Reviews (page 5 of 8)
There's some important messaging here, the production is good, and Solange has a decent voice. None of the songs really grabbed me though, and after a while it all blurs together. I was initially excited to see Q-Tip credited, but he doesn't even rap which is bizarre to me. He's only there for backing vocals, and if you weren't paying attention you wouldn't know it's him. Overall it's fine, but nothing I'd keep in rotation.
She has a decent voice, but I just didn’t find any of this interesting. And while I kind of understand what she was going for, I find any album that has to have some spoken part between every song irritating. I want to listen to music. Besides, isn’t music meant to be a vehicle to express one’s thoughts, beliefs, and feelings? If you need some guy to explain it, maybe you need to write better, more expressive songs.
Pretty dull.
This is a tough one. It sounds really nice but is not really for me. I just kept wanting something to happen. The best part was when lil Wayne came on for a sec and broke up the trance. Still, a beautiful voice am I could see it being good in the background. Heavy 3.
I appreciate the message this album delivers. Political and supportive soul/R&B but for me the interludes detract from her vocals. Overall I think this record is fine, but I honestly don't see why it is in Apple's list of the top 100 albums.
Simply masterful. On this album Solange tells a tragic but inspiring story of race in America. Clearly for and by black people (as F.U.B.U makes obvious) this is an album that many white Americans could benefit from hearing. It's powerful thematically but also gorgeous sonically (the piano in particular) and shows us what can be accomplished by just letting a song breathe and focusing on the spaces between the notes. The mini speeches in between tracks also set the songs up nicely. Wow. I'm also curious how she got Wayne to record such a serious verse.
Struggling to have an opinion. It’s light chart style R&B. Competent but in no danger of breaking new ground. Pleasant enough with light tones and subtle pop melodies. But every time i pressed play it fell naturally into the realm of (the dreaded) Background Music.
Simply not for me :)
R&B isn't my genre
Kannte bisher nur Cranes in the Sky, sehr gutes Lied, war gespannt auf den Rest. Wurde nicht enttäuscht, selbst die Interludes nervten nicht ganz so sehr.
Nothing memorable.
Save us Solange save us
Dogshit
First time listening to this, and really enjoyed. Feels cohesive as an album, good sound, and well produced. Nice.
Beautiful and gentle. Seducing us into her love and people. Sometimes a little dull, and rarely compelling. But if I give it more of a chance, I'm pretty sure I will be hooked. 4/5
Its way softer and melodic than I thought it would be considering some of the featured artists. I think I was in the right headspace for this when I heard it too, it sits in a weird spot for me, I cant see myself listening to it again, but it was still enjoyable. She's definitely got a great voice, very poetic.
If this were a Roald Dahl book it would be called “Solange Makes a Statement”
Beautiful vocals and Cranes in the Sky is getting added to my playlists. 3.6.
I think the vocals and musical style was interesting but nothing unique. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
Started off strong then coming to the half way mark to the end it all kind of blurred together. I found myself wanting more and to be brought to a new level. I did like the interludes and how it acted as a prelude to the next song while speaking on black culture and the perspectives on the black experience. I can tell that a lot of thought was put into the formation of this album.
Fine, but my oh my it felt longer than it actually was
A bit meandering and too long, but I like it.
It's put together fine but i sort of fail to see what is particularly special about this 3*
did not listen
I don't necessarily take a lot of notice of lyrics on my first listen to albums, but I suspect in this case it's rather important. To that end, I felt more of an observer than a consumer through it, which isn't normally a vibe I get - normally if I don't gel with something it's more that it's not my bag, or I just think it's reductive or generic. In this case I feel more like I haven't done the work to pass judgement on it, because the social commentary is so essential to understanding it. Certainly as a piece of straight up music - it's pretty narrow in sound and not dynamically far reaching: but likewise it's easy to consume all of it in one hit. She's kept her voice well in control and used it pointedly; in fact the whole thing feels quite controlled and within limits; again - that sense that this is a pointed piece of communication, rather than a wave of expression. I'm not sure I'll go back to uncover its depths, but I can appreciate this is at least a well-made, very much by-design piece.
Eclectic mix of samples and music. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Solid R&B album with some really beautiful lyricism.
Cool and fun
Not terrible but just not my kind of music
Not bad. I haven't ever listened to Solange before, but I enjoyed this album.
Liked this one, although I don't really have the framework to fully grok it. I will come back to this one and try to take it in further. 3.75/5
Good voice, good singing, but I don't like this. It's pretty, but I can't hear the words. And that's OK, it's not meant for me anyways. I can admire the skill without connecting with it.
I don't know. I wasn't too into it but it wasn't BAD.
Not my style
I liked this more than I thought I would.
Respectfully - no thank you. There are like 30 songs on this album
i was having a SAT test today in Hong Kong. and after the test i went out to by records for the rest of the day. and i finally can listen it before bedtime. so i can say, soul is the ultimate go-to hypnotize genre. and her sister is better. Thank you, Beyoncé. 3/5.
this is a near perfect album for me. this album helped usher in a resurgence in r&b, which is doing so well now. solange has industry giants like lil wayne and q-tip on here, but i also love seeing a baby sampha. so many of the songs have beautiful melodies, are catchy in syrupy slow way, and have both introspective and social commentary. "cranes in the sky" is such a great calming anthem and escape for an anxious person trying to figure out their independence and identity out.
I don't like the actual music but the interludes are dope so I'll throw it a 3.5 rounded down
Well put-together album with good use of interludes. Feel like I'd have to listen a bunch more to really *get it*, but in principle, I like this a lot. A little mellower than my standard stuff, but maybe has a place in my listening. 3.5, rounded up.
This has been on my to listen to list for about a decade, because of the critical praise it received when it was released. I can see why it got the praise it did when it was released, as it is sonically beautiful. But I also think it was an album of its time, and the time when it was relevant may have passed.
ok queen. but actually there's a lot going on here that I find to be just quite rich. within the context of when it came out, the sheer honesty of it while remaining soft was quite revolutionary. it's an interesting companion to lemonade, and maybe a foil. musically, slightly less giving/generative, but lyrically and conceptually incredibly radical in its vulnerability. miseducation kept coming up in my head as I was listening to it. only downgrading a star because the musical motifs were slightly too repetitive
That's not my taste in music - But ok
Chill but oh so forgettable
Really like this album. Its cohesive and works through important topics. Great R&B and Neo-Soul adventure for a shiny Wednesday morning. Haven't listened to it for years and gotta say it aged better to my ear since release.
I didn't mind this, it was refreshing and powerful in an understated way.
I'm really digging the electronic elements sprinkled in. I'm really digging the chill vibe of this one. The piano stands out in it as well. My beef with this album is I think it's a bit too long. If you shaved off a few songs, it would be perfect. I was starting to get a little bored by the end of the album.
