Tuesday, August 26, 2008

ANGELA'S IPOD

HIL ST. SOUL BLACK ROSE (2008)
3.5 STARS


This is the newest album by Hil St. Soul and while not as spectacular as “SOULidified” it is still a keeper. If you buy it, you are going to be in for a treat! They keep the same ingredients from their prior CDs flowing in this CD. It has well written, articulated and projected lyrics, harmonious productions and silky, soulful tones. The CD is at once exquisite, cool and strong.

The first track, "Wash Away" brings flavor as Hilary Mwelwa caresses the harmonies and the music brings you a tight groove line. Interesting and unexpected, the double entendre lyrics seem to speak to self-pride and to how those of the fairer persuasion, who sing soul, are given more credit than those of the darker hue: "Don't get it twisted, 'cause I gotta speak my mind/I'm not trying to split hairs, but I gotta bee in my bonnet/English rose singing soul music, they get praised for it/A black rose singing soul music gets no love for it."

In "Don't Forget The Ghetto", easily the best song on the album, we are presented with an insightful and inspiring cautionary message that reminds people not to forget their roots. “Sweetest Days" slows the tempo down a little bit. This is a song that reminisces about the past, but the stand out is her voice which sounds as rich and thick as a spoonful of honey. "We Were In Love" is a lush, rich song about a fractious relationship. "Broken Again" is an ultra-slow, heavy bass groove that follows a woman through the painful, yet cleansing process of mending her broken heart and “Gravity“ is a sexy song of love. "If I Was You" is an ironically deceptive upbeat groove about domestic abuse. In it, she advises a battered girlfriend to escape her abuser, saying, "I'd pack my bags, leave his a**, take a chance, play the wild card." And "Smile" is a beautiful mid-tempo song.

The beauty of Hil St. Soul is in the execution. Black Rose is a solid CD that combines soul with jazz and a little hip-hop. The production is crisp and perfect and the lyrics well written. The collaboration is solid and interesting enough to immediately draw you in. The beats have just enough of a progressive edge to keep things sounding new. Finally, a mid-tempo groove persists throughout much of the album. This makes for smooth, easy listen that will keep your head nodding from beginning to end. Ultimately, my suggestion is to pick this one up. You will be glad you did.


Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/hilstsoul

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