India.Arie has some big shoes to fill–her own.
Her debut album, Acoustic Soul, won critical praise, and with the help of seven Grammy nominations the masses also found their way to the soulful songstress–eventually. The 2000 release was cool, crisp and thought-provokingly refreshing with her no-apologies, I-am-what-I-am-and-I-love-it messages becoming a beacon in the cloudy world of R&B.
Now, a year later, India returns with the same mantras set to the same solid sound on her sophomore effort, Voyage to India. Only this time, there’s much more emphasis on her personal creeds, both mentally and spiritually, with her fantastic, rustic soul melodies and her distinct, baritone growl taking a backseat.
She even admits in the album’s liner notes that Voyage is a “chronicle” of her “spiritual journey.” And, although we are grateful to be along for the ride and to catch stray words of advice, her lyrically heavy album becomes too dense at times.
Scattered throughout the album are 60-second Pslam-like offerings with the reiterated theme of “take life as it comes.” While the sentiment is appreciated, we ultimately just want India to get to her singing.
The album, which takes its title from a song by Stevie Wonder (one of India’s primary influences and inspirations), is also much more romantic than Acoustic Soul.
In tracks from her debut, India is all about self-appreciation and loving. It appears as if it now overflows onto someone else–and it ain’t her lord and savior.
“The Truth” has India sweetly cooing a list of things she loves about “him”–perhaps God, but that’s doubtful–over a sexy beat and sassy acoustic-guitar licks. “I love him in every way that a woman can love a man / From personal to universal but most of all / It’s unconditional.”
“The One” and “Good Man” are bass-laden tracks suitable for candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach. India’s voice rumbles like a peaceful, distant thunder over lines like “We two grown folks, lets spend some time together / Get to know me better, maybe share some laughter / It just may turn into happily ever after.”
The cheese factor, however, increases tenfold on the light-FM sound of “Can I Walk With You,” the album’s only completely throwaway track. Although the lyrics remain up to par with the rest of the album, the unnatural drum-machine-esque sound is just not India.
Overall, though, the true nature of India.Arie comes shining through. Her admirable self-respect and soulful sound are the foundations of the album. She shares it with other people in tracks like “Talk to Her,” where she encourages all men to treat all women with respect because, “She’s somebody’s baby / She’s somebody’s sista / She’s somebody’s mama ? Everything you do or say / You gotta live with it everyday.”
And she also reminds herself of these important lessons on “Get it Together” and “Little Things” (the album’s first single) and the standout track, “Slow Down.”
Unlike many follow-up albums, India proves that she was no flash in the quota-filling pan of the Grammies. She showcases a steady, soulful prowess on this album, and, although not as groove-friendly as her first, it is very much a Voyage worth taking.