This was super cool! I really love R&B that is less pop based and more rooted in true R&B, soul, jazz, and psych with the foundation of good songwriting. This record nailed it with all of those elements. Killer songwriting, good beats and bass lines. It has really cool blues and jazz elements throughout, and then really picks up with neo-soul and modern elements. I really loved this.
Well I managed to make it half way through the album...... and that's about the best thing I can say about it. Overproduced. No discernable talent displayed. Generic genre fluff. I would go as far as to say a cynical release based on the fact that they know people will buy it/listen because of who her sister is. Awful.....and most definitely NOT an example of how wonderful, varied, brave, and challenging music can be. To summarise, in case i was too polite: I didn't like it.
Great, powerful, vibrant album. Full of simultaneous rage and empowerment and contemplation. Don't Wish Me Well is an all timer.
All due respect to Solange, Beyonce's younger sister, but I wasn't really feeling this album. Cranes In The Sky was solid and the track with the Lil Wayne featured I liked, but most of the other tracks sounded too similar and slow. I know I said in a previous review that I like albums that have skits/interludes that enhance the album or help tell a story. I think here they really bog down the album, especially since there is one between almost every song. All in all, I think I'm giving this 2.5 stars and I'll just bump it to a 3 because this was a pretty mid R&B album.
Haven't listened to this one since it first came out, but I remember enjoying it -- particularly Cranes in the Sky. I don't have a ton to say specifically on this one, other than I really liked the atmosphere and the way it flowed from end to end with the various interludes with Master P speaking to his experiences coming up that were built upon by surrounding songs. Solange pulls in some solid support here. Sampha is a natural fit on album standout Don't Touch My Hair; Q-Tip gives subtle support and production credits on Borderline that has skittering keys that feel as though they were lifted directly from To Pimp a Butterfly; and she somehow managed to fit a Lil' Wayne verse in without it feeling the least bit out of place. Wayne is uncharacteristically cogent and reflective delivering a verse well past his prime. This is a pretty album, and while I enjoyed the ride, I don't expect to be back quickly. Stands at a low 4 for me.
Good voice and good production. Some lovely R&B through and through. High 3 territory on this one. Not my personal fave, but I respect it.
Just some straight up great singing and easy flowing songs. The Interludes weren't too much either which is nice because sometimes they can be a bit long winded. Was not expecting a Lil Wayne sighting in this but I am always down for that.
Another meh R&B album, although this one had some pretty solid highs to it. Really enjoyed FUBU, Don't Touch My Hair, Mad, and Cranes in the Sky. The rest kinda fell by the wayside but I did enjoy some of the beats. High 3.
Great album. Lots of different moods, great songs, superb production.
Relly quite good.
Ganz Ok aber nit viel hängengeblieben
Nice album and very unique to me.
Wat buiten mijn comfortzone, maar best wel een degelijk album! Niet echt om actief naar te luisteren, maar op een zondagochtend op te leggen. 3.4
She would be absolutely a nobody without her sister, and I don’t think “queen B” is all that great, either.
Great title I liked this album when it came out - this is Beyoncé’s kid sis and boy is she different than Ms B - not sure yet why she’s on the list but she’s got sthg to say and this album has a msg. Cranes in the sky my fave
I like the smooth vibe, spoken word, her voice, the slow, purposeful beat, and the message. I can see how she went the opposite of her sister... not speaking to the masses.
I respect this but it never really moved me - except for carne's in the sky. Definitely a talent but...
Nothing stood out to me that would make this a great album. Quickly became elevator music.
76% Best: Cranes in the Sky; F.U.B.U.; Borderline (An Ode to Self Care); Junie Must-Hear? Not quite
Better songs and more interesting that I was expecting
Cool
Waar haar zus Beyoncé het gooit op spetterende popmuziek, blijft Solange vooral in het neo-soul straatje. Je hoort wel veel gelijkenissen in stemgeluid, maar de manier waarop en context waarin die stem gebruikt is wel heel anders. Ik heb toevallig net een docu gezien over de Soulquarians, de clique wonderlijke artiesten die toonaangevend waren in de retroficatie én modernisering van het soul-genre, eind jaren 90. En als je kijkt naar een aantal van de producties die daar uit geboren werden, dan hoor je dat veel hedendaagse R&B voortborduurt op de organische sound van de Soulquarians. Ik moest er in ieder geval direct aan denken, en de invloeden werden bevestigd toen ik zag dat namen als Raphael Saadiq en Q-Tip zich bemoeiden met de productie van ''A Seat at the Table''. Het heeft hierendaar dezelfde ietwat ongepolijste en bovenal natuurlijk klinkende instrumentatie, dat niet zoals veel reguliere R&B acts binnen de lijntjes blijft. Het is lang niet zo 'puur' en soulful als het betere werk van een D'Angelo, Erykah Badu of J Dilla, maar ik heb me zeker vermaakt. Ze raakt een hoop verschillende elementen aan binnen het soul/funk/r&B spectrum. Dit is absoluut een album dat ik op de neo-soul stapel ga gooien. 7,5/10 Highlights: Where Do We Go F.U.B.U. Don't Wish Me Well
Mooi neo-soul plaat. Een gave stem en de beats blijven heel bescheiden. Blijft op a Seat at the Table echt bij haar kracht en laat zich niet verleiden om toch een pop-hitje te scoren vanuit die soul-aanpak. Gelukkig maar, album is daardoor mooi in evenwicht. Wordt door de gastbijdrages af en toe versterkt, omdat je door het horen van een andere stem toch wel even op scherp gezet wordt. Album liep automatisch door in de True EP met een meer eclictische en indie-fused sound en dat vond ik eigenlijk ook wel erg vet. Jammer dat ze daar niet meer van heeft uitgebracht. 7,5/10 Highlights Cranes in the Sky Mad (ft. Lil Wayne) Don't Touch My Hair (ft. Sampha)
i feel wholly unqualified to talk about the themes and meanings of this album, but i can evaluate three things about it: 1) this thing sounds immaculate. perfect sound to the whole thing, from the drums and the vocal layers to all the little touches on piano and synth and bass. 2) it feels like the right length -- short enough to feel concise but just long enough to feel like it's elaborating on a theme, with the interludes actually making a point about race and advantage in between the songs to give them more context. 3) the whole thing feels human. it's hard to explain how achingly sad it is to hear "Cranes in the Sky" in any context -- if you're gonna listen to one song from this thing after 2016, it would probably be this. it's impactful, it's important, and someone smarter than me would do a better job explaining and adding context to the themes than my white hipster ass. no words.
She sucls worse than beyonce. Glad she is not being pushed to the pop culture amymore.
Glad I finally listened to this album
I think this could have been trimmed in some way to bump to a 4, not overly long just some stuff wasn't as good as the rest
Нежно. Методично. Нравятся.
