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Acoustic Soul

 
Album Review: Acoustic Soul
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Acoustic Soul

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  • Artist: India.Arie
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: March 27, 2001
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

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, Arie 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 R&B music of the past, Acoustic Soul would be a purely modern gem, but as Arie is determined to pay her debts up front, it's much more, and that is admirable. ~ John Duffy, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Intro (Lyrics) India.Arie India.Arie (:50)
Video (Lyrics) Carlos "6 July" Broady, S. Sanders, India.Arie India.Arie (4:09)
Promises (Lyrics) India.Arie India.Arie (4:37)
Brown Skin (Lyrics) Mark Batson, S. Sanders, India.Arie India.Arie (4:56)
Strength, Courage, & Wisdom India.Arie India.Arie (4:57)
Nature (Lyrics) Mark Batson, India.Arie India.Arie (4:24)
Back to the Middle (Lyrics) Blue Miller, India.Arie India.Arie (5:11)
Ready for Love (Lyrics) Blue Miller, India.Arie India.Arie (4:28)
Interlude India.Arie India.Arie (1:24)
Always in My Head (Lyrics) Blue Miller, India.Arie India.Arie (4:40)
I See God in You (Lyrics) India.Arie India.Arie (3:17)
Simple (Lyrics) Mark Batson, India.Arie India.Arie (3:26)
Part of My Life India.Arie (4:03)
Beautiful (Lyrics) Blue Miller, India.Arie India.Arie (4:05)
Outro (Lyrics) India.Arie India.Arie (1:20)
Wonderful (Stevie Wonder Dedication) [*] Mark Batson, India.Arie India.Arie (5:31)

Credits

Larry Goldings (Organ), Larry Goldings (Wurlitzer), Larry Goldings (String Contractor), Steve Grossman (Percussion), Steve Grossman (Drums), Bashiri Johnson (Percussion), John Catchings (Cello), Tony Harrell (Keyboards), George Karras (Mixing), Kedar Massenburg (Executive Producer), Bob Power (Bass), Bob Power (Guitar), Bob Power (Conductor), Bob Power (Programming), Bob Power (Producer), Bob Power (Engineer), Bob Power (Mixing), Ralph Rolle (Drums), Lovis Scalise (Engineer), Mike Shipley (Mixing), Jon Smeltz (String Engineer), Alvin Speights (Mixing), Laurnea Wilkerson (Vocals (Background)), Mark Batson (Organ), Mark Batson (Synthesizer), Mark Batson (Bass), Mark Batson (Percussion), Mark Batson (Drums), Mark Batson (Keyboards), Mark Batson (Programming), Mark Batson (Producer), Mark Batson (Mellotron), Mark Batson (Fender Rhodes), Mark Batson (String Arrangements), Doug Kahan (Bass), Avery Johnson (Bass), Avery Johnson (Engineer), Terry MacMillan (Percussion), Annalee Valencia (Art Direction), Annalee Valencia (Design), Carlos "6 July" Broady (Programming), Carlos "6 July" Broady (Producer), Chris Athens (Mastering), Michael Benabib (Photography), Blue Miller (Guitar (Acoustic)), Blue Miller (Guitar), Blue Miller (Guitar (Electric)), Blue Miller (Programming), Blue Miller (Vocals), Blue Miller (Vocals (Background)), Blue Miller (Producer), Blue Miller (Engineer), Blue Miller (Mixing), Sandy Brummels (Creative Director), Roxanna Floy (Make-Up), Kevin Haywood (Engineer), Kevin Haywood (Mixing), Jim Lightman (Engineer), Jim Lightman (Mixing), Joyce Simpson (Vocals (Background)), Joyce Simpson (Stylist), Mike Tocci (Engineer), Kwaku Alston (Photography), Jason Breckling (Assistant Producer), Dave Way (Mixing), David Spak (Percussion), Chris Mazer (Mixing), Nioka Workman (Cello), India.Arie (Guitar (Acoustic)), India.Arie (Vocals), India.Arie (Main Performer), Mark Niemiec (Engineer), Liz Loblack (Product Manager), Judeth Insel (Viola), Marlene Rice (Violin), Kerisha Hicks (Vocals (Background)), Duane Covert (Vocals (Background))
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Wikipedia: Acoustic Soul
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Acoustic Soul
Studio album by India.Arie
Released March 27, 2001 (2001-03-27)
(See release history)
Recorded 2000–2001
Genre R&B, neo soul
Length 61:18
Label Motown
Producer Mark Batson, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Blue Miller, Bob Power
Professional reviews
India.Arie chronology
Acoustic Soul
(2001)		 Voyage to India
(2002)

Acoustic Soul is the debut album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie, released in 2001 (see 2001 in music). It was nominated for seven Grammy Awards in 2002, including "Album of the Year" and "Best R&B Album".

