31 August 2008 422 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

It has to be said: finally owning a physical copy of the gorgeously packaged (and titled) sophomore Solange album, Sol-Angel & The Hadley St. Dreams, is quite the pleasure. Getting over the general ascetics of the artwork takes some time in itself, but, at the risk of sounding a bit cliche, what’s inside is just as good. The next step? Review it.

Solange

Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams
Released, August 26, 2008

“I’M NOT HER AND NEVER WILL BE” - a theme that opens the album, taken from the overtly Beyonce inspired God Given Name. Solange’s desire to break out of her sister’s inescapable shadow hardly overwhelms the lyrical content of the album, but it’s an ever present and understandable theme from an artist who has a true desire to make genuinely crafted music.

Strangely enough, Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams accomplishes exactly what Christina Aguilera fell short of on Back To Basics- a shocking enough statement. The unforced, smooth, Ronson-fied production methods and instrumental arrangements throughout the album are pre-60’s inspired, no doubt. Taking in the aforementioned, cupped with the obvious abandonment of daddy’s (that’s Matthew Knowles) media training evident in various interviews and press releases for the songstress, gives Solange a completely refreshing image that flawlessly transfers to the sound of the album - Lady Gaga, take notes!

The album’s second single is, without question, the most radio friendly on the entire effort. Written and produced by Soulshock & Karlin (Solange takes the backseat for the lyrics on this one, only co-writing as apposed to being lead lyricist as on the majority of the album), Sandcastle Disco’s summers-ending groove tempo is exactly what 2008 neo-soul should sound like. Valentines Day and 6 O’Clock Bluesare of similar nature, but take a more personal spin on Solange’s experiences - or at least her individual mindset.

Dancing In The Dark is a product, I’m sure, of Solange’s concert life; the girl loves some Justice, imagine that! The song keeps her story-telling songwriting style and spreads it over a beat you and your seventy year old grandma could simultaneously shimmy and shake to: thank you Square & Mr. Familiar - the producers of the track. Listeners looking for some dancing, unfortunately, won’t be graced with the urge for a second time until the end of the album, enter the epic explosion that is I Decided (Part II). The final song on the standard 13-track edition is better known as the Freemasons remix which, honestly, completely overshadows the original Neptunes production. Note, playing a continuous down-tempo loop under vocals begging for floor filling production does not make for an impressive first single.

Impressively, the filler content on the album is near non-existent, totaling to a single track. I Told You So is a bit of a sleeper, the droning chorus and rather uninspired beats are the only residues of your typical R&B formula on the entire album.

Final conclusion, Solange has created an album to be proud of. Living up to expectations, underground buzz, and other hoo-ha of the Internet music circuit, I can’t see why anyone would be disappointed by such an honest effort.

Playlist: T.O.N.Y., Dancing In The Dark, Sandcastle Disco, Valentines Day, 6 O’clock Blues, Cosmic Journey, This Bird, I Decided (Part II), ChampagneChronicNightcap (Bonus Track)
Skip: I Decided (Part I), I Told You So

B+