Much more downbeat and minimal than I expected. There's an intimate feeling to the production and it sounds fresh and world-music inspired at times. Beautiful voice too. Cranes in the Sky starts with a breakbeat and meanders along, synths and bass adding to the layered sound. Then on Mad, a duet with Lil Wayne, the beat is even more deconstructed but the effect is surprisingly pretty. Later, I like Borderline with an old school sounding piano, and Don't Wish Me Well has a cool repetitive synth melody - maybe my favourite track on the album.
A consistent record that reaches its peak early with the fantastic 'Cranes In The Sky', and levels out after without feeling it plateaus. The interludes between most tracks are hit and miss, and ultimately doesn't really add anything to the experience. Nothing absolutely extraordinary, but certainly not bad. Best Tracks: - Cranes In The Sky - Borderline (An Ode To Self Care) Worst Tracks: - Mad Rating: 6/10
The Blacker The Berry al da je dosadan rnb album. Dodaj oskudni lyrics i refren koji ces otpjevat na 10 razlicitih nacina kroz pjesmu, genericni klavir i malo promijeni beat i dobit ces svaku pjesmu na ovom albumu. Najzanimljiviji dio ovog albuma je bio interlude. Produkcija je okej i guess. Fav tracks: Junie 2/10 = 1+
I’m going to tell my kids that this Beyonce’s sister…. wait she is Beyonce’s sister?! Feels a bit nepo babyish, are you a nepo baby if you use a siblings fame? Sipo baby? Sibo baby? Anyway, the messages in the album are great messages that have been repeated a thousand times by the time this album came out actually making it less impactful as it feels like a cash grab of cultural reference. The actual songs aren’t doing it any favors either. She has a fine voice but she also only has one type of singing throughout the 21 tracks. You could pick two random songs skip half way through each then combine them and you would probably think its the same song. Very very ok overall. 4/10
I feel like I need to actually sit down and listen to it again because I was pretty distracted this time. Regardless, it wasn't bad and I felt myself bopping along a few times.
Smooth R&B with some occasional and pointless hiphop interjections. I played it several times and don't remember any of it. Only woke up when Spotify played some Sade - at which point the increase in quality was too obvious to ignore.
Truthfully this was one of the first albums. I really paid attention to the lyrics and I understand why this is on this list because if it’s influence, however, I wasn’t absolutely obsessed with the actual music part and that is completely preferential.
Textural without going (too?) overboard in production - like the songs actually breathe. I suppose the easy thing is to make the sister comparison and I'll bite - this is much more listenable and sincere-sounding than Beyonce. One of the most-positive aspects for me - which I've just found a few ppl criticized - is that her voice is *not* mixed way up high like so much modern pop. Can we please make that a trend? Negatives: it's too long for what it is - not enough variety, which might seem contradictory since what I like about it is that it is chill. Probably could have chopped this at about 40 minutes and it'd be perfect. Easily my least-favourite aspect as always: the features. Just always takes me out of the moment, out of the trance. The interludes tho are actually ok here - powerful messages and might be the first time I was kind of into this concept. Being not much of a neo soul fan (often too much processing/sterile studio manufacturing) surprisingly I didn't mind this - there's nothing that ever jumps out and grabs me so it wouldn't be a favourite but maybe that's part of the reason - the music is nice enough to have as background music. I'll skip Lil' Wayne's rasp every time tho. 6/10 3 stars.
gotta contact the owner of this site and let them know they fucked up by not putting the FUNK tag on this sucker
I'll sit at a different table, thanks
No one would give a shit if she wasn't Beyonce's sister
Super interesting songwriting and good performances.
this was fine. production was good and she has a good voice. the songs all sound pretty similar and the slow nature of them makes them feel like they are dragging on even though most are not that long.
Jeg har aldrig hørt albummet, kun enkelte numre. Enkeltvis er de vildt gode! Men når man hører dem samlet har de godt nok allesammen samme tempo og samme følelse. Det bliver ret monotont. Og ALT for mange interludes, meget irriterende
En af mine mest cancellable opinions er at de 1.000 interludes tager en del fra pladens flow og føles lidt som at læse Huffington Posts twitter feed cirka 2016. Får pladen til at føles meget længere end den er. Sangene lyder til gengæld pisse godt, vildt godt produktion og hun er en ekstremt god sanger.
Waaaaay too many interludes.. I get the message.. I don't care much for this kind of vocals.
I'm sure there are those who enjoy this. I am not among you. Just not my vibe. I liked the bassline in the second song, but the rest of the composition took away from that one quality. Then the rest of the album was more difficult to sit through.
Solange has a lovely voice and the songs are a fine listen, with deep messaging. But it's a bit dull musically.
This album was self-absorbed shit. “Oh, it’s original”. Bullshit. It’s just shit. Solange can do so much better.
Musically uninspiring and thematically it's been done better by others.
Rhythm may be a dancer but not on this tiresome offering. It so slow and samey. The seat is ideal for this, clap to the left, clap to the right, so suited to a morning tv show exercise routine. It is well produced.
nýsál, með tölvutöktum. leiðarstefið er réttindabarátta svartra í bandaríkjum norður ameríka sem fólk fékk mjög tímabundið áhuga á fyrir tæpum áratug. krúsídúllusöngur skemmir aðeins en áheyrilegt og á skilið meira. 3,5.
She had a nice singing voice, but the songwriting and instrumentation wasn’t anything special. Seems likely this one benefited from family connections
Not good
I know that there’s a human in there somewhere—what with drum machines and auto tune. I would be curious to know how she would do with a trio or quartet—old school-her and a microphone. The interlude with Tina Turner was “spot on” though.
I enjoyed the production on this one - I'm sure it would be fantastic on a pair of good headphones. A little out of my wheelhouse, but I will say this is the first time I've ever enjoyed a Lil' Wayne verse.
was very happy to see this on this list. i love this album. cranes in the sky and weary are highlights for me
This is pretty far up my list...maybe top 10?
Cranes in the Sky is such a good song. This album is really cool. I love the slow vibes and message of the album. I especially liked her inclusion of the Interludes and the colabs.
i think some of these beats are lovely and funky and what it is trying to express is incredibly important but also it is just a smidge boring and slow
Very R&B, which is usually not really my thing, but some interesting polyphony gave it some extra appeal. Just like most R&B, it would be suitable as background music in almost any situation, but if I have some attention to spare I think I would prefer a different album.
