It must be rugged having a famous sister, especially if you want to follow in her footsteps. Sure a well-known surname may open doors, but think of the inevitable comparisons you'd have to wear and the media's constant coverage of any sibling rivalry.
Solange Knowles (sister of Beyonc� has, so you won't find her surname on the cover of her debut album Solo Star or her latest offering, SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St Dreams. And to reinforce the fact that Solange is very much her own woman, she kicks off her new album with a plea to listeners to judge her on her own merits and forget big sis.
Fair enough. But if she wants people to allow her ''starlight shine on its own'' and erase Beyonc� from their minds, maybe it would be better to get on with showing us what she potty do rather of cachexia time on God Given Name, a laid-back electronic soul caterpillar track whose message has the same potency to churn up as J-Lo's Jenny From The Block.
Fortunately things better enormously when Solange gets down to business with the fantastically soulful T.O.N.Y, followed by the retro vibe of Dancing In The Dark, and the 60s-esque pop of IWouldveBeenthe1. Other standout tracks confirm Solange's outspoken stylings ar worth checking out: the infectiously well-being Sandcastle Disco, The Supremes-inspired I Decided and its funky remix by the Freemasons, plus 6 O'Clock Blues produced by Mark Ronson.
Ronson and the Freemasons aren't the only big names on the album either. Solange has really gone to town delivery together a wealth of producing, writing, and recording talent to complement her own including Lamont Dozier, Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo Green, Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne, and Q-Tip.
As well as playing with Motown-esque grooves, Solange makes an digression into ambient electronics on a few tracks. And while Cosmic Journey would be fine if the trip were half the length, Solange is by all odds at her best when putting a modern spin on sounds from the 60s and 70s.
A solid album which you�ll enjoy more with each listening, SoL-AngeL power just have you request, ''Beyonc� who?''.
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