Solange

Solo Star
$45.98
It is an eclectic endevor ,no doubt, and I admire her effort simply for that reason. I have listened to the album several times, in hopes of developing a liking for "Solo Star" but to no avail, I simply end up disliking it even more. Listen to it real good before you buy it (If you can) so that can you possibly save yourself some money.

I Decided
$1.99
this is a classic ,very motowny!just heard this on the radio here in Texas .Luv it

Jennifer Hudson
$13.96
I fell in love with J-Hud's voice while she was a contestant on American Idol. She along with Fantasia & Latoya London made up the so-called "Three Divas" - they are all talented young women and of the three I felt that Jen was the most talented BUT that Fantasia had an undeniable "it" factor while in comparison Jen needed more seasoning as a performer. It sure would've been fun to see a Fantasia vs J-Hud finale but it's water under the bridge at this point since both a living their dreams now.

I've had to sit with this album for a while and give the songs a chance to "marinate" before giving my opinion. As debuts go I think it's ok - the problem for Jen is that fans have heard her and gotten to fall in love with her voice before this album was released and were expecting magic but the songs selected didn't really help her cross over to the wider pop chart audience.

I think that once again, Clive Davis was trying to throw a little bit of everything at the listening audience to see which tracks would "hit", Jen's powerful voice was toned down on a lot of the tracks and some of the tracks seem like throw-aways - not designed to show those who are unfamiliar with Jen exactly who she is as an artist. I didn't mind that a couple of the tracks are gospel oriented because if Aretha Franklin can successfully give us r&b, pop & gospel so can this young woman!

My favorite tracks are:

GIVING MYSELF - Jen's restrained vocals power this track, there is an alternate sweetness & power to her voice that makes this track interesting

SPOTLIGHT - catchy song

YOU PULLED ME THROUGH - great power ballad

IF THIS ISN'T LOVE - a synth-pop sounding track that's taken some time to grow on me

I'M HIS ONLY WOMAN f/ Fantasia - love the pairing of their voices, both unique and distinctive

CAN'T STOP THE RAIN - melodic track with great lyrics

JESUS PROMISED ME A HOME OVER THERE - touching

Another song of note is WHAT'S WRONG (GO AWAY) - this song could've been a great duet IF a real male singer had been paired with Jen (someone like Anthony Hamilton or Tyrese). This is an example of trying to pair her with someone who is "hot at the moment" like T-Pain whose vocals ruin this track.

Overall I'm happy that Jen was finally able to get a shot in this business and hope that with her next album, there is a thought out focus so that better singles can be selected to really showcase her as the gifted vocalist that she is.

Sandcastle Disco
$0.99
For Solange, Beyonce' Knowles little sister, she has really tried to make a splash very well. Nevertheless, it is a hard shadow for her to fill. After the appeal of I Decided, her second single Sandcastle Disco, from her sophmore album Sol-Angel & Hadley St. Dreams, brings in a more peppy and upbeat style from her voice, that shows to be gritty and easy to groove to. While the song really isn't bad, it is just hard for her to break from her sisters' shadow. Nevertheless, she is thankfully pulling it off quite well. The song has a upbeat vibe that shows that she is not trying to be a wannabe diva, unlike artists like Britney Spears or the pverexposed umbrella of Rihanna, that've been more about hype than substance. I think Solange might have a welcomed recording future, but I hope she doesn't get trapped under the same guise of overlooked divas. Let's hope she can escape the shadow, and make her own way.

Song: B-