As one of the most promising
neo-soul
artists yet to emerge in the past few years,
India.Arie
casts her lot with the best artists of her label's storied history, playing deeply introspective songs laced with glistening acoustic guitar, churchy organ, and smooth, supple beats. When she name-checks those artists no longer with us that she claims as influences (
Ma Rainey
,
Miles Davis
Karen Carpenter
Charley Patton
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Donny Hathaway
, etc.) in three separate interludes, you have no doubt she is looking back as well as forward, even going so far as to invoke
Sam Cooke
's
"A Change Is Gonna Come."
But
Acoustic Soul
is at its best when the arrangements are deliberately modern. And despite the uniqueness of being a guitar-based
R&B
album, it is
Arie
's thick, sandy voice that shares star billing with her exceptional lyrics. Betraying youthful vulnerability while at the same time projecting strength, confidence, and uncanny insight for a 25-year-old singer/songwriter,
wraps herself effortlessly around the deep, funky sensuality of
"Brown Skin,"
and stands tall in defiance of pop-fashion expectations on the irresistibly catchy
"Video."
The uplifting
"Faith, Courage, Wisdom"
rides along on a euphoric chorus, and the plainly autobiographical
"Back to the Middle"
recounts an emotional and spiritual coming of age. Without the many concrete references to the great
music of the past,
would be a purely modern gem, but as
is determined to pay her debts up front, it's much more, and that is admirable. ~ John Duffy