Contents

Track listing

Ambox style.png
 This track listing should be modified to meet track listing standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (February 2009)
  1. "Intro" – 0:50
  2. "Video" – 4:09
  3. "Promises" – 4:37
  4. "Brown Skin" – 4:56
  5. "Strength, Courage & Wisdom" – 4:57
  6. "Nature" – 4:24
  7. "Back to the Middle" (featuring Blue Miller) – 5:11
  8. "Ready for Love" – 4:28
  9. "Interlude" – 1:24
  10. "Always in My Head" – 4:40
  11. "I See God in You" – 3:17
  12. "Simple" – 3:26
  13. "Part of My Life" – 4:03
  14. "Beautiful" – 4:05
  15. "Outro" – 1:20
  16. "Wonderful (Stevie Wonder Dedication)" – 5:31

Bonus tracks

Japanese edition
  1. "Butterfly" – 4:07
British edition
  1. "Strength, Courage & Wisdom" (Live) – 5:57
  2. "Brown Skin" (Bedroom Rockers Remix) – 3:36
Special Edition Bonus Disc
  1. "Video" (DJ Dodge Remix)
  2. "Video" (Urban Wolves/Dream Team Remix) (featuring Super Cat)
  3. "Brown Skin" (Bedroom Rockers Radio Remix)
  4. "Brown Skin" (E-London Club Mix)
  5. "Brown Skin" (Mind Trap Mix)
  6. "Strength, Courage & Wisdom" (Remix)
  7. "Strength, Courage & Wisdom" (Live From Paradiso)

Chart history

Album
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart 36
Canadian Albums Chart 21
Dutch Albums Chart 69
German Albums Chart 50
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart 19
Swedish Albums Chart 43
Swiss Albums Chart 85
UK Albums Chart 55
U.S. Billboard 200 10
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 3
U.S. Billboard Internet Albums 6
Singles
Information
"Video"
  • Released: 2001
  • Writers: India.Arie, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Shannon Sanders
  • Producer: Carlos "6 July" Broady
  • Director: Terry Heller
  • Chart positions: #47 U.S., #14 U.S. R&B, #32 UK
"Brown Skin"
  • Released: 2001
  • Writers: India.Arie, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Shannon Sanders
  • Producer: India.Arie
  • Director: Tim Story
  • Chart positions: #39 U.S. R&B, #29 UK, #95 AUS
"Strength, Courage & Wisdom"
  • Released: 2001
  • Writer: India.Arie
  • Producers: India.Arie, Mark Batson
  • Director:
  • Chart positions: #76 U.S. R&B
"Ready for Love"
  • Released: 2001
  • Writers: India.Arie, Blue Miller
  • Producer: Blue Miller
  • Director: Sanaa Hamri
  • Chart positions: —

Personnel

Musicians
Production
  • Producers: Mark Batson, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Blue Miller, Bob Power
  • Executive producer: Kedar Massenburg
  • Engineers: Kevin Haywood, Avery Johnson, Jim Lightman, Blue Miller, Mark Niemiec, Bob Power, Lovis Scalise, Mike Tocci
  • Mixing: Kevin Haywood, George Karras, Jim Lightman, Chris Mazer, Blue Miller, Bob Power, Mike Shipley, Alvin Speights, Dave Way
  • Mastering: Chris Athens
  • Programming: Mark Batson
  • Assistant producer: Jason Breckling
  • String arrangements: Mark Batson
  • String engineer: Jon Smeltz
  • Creative director: Sandy Brummels
  • Product Manager: Liz Loblack
  • Art direction: Annalee Valencia
  • Design: Annalee Valencia
  • Photography: Kwaku Alston, Michael Benabib link title[
  • Stylist: Joyce Simpson
  • Make-up: Roxanna Floy

Release history

Region Date Format
United States March 27, 2001 Compact disc
United Kingdom October 22, 2001
Japan December 11, 2001
United States July 17, 2007 Special edition CD

Notes

  1. ^ Duffy, John. Review: Acoustic Soul. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  2. ^ Hall, Rashaun. "Review: Acoustic Soul". Billboard: 19. March 31, 2001.
  3. ^ Columnist. Review: Acoustic Soul. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  4. ^ Gill, Andy. Review: Acoustic Soul. The Independent. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  5. ^ Columnist. "Review: Acoustic Soul". Mixmag: 179. June 2001.
  6. ^ Evans, Diana. Review: Acoustic Soul. NME. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  7. ^ Bottomley, Maurice. Review: Acoustic Soul. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  8. ^ Masuo, Sandy. Review: Acoustic Soul. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.
  9. ^ Hoard, Christian. "Review: Acoustic Soul". Rolling Stone: 404. November 2, 2004.
  10. ^ Columnist. "Review: Acoustic Soul". USA Today: D.10. March 27, 2001.
  11. ^ Green, Tony. Review: Acoustic Soul. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-08-12.

References

External links

v • d • e
India.Arie
Albums
Acoustic Soul (2001) • Voyage to India (2002) • Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006) • Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (2009)
Singles
"Video"  • "Brown Skin"  • "Little Things" • "I Am Not My Hair" (feat. Akon)  • "The Heart of the Matter"  • "There's Hope"  • "Beautiful Flower"  • "Words" (with Anthony David)  • "Chocolate High" (feat. Musiq Soulchild)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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