New Music Release: Estelle - Shine

April 30, 2008

Love muffins, I just purchased Estelle’s album Shine, released April 29th, to let you know if it is worth spending your dollars for a 12 track album. I never was really into her music, but I thought that I would give her a try.

Estelle’s sound, explains John Legend, “is a unique blend of hip hop, pop, reggae and soul,” explains Legend. “She has a special voice, unlike any other voice out there in mainstream music, and she can really write. She writes hip lyrics with unforgettable melodies. I recognized that in her when I first worked with her in 2004.” He continues, “I’m excited and honored to have Estelle as the first artist on my label, Homeschool Records. I believe the world is going to fall in love with her album, as I already have. Estelle is an amazing talent, and she’s going to do big things.”

In addition, sparks also flew between Estelle and Will.i.am when they recorded the album’s first single, “Wait A Minute (Just A Touch)” anchored by an experimental spin on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You”. The pair also came up with funk-infused “American Boy,” the second single after Legend requested “a hit!” Of the song, which features Kanye West, she laughs, “I gave the ladies and anthem!”

Estelle Music

Ok, so now I am listening to her first track “Wait A Minute (Just A Touch)”, and I am over here nodding my head to the beat. She has her own unique sound, but I still hear a little Eve and Lauryn Hill in her voice. In her “No Substitute Love” song, I feel the words that she wrote about. I am no ones substitute lover! Just because I am available when he isn’t, doesn’t mean that I am going to drop what I doing to feel the void that you have inside. No ma’am! “American Boy” is now playing and I just had to skip this song, because I am not feeling it. Now “More Than Friends” is beautiful. I hear a bit of the 70s sound but with more soul then disco, probably, because Aretha Franklin’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was sampled. “Magnificent” is very reggae. It reminds me of Rihanna’s “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want” (I really liked that song).

I have replayed “Come Over” about 4 times! The reggae flare mixed with her soulful yet haunting voice, brings me in while she insist that she is ready for love and in return, she will give all of herself. Her next song, “So Much Out The Way”, really sounds like a song that would have came out in the late 90s, but not a song that I would bump. I commend her on sampling Bob Marley’s “So Much Things To Say”, but I would rather listen to the original song. So that was another track that I skipped over. “In The Rain” has a very Spring/Summer feel to it. I can listen to this while cleaning up my apartment, or while vacationing in Miami this May. I just now realized that Barry White’s “Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love” was sampled for this song. Wow, several of her songs have been sampled! “Back In Love” is just so rich to me love muffins! I received the same feeling when I listened to Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and Floetry’s “Say Yes”. Yes, all three songs are different, but I can’t deny the feelings that I have for all three songs. I love them!

John Legend’s sounds super duper great on “You Are”. It really feels like a Spring song. I think her whole album has that Spring/Summer feeling with a touch of a light breeze. Again, I did skip over Estelle’s 11th track, “Pretty Please (Love Me)” on the album. The last track “Shine”, I can really hear the club playing this song. It compliments the album from beginning to end. The album is a mixture of uptempo and midtempo tracks. Over all, I give the album an 8 out 10.

For information on Estelle, please visit her website and myspace page. To listen to a sample of each track, visit Amazon.com.

Filed Under Music News

6 Responses to “New Music Release: Estelle - Shine”

NurseFAB on April 30, 2008 at 12:03 pm #

So do you like the album B Scott?? I really liked the song “Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)” and “American Boy” quickly became one of my new jams. It is so catchy! I was planning on getting her album when it came out yesterday, but I was so busy ordering Eva Longoria’s shoes that I forgot. Is the rest of the album as good as the 2 songs I mentioned? Let me know!
Tia Mia on April 30, 2008 at 12:05 pm #

I just bought Estelle’s album… I was OBSESSED with her album “1980″… “Shine” I just bought and only listened to it once so far, but I do like it. I know i’ll have my favorites shortly. I agree- 8/10 sounds about right.
NurseFAB on April 30, 2008 at 12:06 pm #

Ok, NurseFAB is looking at lovebscott.com in between patients and typed up a comment real quick…I just read the rest of the post…Disregard the above…Smooches!
mrsFAB on April 30, 2008 at 3:16 pm #

Estelle won me over with “American Boy!” I like her music and I like her look as well.
Love Bscott on April 30, 2008 at 3:47 pm #

This is a great great album! It really deserves more attention because Estelle is really talented. I’d highly recomend
See on April 30, 2008 at 9:58 pm #

Hey B. check out Estelle on Letterman singing American Boy she changed it up a little and now I am really feeling that song. It’s on youtube.