GeoReview: Estelle, Shine

While many complain about the American music scene the European scene seems to be shining bright. Recent hit albums from Lily Allen, Duffy and Amy Winehouse, in particular has many looking over the Atlantic for inspiration. Estelle is a 20-something sister from the United Kingdom (London) that many thinking of a double musical threat. While she’s not Lauryn Hill she does the skills singing and rapping. In fact she is a triple thret because she produces also.

She has received the MOBO for “Best Newcomer” and received three consecutive “Best Female Artist” trophies from the UK Hip-Hop Awards. This LP is entitled Shine and her first single “American Boy” featuring Kanye West has been out there for months but is finally getting United States play because it’s very catchy and has a concept that is very popular especially with the international world we live in now: traveling for love. But Estelle won’t be a one hit wonder as her style, which includes elements of Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae and Soul has her on some diverse tracks many of which she writes for.

Executive produced by John Legend and featuring production from will.i.am, Johnny Douglas, Mark Ronson, Wyclef Jean, Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis and more, she has the right backing for sure and the right sound to maintain in this game.

Songs to listen for include the cuts “So Much Out the Way”, The reggae flow “Come Over”, the fast track “In The Rain” “Wait A Minute” featuring will.i.am, “You Are” featuring Legend, “Magnificient” featuring Kardinal Offishall the title track “Shine” and the second U.S. single “No Substitute Love”. I say listen to these but you won’t find a bad choice on the LP, it’s all good!

Estelle has different sounds on the LP and her sound changes as well so you can enjoy the product throughout. “Pretty Please” featuring Cee-Lo sounds good and a little cliché but that’s the only complaint I have on this impressive LP. Estelle sounds like confidence and polish on the microphone whether it’s rapping or singing. Her The 18th Day LP went under the radar but this one won’t any longer. She’s one of the artists I will search for new music from. We need more artists like this in mainstream music.

I’ll give it 4.5 GeoGlobes.

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