Search - Angie Stone :: Unexpected

An unexpected delight!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 11/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Angie Stone's new CD "Unexpected" (aptly titled, as I had no idea she had a new CD out) is upbeat and sunny. Titled "Unexpected" due to the recent sudden passing of her father whom she was very close to, it might as well be because she takes a musical turn fans will find just that, unexpected! It is more contemporary R&B/Hip Hop than its Neo Soul predecessors, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, and have no fear, she hasn't gone all mainstream and done a Beyoncé or Chris Brown.



Opening and closing the album is "Unexpected", an upbeat spoken jam warning all to "Prepare yourself for just about anything." The pair of "I ain't hearin U" (a groovy soul song with an eighties feel), and "Free" (with nice synth-string flourishes and Stone reminding me of Akon in places) will get your feet moving.



"Maybe" is a lovely retro sounding piano ballad with lovely harmonies. "Hey Mr DJ" is a breezy horn-peppered song, perfect for the summer, while "Kiss all over your body" is a sultry ballad.



"I don't care" is a midtempo groovy Neo Soul number (a message to her haters), the ballad "Why is it" finds her telling her ex "Why is it someone else had to love me, for you to see, all that I could be?".



The upbeat auto-tuned "Tell me" might put you off at first (especially if you, like most, are sick of auto-tune), but it is a groovy grower done with class. Stone's vocals are interwoven with collaborator Juanita Wynn's for a cascading wall of sound, with a rapped bridge provided by Dose. "Think sometimes" is a throwback to seventies Soul, Staples Singers-style (with lyrics urging one to always count ones blessings despite all life throws at you), while the midtempo "I found a keeper" (sounding like a Soul girl group, complete with "Shoo do dos") is a sweet declaration of love.



As with Angie Stone CDs, there is no filler, but loads of killer."

Another Solid Angie Stone Release, Though Not Perfect

Musac Critic | 11/26/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Unexpected is Angie Stone's second release on the recently resurrected Stax label. Stone's first outing on Stax was her Grammy-nominated affair The Art of Love and War (nominated for Best R&B Collaboration for "Baby"). Overall, that album does trump 'Unexpected' and has more personality, though 'Unexpected' isn't bad in the least. Most fans, I believe, would go as far to say that Angie's releases on J Records (Black Diamond, Mahogany Soul, and Stone Love) were stronger than either of her two Stax releases. With that said, I think most fans would say that Stone has never made a 'bad' album and 'Unexpected' is no different. Additionally, Stone makes some overt visual cues with her album artwork that 'Unexpected' is a slight turn from her neo-soul driven albums. Sure, 'Unexpected' still features classic Stone, but it is a slight departure. Everything doesn't always work as smooth, but aside from the horrific "Tell Me" which finds the 48-year old Stone using auto-tune, there is nothing she should hold her head down in shame about.



"Unexpected", an introduction, starts off the album hinting at Angie's slight sound tweaking on this album. The main problem with "Unexpected" and it's later reprise is why name an album based solely off of an interlude? Does Stone want the album to sound 'unexpected' solely because she aims at a more contemporary style or was it named that for lack of a better title? Nothing to trivialize over, but you do wonder what Stone's mindset was for this project. I personally interpret it as Stone's slight departure from the neo-soul that made her popular - yet, still traces and overt neo-soul still appears here. One just wonders.



"I Ain't Hearing U" sounds somewhat different from previous album openers like "I Wanna Thank Ya" or "Take Everything In", though it isn't that far-fetched. Stone sounds great here as always and the songwriting is solid. "Free" proves to be the first true concession that Stone makes to contemporary R&B (aside from 'soul'). Stone sounds fine here, though I personally wonder if a slightly higher key would've made Stone's alto voice (she sounds like a contra-alto here actually) soar more; she sounds a bit too low here and maybe if they'd raise the key a couple of steps up, she'd have sounded even better. Overall, the song isn't bad, though it is a bit strange to hear such a contemporary Stone.



"Maybe" makes up for any raised eyebrows on "Free"; here Stone sounds very much like herself with the soulful production suiting her much better than the contemporary leanings of "Free". "Hey Mr. DJ" is a bit confusing as to whether Stone was aiming for a full length song or just an interlude. The production is good if a slight bit busy intact with multiple layers of background vocals. Enjoyable enough, Stone sounds great, particularly since she is a better key that suits her smokey voice.



"Kiss All Over Your Body" is better than a song like "Hey Mr. DJ", as it is better developed. There is more inherent soul here as well, even if it makes some concessions to contemporary R&B. One confusion is the second verse - is that a vocal effect making Stone sound like that or a guest vocalist not listed in the cover sleeve? Either way, this is one of 'Unexpected' better tracks.



"I Don't Care" has a nice groove to it, though it doesn't have much substance as far a songwriting in comparison to some of Angie's past songs. Enjoyable enough, it is still solid. "Why Is It" clearly leans towards more contemporary R&B, but proves to be be one of the more successful endeavors. Stone sounds great here, especially given the fact the key well matches her voice. "Tell Me" is by all means a miss; there's no reason for someone with such a smokey, soulful voice as Stone to ever use auto-tune. Period. "Tell Me" sounds cheap: the production is cliché at best and Stone's use of auto-tune is disappointing. I rarely criticize Stone vocally, but it wasn't necessary for Stone to use auto-tune as it sounds plain awkward on her. And let's not even mention the pointless rap verse that accompanies.



Stone atones for it with the excellent "Think Sometimes" and "I Found A Keeper", both Stone-worthy tracks. "Unexpected" is reprised at the end.



Overall, Stone delves too much into the contemporary leanings of R&B. I prefer her classic albums over this one, including 'The Art of Love & War', which had some filler material itself. The biggest issue I have with this album is it seems that Stone has a bit of an identity struggle for the first time in her lengthy career and it makes 'Unexpected' a shade bit less enjoyable than her previous albums. A bomb? Not in the least, but there is no "Baby", "U-Haul", "Brotha", or "No More Rain In This Cloud", even with the most memorable performances here ("I Ain't Hearin' U", "Maybe", "Kiss All Over Your Body", "Think Sometimes", "I Found A Keeper", etc.). 3.5 stars."

Wake me when it's over...

H. Habersham | South Cak | 01/15/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This cd had a few good songs, but a big step down from her previous releases. Most songs sound uninspired, as if they rushed this thing out before it was ready. I wish I could take it back and get my money back."