I’m not sure I’m in the right mood for this. There are elements I like. But nothing is grabbing me. I don’t know if it’s me, and just my state of mind, but this really feels repetitive. A lot like the album yesterday. Maybe I’ve reached the age where new music all sounds the same to me?😂
Bueno
Not really my style but super chill music I'd like to explore more
finally trying out solange! i liked this but didn't love it, and i thought the beginning was stronger than the second half. i'm baffled by the 1-star reviews, though - at worst, this is inoffensively chill r&b. i like solange's more delicate voice compared to beyonce's belting. but not a lot of standout faves from here. easy to listen to, though.
sigh... i really tried with this one. listened to it twice all the way through but it just did not work for me. it's just so slow and uneventful. none of the songs are terribly interesting or gripping, it's just soft pop and r&b made to be played in the background of really hip hair salons. it's a shame because i liked the message of the album, but the delivery was a real nothingburger. favorites: cranes in the sky, mad
2 Stars (5/15)
Solid rnb album with a polticial touch here and there.
Dreamy and pointed. Really liked it. Nice way to kick off a lonely morning (in a good way).
Kudos to Solange for not trying to follow in her very famous sister’s footsteps and forging her own path here It’s generally very reserved, and I like the interludes with other artists. It discusses black culture, feelings, and struggle, but not in an overbearing way (which some would argue is a weakness of the album) but probably makes sense logistically to appeal to a larger audience. Its an album which is pretty good, tho not really my speed and maybe not really intended for me as the audience? I’m not sure. Favorite - Cranes in the Sky
On a slightly jaded new-years-day morning, I found this to strike a perfect mood.
Some may know Solange as Beyonce's younger sister. She certainly shows her musical and lyrical chops here, in what was her first studio album after eight years at this point. Touching on her identity and self-empowerment as a black woman, Solange uses her platform as an artist to get personal here and send a message to the listeners. That's also driven home by the many interludes featured throughout. It borders on the line of being a little too preachy at some points, but I wasn't burned out or anything at the end of the day. The neo soul, R&B, and funk aspects make this a fairly easy and low energy listen. Plus, some familiar names such as Lil Wayne, Q-Tip, and The Dream (among others) lent a hand. I truly don't know if Solange did anything noteworthy after this release (looks like she released one follow up album a few years later to similar acclaim, perhaps worth checking out), but she certainly stepped out of her older sister's shadow here if anything. You hear the emotion delivered the various messages throughout, but it wasn't consistent enough I felt. Only a few tracks really grabbed me. Best tracks: Cranes in the Sky, Don't Touch My Hair
Mediocre at best. Uninspired beats. Bland lyrics. Mind-numbingly banal melodies. This sounds like someone's middle school amateur attempt at music. Don't bother.
Reluctantly giving this album a '2' for it's important social critiques. I imagine this is a powerful and important album for some but does nothing for me musically.
This was really really not my thing tbh
Correcto
1. rize - 1.5 2. uueary - 1 3. glory - 0 4. cranez - 1.5 5. dad - 0 6. mad - 1 7. uuait - 1 8. taught - 0 9. hair - 1 10. moment - 0 11. go - 1.5 12. uz - 0 13. fubu - 1 14. borderline - 1 15. magic - 0 16. junie - 1 17. limitz - 0 18. uuizh - 1.5 19. pedeztalz - 0 20. zcalez - 1 21. clozing - 0
Elevated R&B, interesting but not my jam
groovy
what more can be said?
I don't see why I needed to hear this before I die. Got bored after the second song.
An album that says a lot but doesn’t say it in a memorable or interesting way. So why bother with it.
Thoughts before listening: Beyonce's sister. I know she made some critically loved albums that didn't become hits like her sister's albums. I think I tried listening a few times and didn't really get the hype. Review: This is definitely more of a jazzy r&b sound than her sister's over the top bangers. It's a little boring to me although there are some good songs like "Cranes in the Sky". 3 stars
Very very bland. The uncooked tofu of music.
Okbfor background at a dinner party
That was really cool. I'm mostly uninitiated into the Destiny's Child Extended Universe, so this was pretty new and I dig it. Album Cover (A-) Reminds me of Kehinde Wiley
Not usually a huge R&B guy but this album was great. I had to pause a couple times because goddamn Brock kept calling me which disjointed it a bit but it really fit together nicely.
This was a good album. It's not my first choice of genre, but I liked most of the songs and the features. It ran a little long and got a little stale by the end but it was generally great. The album was very focused on race issues. I wasn't listening actively to every song, but the lyrics were clearly thoughtful and showed her strong stances and experiences. 8/10 8/10
Low key minimalist modern R&B. I didn’t hate it.
Lovely voice from a talented family.
Not my kind of music but very well written and produced. Good sound. Great interludes!!
Was surprised by how much I liked this album as it’s not in my typical wheelhouse. Very great
This is one of those albums that I've always avoided because it's really popular with ##white women##, in the same realm as Frank Ocean. I regret that decision now. Artsy new age R&B isn't /usually/ my thing, but my goodness this album was an incredible listen from start to finish. I had to give it a couple of listens to really dial in what I thought of it. Mad is really where this album sets off for me. I'm pretty sure that's her most popular song, and I can see why. Mad rocks. It's not often that Lil Wayne actually contributes positively to a song, but he really adds some freshness to the song. This album is phenomenally well produced, which is really what carries Solange. It would be a more mediocre album with just her voice alone, which isn't /breathtaking/. Songs like Borderline really showcase that. A lot of the production here reminds me slightly of Tyler, The Creator - but you can just tell she's worked with an all start cast of producers to get this album going. Seriously, this album is so well produced I reckon they could have thrown any other singer with no talent on here and it would have still held up solid. Great album, enjoyed every listen.
I have listened to some samey sounding albums in this list so far but holy shit there were genuinely tracks in this that I thought were one in the same until I checked my phone and saw the progress bar of whatever I was listening to. The repetitiveness is really what kills this for me. it's completely competent otherwise with some well produced instrumentals in the back, which probably provided any variety this album had going for it
Scientists discover long hidden genetic ancestor of modern specimen “music for insufferable white women”
Alright, it's just a shame that once this album ended the songs that played by her from different albums were immediately better. Definitely prefer her tracks like losing you and stay flo or songs in the same realm but by different artists like Her light by cleo soul or Blood and Marrow by Hiatus Kaiyote more than anything off this album. A great artist, phenomenal even, just not her best stuff imo Album is super backloaded too, and I think she knows this by the way it's structured with those song by song interludes at the very back. 6/10 Fav tracks - Junie, Don't Wish Me Well, Scales
Unfortunately Solange's best performance, a live set in an elevator on 12 May 2014 featuring her brother-in-law Jay Z, was not what I had to review today. Competent vocals, competent production, competent instrumentals, etc. etc. This is a paint-by-numbers album that only exists because of nepotism. The album is repetitive, the interludes are whatever. Some of the instrumental parts here caught my ear but only for a fleeting moment. It's not a bad album, it's just boring. 1001 albums you must listen to cure your insomnia
Not my usual cup of tea but it was alright.
So beautiful! I only knew Cranes in the Sky, but this is great from front to back. Go, Solange!
Good album. No doubt it’s a complete album. A body of art however it’s not quite my bag so I didn’t get the enjoyment as I’d like from it.
