). Also pretty repetitive overall Don't Touch My Hair was my favorite track (pretty good arrangement, repetitive but they used the to build and so it worked okay) and it had a nice lead in to the interlude after it. F.U.B.U had some interesting instrumentation (about the 3 min mark with some horns and off beats. Honestly, the Interludes were to me the most interesting points of the album. Some good arrangements and solid messages.
The modern beyoncé sound. I am not a fan but I can recognize why some people would like it
Me gustó, no soy tan fan pero me parece un disco muy superior a los de su hermana. Padre álbum, pero dudo escucharlo de nuevo.
Don’t You Wait to listen to this album. It will make you Rise up and move!
I reacted to this better than I would react to her sister, but altogether it’s just not my jam
All songs look the same. The interludes are a piece of shit.
As musicas sao gostosas, apesar de serem bem one-note, mas pqp, os interludes DESTROEM esse disco!!! Cara, dez minutos de interlude, é necessário mesmo? "Ah, mas eles que solidificam o posicionamento da Solange sobre coisa x e y". Fodase mano. Escreve seu posicionamento no encarte do album, poe nas liner notes, sei la. Dez minutos cara. Se fosse um album coeso com umas ~12 faixas ele seria muito bom, facilmente 4/5 ou até 5/5. A voz dela é bem gostosinha, e os instrumentais são bem feitos. Mas o album inteiro parece que fica sempre na mesmisse. Falta variedade, tanto sonica quanto lirica. É bem background music mesmo, Riachuelo-Core. Playlist-Filler. Mas inofensivo! Curti as musicas, de verdade. Mas a experiencia de ouvir esse album é simplesmente frustrante. Entre os DEZ MINUTOS de interlude e a mesmisse e monotonia musical... E a ultima coisa que quero sentir ao ouvir musica é frustração. 1/5
## In-Depth Review of *A Seat at the Table* by Solange Solange's *A Seat at the Table* is a masterful exploration of identity, empowerment, and the Black experience. Released on September 30, 2016, this third studio album marked a significant departure from her earlier works, offering a deeply personal and political narrative. Below is an analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrical content of *A Seat at the Table* is one of its defining features. Solange crafts a narrative that oscillates between personal introspection and broader commentary on systemic racism and cultural identity. Tracks like "Cranes in the Sky" delve into emotional escapism and grief, while "Don't Touch My Hair" addresses the fetishization and disrespect of Black hair as a symbol of identity and autonomy[1][2]. The interludes scattered throughout the album add depth to its storytelling. For example: - **"Tina Taught Me"** features Solange’s mother reflecting on Black pride and its misinterpretation as anti-white sentiment. - **"Dad Was Mad"** recounts her father’s experiences with racism, adding generational context to her themes. Songs such as "F.U.B.U." (For Us By Us) make bold statements about Black solidarity: “This shit is for us / Don’t try to come for us.” These lyrics reclaim space for Black people while unapologetically addressing exclusionary practices[2][3]. --- ### **Music** Musically, *A Seat at the Table* blends genres such as R&B, neo-soul, funk, and jazz. The arrangements are minimalistic yet intricate, creating an ethereal atmosphere that complements Solange's soft vocal delivery. Tracks like "Rise" and "Weary" feature meditative melodies that underscore themes of resilience and weariness[3]. Highlights include: - **"Cranes in the Sky"**: A standout track with lush strings and subtle percussion that perfectly convey emotional vulnerability. - **"Mad"**: Featuring Lil Wayne, this track juxtaposes frustration with systemic oppression against a soothing instrumental backdrop. - **"Junie"**: A funk-infused track featuring André 3000 that critiques cultural appropriation while maintaining an upbeat groove. The album's production leans heavily on live instrumentation, with warm basslines, airy harmonies, and layered textures that evoke both intimacy and grandeur[2][3]. --- ### **Production** The production on *A Seat at the Table* is meticulously crafted. Solange served as the executive producer alongside Raphael Saadiq. The album’s soundscape is cohesive yet dynamic, balancing stripped-down arrangements with moments of lush complexity. Key production elements: - The use of interludes provides narrative continuity while giving space for reflection. - Tracks like "Don't Wish Me Well" incorporate electronic elements without disrupting the organic feel of the album. - The mixing ensures that Solange’s vocals remain front and center, enhancing the emotional impact of her lyrics[3][4]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *A Seat at the Table* centers on Black identity, resilience, healing, and empowerment. Solange invites listeners to confront uncomfortable truths about race and inequality while celebrating Black culture. Recurring themes include: 1. **Empowerment**: Songs like "Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)" emphasize self-preservation in a world that often devalues Black lives. 2. **Grief and Healing**: Tracks such as "Cranes in the Sky" explore coping mechanisms for emotional pain. 3. **Cultural Pride**: "F.U.B.U." and "Don't Touch My Hair" assert ownership over Black identity and reject external validation[2][3]. The interludes provide additional context by weaving personal anecdotes with broader social commentary. This approach creates a multi-dimensional narrative that resonates universally while remaining rooted in Solange’s lived experience. --- ### **Influence** *A Seat at the Table* has had a profound impact on contemporary music and culture: - It solidified Solange’s position as an artist distinct from her sister Beyoncé, showcasing her ability to merge art with activism. - The album inspired discussions about representation in music and highlighted the importance of creating spaces for marginalized voices. - Its influence can be seen in subsequent works by artists who blend personal storytelling with socio-political commentary[1][2]. Critics have compared its cultural significance to Lauryn Hill's *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill*, noting its ability to articulate complex emotions while addressing systemic issues[3]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Lyrical Depth**: The album’s lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking, offering both personal insight and social critique. 2. **Cohesive Production**: The seamless blending of genres creates a unique soundscape that enhances the album’s themes. 3. **Cultural Relevance**: Solange addresses issues such as racism, cultural appropriation, and self-care with authenticity and nuance. 4. **Emotional Resonance**: Tracks like "Cranes in the Sky" evoke universal feelings of pain and healing. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Vocal Delivery**: While Solange's voice suits the album's tone, some listeners may find her breathy vocal style less dynamic compared to other powerhouse singers[2]. 2. **Pacing Issues**: The interludes, though meaningful, may disrupt the flow for listeners seeking a more traditional album structure[3]. 3. **Accessibility**: The album’s themes may feel too specific or exclusionary for some audiences unfamiliar with its cultural context[4]. --- ### Conclusion *A Seat at the Table* is a landmark album that balances artistry with activism. Its introspective lyrics, innovative production, and thematic depth make it a compelling listen that resonates both personally and politically. While it may not cater to every listener's preferences in terms of vocal style or pacing, its cultural significance and emotional impact are undeniable. This is an album that demands attention—not just for its musicality but for its message. It invites listeners to reflect on their place in society while celebrating resilience in the face of adversity.
A Seat at the Table by Solange is brilliantly written. Each track tells a story and flows on to the next. It’s smooth, soul with a real voice behind it. It’s one to put on when you’re wanting empowerment. Notable tracks: all of them.