Estelle - Shine

Estelle...what can I say?  She shocked me with this one.  This cd is one of those pleasant surprises that come in life sometimes.  I knew about the first single American Boy and I liked the song when I first heard it...even if it uses the same beat from Will.I.Am's song "Impatient".  I really only thought she would have that one song....until I read that John Legend was involved...that made me look into it further.  I'm hooked now.  She talks a lot of junk for the women out there...but its cool.  Sometimes the strong English accent throws you off but the music is so nice you keep listening.  You can tell she's a fan of hip hop by the sometime hip hopish element she brings to the tracks.  The funny thing is she can give it you on an upbeat hip hop/RnB track or a reggae inspired track...she can even give it to you on a slow, smooth RnB track.  Versatility is hard to find these days....but she does it well.  

Tracks that deserve repeat:

American Boy

More Than Friends

Come Over

So Much Out The Way

In the Rain

You Are

Pretty Please (Love Me) - nice video