Album Review: Estelle "Shine"

The hottest new multi-talented artist is here. Estelle has arrived from across the Atlantic to conquer America with her singing & rapping skills. She has, of course, been called a modern-day Lauryn Hill &--I have to admit--although I only recently got into Lauryn Hill, as the height of her career was really, for lack of a better term, before my time, Estelle is living up to that title quite well so far. Her debut album Shine, well, does just that.

The album's first single "Wait A Minute (Just A Touch)," which came & went pretty quietly from the scene, showcases Estelle's many talents, is a great way to start off the CD, & is an excellent song. "No Substitute Love" is also a great song, which displays the cool vibe that Estelle develops throughout the album quite well. "American Boy," which features Kanye West & is Shine's second & biggest single so far, shows off Estelle's fun side.

One of my favorite cuts is "More Than Friends." The tune features the best line, in my opinion, of the whole album: "And if I wanted to be part-time, I'd be working at the check-out line." Who else is awesome enough to come up with that? The Kardinal Offishall-assisted "Magnificent" is just that, while "Come Over" is another cool jam. Estelle's rapping comes back into play for "So Much Out The Way," a song that's style makes for one of the best tracks on the album. "In The Rain" is a wonderfully catchy tune featuring lovely vocals--the singing kind this time.

It's possible the only slip-up of Shine is "Back In Love," as it just sticks out as the only track I don't love, but still fits in with the rest of the album all the same. A couple more guests--John Legend ("You Are") & Cee-Lo ("Pretty Please (Love Me)")--help Estelle wrap up the album very well. The last cut, the title track "Shine," is yet another of the CD's best. More creatively catchy music.

Probably my favorite aspect of Shine, relative to its competitors, is that all of the songs are unique. Every track sounds different, but is just as brilliant as the next. Estelle has created something very special that can be played over & over again, with the listener discovering a different 'favorite song' each time. The guests & music around her only help Estelle 'shine' even brighter. If the world chooses to appreciate what a great talent she is, then we will all have the opportunity to hear real music together again.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars