THE BIG REVIEW: 'Strength of A Woman' by Mary J. Blige

So I'll bet you're wondering where I've been? Why hath I deserted you once again? I can only apologise folks, but I have two very good reasons for my season of silence...

First, is that since my stint in Bath at the end of October/beginning of November, I have been recovering from the experience; I know it may seem like a long time for that to your lovely selves, but pour moi - 13 chronic, degenerative illnesses work in their own time. The second (way more interesting) reason is that Yours Truly has been working hard on my debut novel! Remember when I told you I had a BIG secret to be revealed? Well this was it - for a taster of what's to come, check out a preview chapter on the ESintheP Facebook Page. Not right now though - now we get down to business.

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul has returned, and I just couldn't let the occasion pass without saying something. I guess you will have all heard by now that Her Majesty has returned to the painful roots that we all know and love her for (not to get in her business, but it's no secret that the Queen no longer has a King, what with her 12-year marriage to Kendu Isaacs imploding after she discovered he was fooling around with her protege on her dime). Whilst she says that she named the album before everything went the southern route, it's clearly evident from standout anthems like Thick of It, the freakishly Faith Evans inducing Set Me Free, and U + Me (Love Lesson), that Ms. Mary put her pain in the music. It's one big cathartic 'cheque please'.

There is not a single dud on this album, each track is as good as the last. It's a GRAMMY-worthy plethora of singles with production for days. An album full of testimonies that see her credit not her own 20+ year, built up resilience, but the Good and Gracious Man Upstairs and his Son for her strength, the overall message also denotes a humility that we can all recognise as true from a Mary who has grown into a mightily wise woman. Without one ounce of the cockiness that some with as many years in the game as she, could justifiably hold; it is definitely this down-to-Earth Diva that so many herald as a true, living, loving, life guru.

Whilst this album is the equative result of the bombastic beats of My Life +  the self-love message of No More Drama; it's beautiful to see Mary's growth as an artist explicitly implied. Unlike the desperation and loss of direction implied in Mary's earlier heartbreak compilations, this one carries a different overall message (hence the No More Drama element) - she's not beaten, and she's not broken; in fact, she's Indestructible. Kudos to her for the personal growth that shines through into the music. Featuring spots from Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Quavo, Missy Elliott, Prince Charlez, KAYTRANADA and BADBADNOTGOOD; let's be honest, the world is always gonna close ranks and support this member of royalty.

'Strength of A Woman' is available from all independent retailers now.

Make sure you come back Wednesday for updates on my shenanigans of the past week; including stops at the London College of Fashion, and Pop PR's Press Day; where I show you some of the latest from their extremely talented list of designers.

Until the next...
ES

MusicMonday's SoundOfTheWeek: Following My Intuition - Craig David

When I first heard that Craig David was coming out with a new album, I must admit that I did wonder what it was going to sound like. If I'm brutally honest, I haven't liked a single release since Born To Do It barring the odd album cut (need I remind you of that awful ice cream flavour song *shudders*), and so I questioned whether this was going to be anything that I could really enjoy as much.

Listening to opening track Ain't Giving Up, a hardcore dance anthem that makes you yearn for Ibizan shores; I thought 'this isn't too bad, nothing to offend my ears here'. In fact, I marveled at the fuller, richer sound of his voice. David seems to have developed a smoother texture that I don't remember in previous years - and I liked it. It made the track sound sexier, and more inviting, until thoughts of my bikini body crept in and made me skip to the next track in colder climes.

When The Bassline Drops and Don't Go follow in much the same vein as the opener, the only variance being a slower intro for the latter. It isn't until you check the track information that you learn 16 is not a Fill Me In remix, but a recycled version (in a good, responsible 21st century consumer kind of way). With the addition of a brand new bassline that makes the original sound like a pale comparison, and a rap filler that reminds you that David also does that sort of thing, the new version is the best moment of the album up to that point.

Could It Be Mine is an annoyance to every female on the planet. Despite the nice production, the lyrics are arrogant stinkers of Usher Raymond proportions. Lamenting over the prospect of imminent fatherhood, rather than questioning why he didn't put a jimmy on it (I know he's old enough to remember TLC and all of Left Eye's condoms) - he's calling the poor female's virtue into question. There's a name for the kind of role he casts himself in during this song, but as a lady, I'm not going to publish it...Arsehole (oops, my bad, I forgot my ladylike ways behind the line of sisters wronged by these types of male children).

Attempting to make amends for his previous spineless efforts, One More Time is a dance banger that I imagine being huge in the clubs before week's end, and on the holiday shores all of next Summer. Out to save his relationship, it's a last chance saloon type of ditty. Taking the pace down, Change My Love is a nice, mellow pop song for those not entranced by the main dance theme. It's a nice change of pace that reminds you David is not a one trick pony. Before you can get too comfortable however, Nothing Like This takes us back to the floorfillers. Ever the romancer, this one is the borderline dance equivalent of the previously mentioned Usher's U Make Me Wanna.

Slowing down again, All We Needed is a piano-led ballad about a doomed love out of its time. It left me scratching my head through most of it, as I felt that the lyrics were quite ambiguous, and it was hard to tell who he was singing to until near the end? Louder Than Words begins with a Spanish guitar that matches the timbre of David's voice perfectly, before turning into a hard drum-led ballad that mimics the emotion of a downtrodden boyfriend badly treated by a scheming girlfriend.

What If is the standout album track for Yours Truly. The most RnB-led track, with a Walking Away throwback; David sings of possibly losing out on the love of his life because he let the opportunity pass him by. The production is absolutely stellar, and the vocals reach ultimate perfection with David's trademark harmonies in the background. Like A Fan is another ballad - although of a poppier tense. A shoe on the other foot track where the lady in question has him chasing his tail, he can't get over feeling like the females that he has given the run around in the past. After a one night stand, that beautiful thing called Karma came to bite him in his backside - class.

Better With You takes us back to the guitar, and once again, the paired back ballad gives the vocals a chance to take centre stage. It's a good love song that you can tell will absolutely slay a live crowd. No Holding Back takes us back uptempo, but in a welcome Artful Dodger type of way. We even get the trademark 'Craig David and etc.' melodic tagline (replace with Robbie Craig where appropriate and you'll know what I'm talking about). Here With Me officially takes us back to the Soulful Garage days, and if you were a fan of the genre like me, then it's a welcome trip down memory lane.

Craig David

Warm It Up takes has a calypso-tinged rhythm that, like most of this album, will see David firmly back on the map when it comes to the discussion of vocal dance heavyweights of the current era. The skill with which he melodically rides the beat reminds us why we love David's multifaceted abilities. Sink or Swim closes us out with RnB smoothness. In some places, the production almost seem bigger than him, but for the most part David holds his own and overall, it's a nice place to finish.

It's safe to say that with the calibre of this album and the growth that he exhibits as an artist, timing will never be an issue - David's a sure fire bet to be one of those artists who can go away and come back as many times as he likes without missing a beat. It's clear after all that with a standard like this to offer, Craig David's Intuition is right on the money.

Following My Intuition is available at all independent retailers now.

That's all for this week folx - be sure to come back next week for a bumper round of reviews that we didn't get to touch on today, like Solange's incredible A Seat At The Table, Banks' alternative The Altar, and the controversial Frank Ocean's Blonde. See you next week for Music or on Wednesday for this week's Fashion fix - don't forget I'll be talking International Jewellery London 2016, and the start of my three-part London Fashion Week SS17 series - it's gonna be BIG!

Until the next...

ES