WhatzUp

Acoustic Soul
India.Arie
by RatMonkey

It has been only five short years since India.Arie became a guitarist/songwriter, and she has been recognized with seven Grammy nominations. I’ve been at it the same amount of time and I would be lucky to be recognized as “that guy drinking all that beer” at the Whammies show. Neverthe-less, it is refreshing to see talent met with appreciation (I am referring to her songwriting, not my drinking abilities).

Record of the Year, Best Female R&B, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album. Not too shabby for a first major label release, but, alas, the Grammy Gods were not smiling on India.Aire, and she didn’t get to bring a single award home.

It is a shame that India.Arie has no goofy little statuette to honor her “acoustic soul.”

Acoustic Soul is one of the most honest, soulful, funky albums to appear in the music world in recent memory. Mix classic Stevie Wonder with Ani Difranco, throw in a dash of Tracy Chapman and you start to get a taste of what makes up India.Arie. Tracks like “Brown Skin” or “Ready for Love” will cause the listener to crave snuggling with the nearest warm body (this can lead to trouble if mixed with drinking and a lady 30 years my senior who’s eyeing me like I was a Vegas slot machine and she just wants to pull my ... wait, I’m digressing to the Whammies. Back to Acoustic Soul). India.Arie can write a melody that will lead to cuddling and follow with a tune that will make you shake your money-maker. Songs like “Strength Courage & Wisdom” or “Video” will leave a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

In “Video,” India.Arie sings, “I’m not the average girl from your video/ And I ain’t built like a supermodel/ But I learned to love myself unconditionally/ Because I am a queen.” And that’s the truth: India.Arie is far from average. She radiates a musical beauty that surpasses any supermodel and with a debut like Acoustic Soul she stands to be the queen for quite some time.