Released during the same year as her big sister’s smash solo bow, Solange Knowles’ debut album, 2003’s Solo Star, had the misfortune of arriving during the full flush of Beyoncé mania – and also, it pretty much sucked. Since that album tanked, Solange has acquired a reputation as the more willfully independent Knowles sister – she’s a divorced single mother whose own Wikipedia entry describes her as “a total bitch” – while doing little to move herself musically out of Beyoncé’s shadow. Call her the Jan Brady of the Knowles family – and call it surprising, then, that her terribly named sophomore release is actually very much worth listening to. Solange’s voice is thin, but in a charming Diana Ross-type way, which works to her extreme advantage here, as she’s blanketed these songs with a heavy Motown vibe. Don’t call it a throwback, per se – there’s still plenty of the hard-edged modern production you’d fear from any young R&B artist – but there’s also plenty of live instrumentation (yes, even drums!) and an overall earthiness that’s as appealing as it is unexpected. The majority of the record-buying public will probably sleep on Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, but they shouldn’t – this record’s better than its title. (Geffen 2008)