4/5
Actually better than I expected for 'Beyoncé's' sister, but not something I'd dig out again.
1.5 she has a great voice but most the songs just ain’t good
Interesting. Lovely layers and textures, nice arrangements and instruments but nothing stands out as super catchy or brilliant. nice but not sure why it's considered 'essential listening'.
I was vibing with this for a little bit... but it's just so one note and my opinion on it dropped dramatically as it went further on. I was begging for it to be over by the end. A real shame.
The songs don't stick out from one another, so they lack personality to differentiate from one another. The only thing that made itself known was how annoying the interludes were. They came off as self important pretension. Please, you grew up with money. Your Dad was a very successful Xerox sales executive. You went to private school. Yes, life is an exhausting challenge for people of all ethnicities and backgrounds, not just yours. No one is saying don't have pride in yourself. What I think people are trying to say is that it is childish to need everyone to publicly celebrate you, in order for you to feel okay about yourself. Your problem is an internal one that only you can fix, not an external one that was imposed upon you in the 21st Century. Let go of the past. Back to the music. When a lovely instrumental arrangement and performance is a bit more interesting, as in the case of "Don't You Wait", the song is let down by a vocal performance that never feels like it is ever fully unleashed, or unlocked. The songs should be driven by the vocal melody, but they never feel like they are. Perhaps some of that could have been ameliorated by just giving the vocals a bit more heat in the mix. Also perhaps it would have helped if a vocal melody began a track and the instrumental joined, rather than in reverse, which seems to be the case most of the time on A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I also think the album would have been helped by a bit more differentiation in the tempo from track to track. Everything tends come off as a bit of a ballad or fugue. It gets 2 stars for competent instrumental production and engineering.
I had this on in the car but not sure what to make. It was really pleasant background, slow and meandering. I wasn't listening too hard for lyrics. Saying all that it did feel a bit thin on reflection. Need a second listen
I initially thought this was on here by contrarian type voting it to say they prefer this lesser celebrated Knowles sister, but it was pretty interesting in itself. One I would relisten to sans all the interludes. Like she knew Beyoncé was nailing the main stream so she could just make whatever she wanted without pressure.
Lyrically interesting but musically a bit wandered in places. Not sure I like this sparse style too much
This album is great. Solange slapping the shit out of Jay-Z in that elevator is even better.
This was a sad one and fit the mood of the day. I probably gave it a hole star for that...that's not true. It deserves them all
Wtf is this and why is it so good. There's elements of funk here, 80s disco, I wouldn't even be surprised if you told me Autechre did the tunes behind some of the last couple of tracks - surely Junie is sampling then. I'm all for black empowerment music if the message is right, Tina Taught Me is a great inclusion, a great message. Great vocals, great production , great segway/interludes, only thing stopping it from reaching 5* is a few weaker tracks, eg the lil Wayne track. Unnecessary cameo
My last album was Beyoncé which I thought was boring but saved by Beyoncé's talent. This one is just as boring but without the talent. (Note: I didn't realize this was her sister until after I wrote the above)
Hey guys, Tina Knowles second child wants you to know she’s had it rough. I dog the message, but it’s a little too heavy-handed to the point that it’s tone deaf. Kendrick does this space well and Sola he should stick to her silver-spooned lane. 3/5
Solange’s musical style is not one that resonates with me much. But I am impressed with the seriousness of intent behind this album. Instead of just vacuous pop she has created a piece of work that uplifts, educates, proclaims pride in herself and her community. Well-done.
very chill, quite enjoyed it
I thought this album was good. I'm not sure how often I will return to it, but there are some really good songs here. She is a really talented singer and the rhythm parts were fun! I did think having an interlude between practically every song was a bit much. Liked songs: "Cranes in the Sky" , "Mad" , "Where Do We Go" , "F.U.B.U." , "Junie" , and "Scales"
liked songs: Weary I have to give this album some credit. Great production, especially the vocal layering, good structure/flow. I give Solange credit for a great vocal performance and putting together a cohesive piece of art with a good message. Unfortunately, this genre doesn't really do much for me. I liked Weary, but the rest of the album didn't really grab me at all. 2.5
Bloated, most songs are pretty similar . Good voice. Annoying interludes. This is an opposite compliment sandwich. A compliment shit-sandwich if you will
Makes me feel like a strong black man! ✊✊
I remember listening to A Seat At The Table early on in this album journey after it was recommended to me on Instagram. I think I reviewed it at the time there, but I’m going to avoid looking at what I wrote back then, and review this based on today’s listen. I really do like this album. It’s hard not to compare to Beyoncé since they’re sisters (I think), though I would, perhaps controversially, say I prefer this album over anything I’ve heard by Beyoncé. This is so chilled out and sedate, and has a really nice vibe to it. Solange sings well, and there are no unnecessary diva vocal runs which usually tend to annoy me more than anything. Yeah, it’s hard to fault this album. It’s just so pleasant.
Feels like a comforting hug a balm to the soul. There's a high note in Cranes in the Sky that split my chest in two. Such wonderful production and her voice just ... ugh!!
Solange - A Seat At The Table. You couldn't have paid me to listen to this before this list. But it's honestly blown me away. It's incredible. It might be controversial to say this, but this is so much better than anything I've heard from Beyonce. Between a 4 and a 5. Another post 2010 album that I avoided that I now really enjoy
A good idea, poorly executed
This album is exactly the type of album you release if your sister is the biggest artist in the world. Strange, beautiful, indie soul.
I liked this, and I think I might like it more on future listens.
Just not my thing
Started off OK but devolved into an album that left a bad taste in my mouth because of the racial themes. Never been a fan of this artist and this really didn’t change much. First few songs had good vibes though.
Very nice to listen to, but didn't really grab me. It's lacking memorable choruses / hooks, and I wasn't crazy about the many interludes. They were OK, but they broke up the flow for me.
Listened Before? N Didn't even know this person existed. Beyonce's sister has the family pipes! Nice voice and great writing on this one. Great mood piece and feels classic. Not really my cup of tea but I wouldn't complain if someone wanted to put this on at a party. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Cranes in the Sky
Good but maybe a bit self-important.
Goed album. Relaxte sound
A few decent tunes fail to save this snooze fest of a record.
Not impressed. Boring.
enlightening
Nije mi više tako dobar kao kad je izašao ali je i dalje super i produkcija je savršena. Obožavam kad snareovi udaraju ovako
I enjoyed this more than i thought. Its my usual stuff but why not. I enjoyed the softness, the subtlety, and the vibe. The squelchy synths and production drew me in. Its difficult not to compare her to her sister and this is much more interesting
A bit whiny
Not the style of music I usually listen to.
