Search - Jaguar Wright :: Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul

One of the best & most Underrated Releases of 2005

Musac Critic | 07/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having never heard very little of Jaguar Wright or having heard her sing, I though that I would try her music out. It turns out that I was in for a wonderful surprise. I am a fan of neo-soul music anyway but it seems that 2005 has brought about more contemporary R&B singers than neo-soul singers and they are a dying breed. Angie Stone, one of my favorite proponents of the movement released an album too little support by audiences; she is a great singer, just underrated. I feel the same way about Jaguar. This debut is almost all entirely above average material that my not even see the top of the pop or R&B charts and it is a shame.



Jaguar Wright has a wonderful, unique voice. She is an alto, but I thing that her real grit is acheived when she shows off her upper register and "rises" above the arrangements/production. This whole album makes you feel like you are listening to pure soul music like it was in the late 60s and early 70s. The production is ambitious and for the most part it suits Wrights alto. While the album is 67 minutes long, it doesn't grow as weak as some albums of that length or more do. Naturally, some of the weaker selections could've been cut, but the biggest weight of that lenght is the 11 minute + "Do You Want", which is worth every bit of its duration. This is a well rounded sophomore effort and I wish that I'd heard her debut. Here is a run through of the tracks:



1. Dear John, Pt. 1 (No Score)- You notice right off the bat here that Wright has a unique voice



2. Free- The lead single from DIVORCING NEO 2 MARRY SOUL, there is a variety of sounds that make the song unique. You can feel this is a neo soul song with the arrangement, harmonized background vocals, and Wrights beautiful alto that sounds even more gritty in the upper register. 5/5



3. Let Me Be The One- An old school drum beat with unique production makes this song another solid track. 5/5



4. Timing- another good song with a non-mainstream arrangement; I don't like this song as well as "Free" or "Let Me Be The One", but Jaguar still sings her face off. 3.5/5



5. Told Ya- nice production with the bass line and the guitar & background vocals but it feels like this song lacks something... 3.5/5



6. My Place- While it took me a moment to "feel" the arrangement/production of this song, I grew to like it. 3.5/5



7. Flower- By far this song is one of the most beautiful R&B songs that I have heard for a while. The production is beautiful with lush strings, piano, and acoustic guitar. The words in the chorus are beautifully portrayed by the background vocalist. The bridge is fantastic with Jaguar's vocals harmonized and here voice rising above the arrangement better than it has throughout the whole of the album. My favorite, favorite track. 5+/5



8. Ecstsy- another spare arrangement, it shows off the lower register of Wrights vocals 3.5/5



9. So High- I don't really like his production work here because I think that it is a bit to busy and cluttered to support Wrights alto. Only when Wright ascends to her upper register does she sound more settle witht he production. It is still good production, just may not so much for Wright herself. 3.5./5.



10. Been Here Before- Another ambitious production. It isn't as clutter or unsettled as the production on "So High", but the song isn't particularly memorable. 3.5/5



11. Woman 2 Woman (No Score)



12. Woman 2 Woman- Another truly soulful production highlighting Wright at her best with soulful drums, guitar, strings, and the bass not overproduced. 4/5



13. Do Your Worst- Despite its 11 minute + length, this track is worth every minute of it. Wright does so many different things with her voice that it makes her accessible as both a soul singer and a jazz singer singing in a jazz club. The chords are both unpredictable and beautiful. Reminiscent of Isaac Hayes lengthy 1960s and 1970s songs. 5/5



14. One More Drink- Nice funky arrangement, OK song. 3.5/5



15. Dear John, Part 2 (No Score)



16. Cell Block- nice contemporary, mid tempo arrangment. Nothing stunning here; infact the album could've ended after Do Your Worst and it would've been alright. 3.5/5.



I highly recommend this album. I wish more people appreciated neo-soul and embraced the music. 4 Stars out of 5."

Not a product of the System but truly a singer from the dept

Sareena Jones | Baltimore, MD | 07/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful. Just beautiful. All the other singers out now that is

getting so much play from the BET, MTV and other shows need to look at this woman and truly gasp. This is what music should sound like. Topics with meaning and not catchy hooks thats demeaning. Hopfully when Lauryn Hill hits the scene they will truly be aware. PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jaguar Wright

Adam F. Frewer | London, UK | 09/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to see Jaguar perform live at the St Kitts Music Festival a couple of years before her first album was released and was completely blown away by her lyrics and talent. This lady truly deserves to be a major star and with the release of her second album really shows what a talent she is and how she is evolving in to a big player in the music industry."