Pretty good record! Much softer and subtler than I expected in sound, and I think the features add quite a bit. The interludes give some good context for the album as well. 8/10
Disappointing because Cranes in the Sky is a banger. I like the vibe but the music doesn’t do anything interesting
6/10…r&b, neo soul
So the end result feels very flat musical, it’s is lush in production and ripe with interesting content. I just find it to be remarkably flat and cannot identify one song I would want to listen to
Great stuff. Chill vibes.
This soulful record is a nice departure from other current pop artists. Solange really has a lovely voice, and that coupled with the cool drum tracks and jazzy piano made for a very interesting listen. Notable Tracks: - Cranes in the Sky - Don't Touch My Hair - Where Do We Go - Borderline (An Ode to Self Care) - Junie 6/10
A Seat at the Table is an incredibly solid Neo-Soul record that lyrically offers both political views and personal trauma. This is a record that you can put on and let play and thoroughly enjoy while simultaneously offering much more depth for a focused listen. The over abundance of interludes definitely get in the way of the flow of the record, but are necessary to help complete the story that Solange is trying to tell. I enjoyed this record, but I’m unsure why it’s included on 1001albumsgenerator.com. It’s very solid throughout and culturally significant, but I don’t think it stands up to other Neo-Soul records of the 2010s.
Not really my style, but this was decent background music while I was working.
Well produced music...not really my type though....It's good, but definitely not that great? I feel like there could be one of this kind of album every year or two...? Not unique, if I may say. A decent 3/5. I like the bass groove in Mad. Also the interludes are more interesting than the music itself.
Easy listening. Was enjoyable to work to.
A modern classic
Not for me
Who even cares about this album. I couldn't even finish it. Beyonce doesn't even like this album. Hey - I really hope that there are some Tito Jackson, Lance Bass, and Jamie Lynn Spears albums on this list too! Barf.
General impression: beautiful and culturally specific Detailed review: This is one of those albums that I think is different to different people. By that I mean, it’s so direct and specific in its elucidation of the Black experience that I’m sure it feels much more relatable and deep for Black folks to listen to it than it is for me. And it’s very deep and beautiful and relatable in its own way for me! “Cranes in the Sky” is one of the most 5/5 songs to ever 5/5. It’s literally perfect and is one of the most impactful songs I’ve ever heard. It changed me, to be honest. I love it for very personal reasons. But the rest of the album, while gorgeous and impeccably produced, doesn’t reach that same level of universality. Still, it’s a defining piece of art and is definitely a must-listen. Deeper thoughts (context): “Cranes in the Sky” would be on my top 100 songs of all time. That’s all. Score: 4.3 (4 for this list) Number of albums left to review: 972 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 16 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 13
I’m such a slut for 2010s alternative R&B, neo-soul in general, and a Lil’ Wayne feature from any era. The fact that it’s a gorgeous politically-motivated statement only adds to the power of A Seat at the Table. I recall this being a juggernaut on its release, but it did fade into the background for me personally in the years since. Revisiting it now, it’s aged like the finest wine, and there is no doubt that it belongs on this list. Its influence is clear, its sound is both of the time and progressive, and its songwriter is gut-wrenchingly beautiful.
there's very few albums that are so modern, not sure why this one is here
Just a bit boring? The melodies were nice but there was nothing here that felt like it deserved to be on the list
I didn't much care for this.
I liked the soulful sound on this one. Had a hard time connecting to any of the lyrics, which I guess is to be expected as it says pretty explicitly that it's not "for me". Oh well, still a pretty interesting listen.
..
meh
id be saying less like i forgot
This album is good. Some involuntary head bobs for sure. For the vibe she's trying to create with those beats, I would listen to Kruangbin, Massive Attack, or Valerie June first, but I'm happy to add Solange to the mix.
Я помню, что этот альбом взорвал уши и сознания слушателей и критиков в момент релиза, но сам я впечатлен не был (потому что музыка это, в общем, не совсем моя). В целом, послушав его вот в очередной раз, мне понравилось (но это всё еще не моя музыка). Лучшая песня - Cranes in the Sky.
I had never listened to Solange before this, so far on this list there haven’t been many artists that I hadn’t at least heard in passing. This was a pleasant surprise. R&B is probably my least listened to genre. I should say modern R&B, I like older R&B artists like music from early Motown. Anything from the 90s on up though has not clicked for me. That being said, I very much enjoyed this album. I only listened through one time so I didn’t pick up on all of the lyrical themes, but instrumentally it was lovely. I don’t know for sure but it sounded like a lot of real instruments being used. I will definitely listen to this again.
This album really reminded me of 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert' from Little Simz, lots of interludes, spoken word, mixed into a RnB album. Both great records.
This is really good. Not just beautiful pop, but poetic social commentary on ongoing current events, racism, and all the things are so much easier to hear when sung in an angelic voice with a pleasant groove.
remembered this as middling and overly sanitized but it's actually beautiful and tender and sprawling? 8/10
Quite a lovely soul and r&b record - and a nostalgic snapshot of pre-2016 African American renaissance felt like - hopeful, clear-eyed and intellectual. It almost feels like a completely different dimension now in 2024 and it’s only 8 years. The collaborations are awesome - always love a Lil’ Wayne and a Q-tip appearance and the whole album is not too long. Solange, despite inevitably always being in the shadow of her older sister sings and writes beautifully - and it’s the right balance between poised and soulful - even when she lets her claws out. Nice addition to the list.
She has a nice voice. It was an enjoyable lesson but it did kind of have a feel of one long song. If it wasn't for the voice intros, I might not have noticed we moved on.
Good message, but such a booooring delivery. Couldn't finish the album
I wanted to like this. She sings well and has a nice voice. The racial and cultural commentary is all spot on. It's just that none of it is compelling for me. She sings in a way that shows she has a pretty voice but fails to make me want to listen to it. I liked the percussion at first, but it started to just feel like someone annoyingly tapping a pencil on a table. The racial aspects feel so common that they make it all just feel generic. Anyone who is listening isbalmost certainly to have already heard these basic philosophical points. Anyone who needs to hear them is just as certainly not drawn to the album. That doesn't mean they arent worth repeating or the album wasn't worth making, it just doesn't do much for me.
Let's just say... Not really a fan. I was listening to this album and reading about it at the same time. The song Paper Cranes was mentioned. I thought I should listen to it but it had already played. I played it again but I didn't recognise the song even though I heard only minutes before. This album is like that. Two stars.
Again not my usual sort of thing but it was good! I'd listen again.
01) Rise - 7,0 02) Weary - 7,5 03) Interlude: The Glory Is in You - / 04) Cranes in the Sky - 7,5 05) Interlude: Dad Was Mad - / 06) Mad - 7,0 07) Don't You Wait - 7,0 08) Interlude: Tina Taught Me - / 09) Don't Touch My Hair - 7,0 10) Interlude: This Moment - / 11) Where Do We Go - 7,0 12) Interlude: For Us by Us - / 13) F.U.B.U. - 7,0 14) Borderline (An Ode to Self Care) - 7,0 15) Interlude: I Got So Much Magic, You Can Have It - / 16) Junie - 6,5 17) Interlude: No Limits - / 18) Don't Wish Me Well - 6,5 19) Interlude: Pedestals - / 20) Scales - 6,5 21) Closing: The Chosen Ones - / TOTAL: 6,96 (70/100)
I'm impressed. I don't like a lot of modern R&B (too much melisma -- singers turn cart wheels to get from point A to B, when walking would have worked just as well if not better.) But this is very good.
Very emotionally deep album. Overall I enjoyed it.
Solid. I could put this on repeat.
This was so uniterresting that halfway through I decided that I would prefer the audio from a train cab view video I was watching. And I did.
There's nothing to rate here. There are no highs, no lows, just flatlining through the whole thing. No emotion, no excitement, she's trying so hard to be soulful but it's empty from start to finish. It's bargain bin Lauryn Hill, AI concocted Sade, heartless, soulless, pointless.
Beyoncé’s little sister she may be, but Solange brings a totally different vibe to her music. Chilled-out and introspective.
I just found this a bit boring after a while. I enjoyed some of the production. But at times it all felt too serious.
3.5 rounded down to 3. Love her voice and liked the album as a whole but no individual songs grabbed me.
This might have been a 4 except for those danged interludes. Decent songs, good arrangements, it held my interest when there were songs.
I’m trying to think of something good and to be positive, but I just can’t.
A velvet lined lounge Hosts soul singer laced in pop Making people hot
Other than the two songs I already knew I liked... It's not for me. Too many interludes, too minimal on the beat
Pretty good vibe. I zoned out a bit, not gonna lie. 3/5
I enjoyed it.
++: Interlude: The Glory Is in You, Cranes in the Sky, Interlude: Dad Was Mad, Don't You Wait, Interlude:Tina Taught Me, Don't Touch My Hair, Interlude: This Moment, F.U.B.U., Junie, Don't Wish Me Well, Closing: The Chosen Ones +: Rise, Weary, Mad, Where Do We Go, Interlude: For Us by Us Borderline (An Ode to Self Care, Interlude: I Got So Much Magic, You Can Have It, Interlude: No Limits, Interlude: Pedestals, Scales 8,2/10
4.5 rounded down yea this is rlly fucking good. the interludes are a bit much for me tho…. highlights: cranes in the sky, don’t touch my hair, borderline (an ode to self care), junie (sep 24 2024)
è strano ma molto carino come sottofondo. un pò stile aikko ma un pò stile anni 90 come sound.
A Seat at the Table I kept waiting for the food.
September 19, 2024 HL: "Cranes in the Sky", "Mad", "Don't Touch My Hair", "Junie", "Don't Wish Me Well", "FUBU" an odd note but the leader of Dirty Projectors produces several tracks quietly intense, initially thought the amount of interludes were excessive but the whole album flows together really well with their help. Some songs are so good ("Cranes in the Sky", "Don't Wish Me Well") I regret not hearing this album earlier. I had misgivings about "neo soul" early on in this journey, but between this, Erykah Badu & Sault, there's been a lot of good representation from that subgenre. Definitely have been bumping this more than the average AOTD
Laid back and easy, not very interesting though. 5/10
It was simple
Na
Pretty good.
Extremely boring. It all kind of blurs together, I'm not even sure I could identify when one song ended and another began.
Never heard anything of this women before. Looking at the album cover initially thought that someone had thrown clothes pegs over her head and wondered if there was a travelling person (G—-y) connection. No sign of that and from my own personal point of view no enjoyment either. My wife mentioned the other day that she needed some clothes pegs but was struggling to find some. Makes you think doesn’t it? 1/5 7/9/24
Works well and on multiple levels, as sweet (okay, bittersweet), shiny and savvy R&B and equally as inspirational slice-of-life bit of black experience. The voice is dynamite and the production vibes and atmospheric and well suited to get the most out of it. Not exactly in one's wheelhouse musically, but hard not to like.
I’ve never listened to any of her albums so this was great to dive in. Such a strong point of view from beginning to end.
Very solid album
I remember everyone raving about this album... But I found it boring
I liked a lot about this album. The lyrics, the vibe. My favorite part was the spoken interludes. My least favorite part was that the vocals were all sang in a high register. I would have preferred a little more vocal grit.
Well I learned that Solange is Beyonce's sister that flies below the radar. By writ of birth and upbringing I'm not an authentic audience for the messaging, but I get it's important. The music is nice for background.
This is a pretty extraordinary album. Cohesive throughout it is filled with minimalist neo soul at times and overflows with social messaging and just the right vibes at other times. I love how understated it all is. Nothing is over the top, but it all feels important.
MESSAGE!
I really wasn't a fan of this one.
This isn't really my style. It's not bad but nothing really kept me interested.
Never heard this before. I know that I'm not the target audience but this album is mind-numbingly bad. Insulting lyrics. The attempts at political statements through the interludes aren't bad on their own, although they aren't particularly revelatory or insightful. Their inclusion seems disingenuous alongside lyrics like "I tried to drink it away, I tried to put one in the air, I tried to dance it away, I tried to change it with my hair"
Not bad. A few songs that I'd listen to again even if I didn't find the whole album that incredible.
I couldn't get into this album. I read about "Don't Touch My Hair" and thought it might be a good song based on it's message, but, no. Borderline (An Ode to Self Care) and Cranes in the Sky piqued my interest some. Overall I thought the songs lacked energy or hook or something. I thought she had a great voice at the beginning, but towards the end I found the high pitch fatiguing. Oh well, different tastes for different people.
She has a good voice, but this is not my music.
Nothing wrong with it...just not my thing.
I read the accolades for this album and had high hopes. Unfortunately for me it was boring and repetitive. Beautiful voice! Kudos for the powerful messages & theme spread throughout. 2.6
Beautiful talented woman, great voice, sucktastic album. There is not a single part of this mess that is enjoyable.
Really good and cool, super clean moody vibe going on. Definitely a great listen to. Highly recommend, there’s a really good aura about it. 9/10.
There is nothing about this album that makes me want to listen past the first 30 seconds of the first track.
Not sure why this is included, was okay nothing special.
First half was ok, back end was mediocre
Awesome top to bottom. This taught me I can listen to Solange front to back but I can’t say the same for Beyoncé, sorry beyhive
I saw Solange at a festival when she was touring for this album and don’t feel like I really got to appreciate it because the venue did not do it justice. Her voice is great and this album is understate but a really pleasant listen, will definitely revisit
This was a pleasant listen of a lesser represented genre on this list
Listenable enough production, but pretty unremarkable and unmemorable songs. I thought I’d like this more but it came off as artsy rather than catchy.
MEH
Not too much to say about this album. Listened to it while cleaning and didn’t realize it had looped back and replayed a couple tracks.. nothing too bad about the album but it was just so… blah. 2.5/5 but rating down as I wouldn’t listen again and don’t feel I will be missing out
Solange’s A Seat at the Table showcases her distinct voice and thoughtful lyrics, but the album ultimately feels somewhat dull. While her voice is undeniably smooth and evocative, the music lacks the dynamic energy that might have made it more engaging. The messages throughout the album are powerful and relevant, addressing themes of identity and empowerment with sincerity. However, the slow tempo and minimalistic arrangements can make the tracks blend together, resulting in a monotonous listening experience. Despite the album’s introspective qualities and strong lyrical content, it struggles to captivate and maintain interest. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 0 STAND OUT TRACK - None
3/5
Great album !
Picked a good week to start listening to these again
I thought this would be another coffee shop Mariah Carey, but was very surprised by the depth and diversity. An enjoyable listen, even though not my typical go to.
So far to me pretty boring, not my cup of tea
Cool record. I haven't faved a single song but the whole record vibe is so cool, I like it a lot. A very tranquil and moody record. But good moody.
This was a groovy, laidback listen and I liked it. Not really my style, but I hummed along and enjoyed the music. The lyrics, when I noticed them, were a bit... juvenile? Trite? I don't know. They were alright. The progressive topics were fine -- I agree with all of the stuff in the interludes and interviews, but I'm not really sure they enhanced the _music_ of it all. Three stars.
Not Beyonce. Not Destiny's Child. Not horrible.
Great powerful messages throughout but the music itself lacked a lot of energy and power to match that, making it get boring quite quickly
Very pleasant. ...I'm not sure "very pleasant" covers it all as there are clearly interludes where people talk about racism and issues of race, so I'm sure there's more serious contents in the lyrics but I didn't really take that all in on the first listen. The fact is, I am trying to catch up on two weeks of 1001 albums and I couldn't get through the industrial military-band Queen-covers of Laibach, nor the the pop crooning of Adele, so this was something of a balm and I enjoyed the whole album.
Did not give the attention it needed…. Need to go back and listen to properly
Really good.
A beautiful record. A little too rnb for me to give it 5 stars, but absolutely an amazing record
Too many interludes
Favorite Track: Cranes in the Sky
I've heard that this is a good album so I'm glad it's on the list. It sounded nice but was kind of boring, I was able to do work when I was listening to it.
Back to rating things west coast time rahhh. Didnt' realize til now that Solange is Beyonce's sister. This album was fine but I don't really like any of the songs enough to listen to them again. Maybe I'm the problem. Also after knowing how picky they r w/ newer albums ive been a bit more scrutinous(Idek if thats a word) when we get a post 2000 album. Like ur telling me I need to hear this more than arcade fire, kendrick, Adele, mgmt, MIA... I guess they r different genres but still. Side note, I listened to one song off arular bc it's mentioned in the top of the expunged thingy and im so hyped for that album! anyways... mid 6/10
4/10 - it was alright. I’m not the most into r&b ehich I think think this is. I lik f the song with sampha a little bit but the rest were ok to bad.
Fine
Not for me
Yes she's got a very decent voice, I like it a lot but I doubt it's any better than dozens of solid, professional session singers. No way does she get a recording contract if she's my sister & all other things being equal - and this album REALLY needs to lose the voiceover interludes. I haven't the heart to give it 1 star & consign it to the Atrocity Bin with all the rap, hip hop, roooooooaaar, & 'American rock group' shite but it absolutely is pisspoor I'm afraid.
A Seat at the Table Although Solange’s voice doesn’t have the power and range of Beyonce’s it does have a lovely, delicate slightly ethereal tone to it, which I really like. She also doesn’t have Beyonce’s predilection for a bit of bombast, and combined with the slightly downbeat off kilter, spacey jazz tinged r’n’b soul pop music on this it gives her the air of the detached, odder, quirkier but cooler sibling I really like the feel of this Rise, the bass is great along with the simple laid back melody. The bass on Weary is also great and that little piano is lovely. Cranes in the Sky is truly excellent. I love the percussion and bass but how the musical touches like the synth that sounds like a shamisen contribute to the overall feeling of sadness of the lyrics. Great floaty vocal too. Mad has that slightly over-recorded percussion and bass sound that keeps appearing, which I really like, and another great vocal too. Don't You Wait is a lovely bit of r’n’b pop, I like the guitar and slightly over-saturated synth drum pad. This does feel like it has a kinship with the Kendrick Lamar albums we’ve had, which makes sense with Sampha appearing on Don’t Touch My Hair, another fantastic track. The horns and synths are great and the whole thing has a sense of drowsy frustration. Where Do We Go and FUBU have a similar percussive feel and I like the broken atmosphere of Where Do We Go and some of the synths on FUBU are great, with another great vocal. Borderline’s piano line evokes a kind of wistfulness, but is abruptly accompanied by the slightly discordant percussion. Maybe not the strongest melody but a great track. Junie is a lovely bit of squiggly hybrid r’n’b funk, momentarily taking us away from the detached sense of despair that populates the rest of the album. Don’t Wish Me Well returns to the off kilter patterns of Cranes in the Sky and Don’t Touch My Hair, again the pervading sense of sadness is embodied by the percussion and synths. Scales is a suitably low key closer and in keeping with the whole feel of the album. This is also, for the genre, slightly unusual in that the interludes are actually worthwhile, tying together the connecting thread of race and blackness that runs through a lot of the songs. . This really does feel like a coherent album, each track shares a common feel despite the massive list of producers and contributors, but the overall sense of sadness, despair and frustration is so well conveyed musically. The lack of ornamentation and clean but soulful production and the thoughtfulness of the instrumentation supports that feeling, giving it some room to breathe and allowing subtleties and nuances and the edge underneath it all to come through. It has enough melody and musicality to be interesting but is also rhythmically fantastic (I love the percussion throughout) and a great overall sound. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did on the first listen and I enjoyed it more and more throughout the day. A great modern soul record with a slightly unusual edge to it, it's an easy 4 seats at the table for me. Definitely one I’ll come back to. 🪑🪑🪑🪑 Playlist submission: Cranes in the Sky
Notable tracks: Cranes in the Sky, Mad (feat. Lil Wayne
Buena voz y poco más. Decente.
Nice one Solange
Utterly devoid of anything interesting
Felt way too long and not great. There has got to be better music from 2016
LoFi chill beats to be black and empowered to. In a less pithy way, this album is all vibes. Solange's voice is quietly powerful and the production is immaculate. I appreciate the message behind it, especially in the context of 2016 when it dropped. All that said, there just isn't enough juice for its run time. It doesn't feel bloated by any means, just airy. I wanted one or two bangers or at least contrasting ideas through the run time. I liked it. It's a strong three but I can't get to a weak 4.