1. Cried 3.5/5
Usually I would hope for a more upbeat opening track but on this album I feel a little differently. This track presents very well the sound and message that the rest of the album will be going for and thus opens the record very well. It also gives you a great taste of Glover’s vocal capacity if you weren’t familiar with her previously like myself. In this song there were also moments when I got a Jazmine Sullivan vibe from her voice.
2.Died Without You 2/5
There’s nothing miraculous about this track and reminds me of a lot of songs I’ve already heard even though it’s not a bad track.
3.Same Kinda Man 4/5
Like many tracks on this album, this track reminded me of another artist. For this track it was Melanie Fiona. It’s a great song with good lyrics and solid vocals. A personal favorite of mine on the record.
4. Damn 4.5/5
My favorite song on the album, hands down. On most tracks on this album Glover’s vocals carry the song but this track is the exception. There’s a good beat and there’s a wittiness to the lyrics from my perspective anyway. Plus with the topic of the song, I wouldn’t be surprised if this song is featured on Being Mary Jane.
5. Passenger 3/5
A good solid song, like most tracks on the album. At times it appears a bit of an anthem and other times a bit of a cross between modern R&B and indie-pop.
6. Forever That Man 2.5/5
The best part of this song is the chorus, while the verses drag a bit. Also the electric guitar in the verses though subtle is unnecessary and fortunately is left at the end of the verse before the chorus comes in.
7. Kiss Me 1/5
There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the track but there’s not much right either and that’s never good. It is one of the more upbeat tracks on the record thanks to the chorus though still technically a slow jam. E for effort on something more modern though. Also the ending ad-libs are absolutely phenomenal and necessary after such a lackluster track.
8. In The Middle 3.5/5
Not exactly a great song which is why I was tempted to give it a ⅗ but since the song samples “Ting A Ling” and makes me feel like I’m in high school musical during the chorus it got a .5 added. This track would’ve been as if throughout the song it followed the wavelength of the first 5 seconds.
9. Coulda Been Me 4/5
There’s something I love about a classic doo-wop beat and a soulful vocalist to accompany it and this song is exactly that. This track features some of the best vocals on the album and made me think of several powerhouse vocalists while listening that Glover is now in company with. The lyrics being very relatable also made this track more enjoyable.
10. Thank You 4/5
On this track, Glover delivers a message that every legendary R&B songstress has delivered; the thank you song to everyone whoever made them struggle because they’re stronger now because of it. A song that I would usually expect to see on a sophomore or junior album that Glover mastered on her debut album. Her ad-libs toward the end of the song, accompanied by background singers are beautiful and her voice is full with nothing but soul and passion for the lyrics.
11. Love Song 3/5
This song sums up exactly what this album is, unbelievably mature and full of soul and heart. Reminding us of what true R&B is and what a true powerhouse vocalist is. The guitar towards the end of the song is a nice touch as well, very reminiscent of “Spanish Guitar” by Toni Braxton. It’s a great way to close the album as it’s not too sad or too happy while managing to capture the essence of the entire body of work.
Overall this album is not something that a younger audience will probably appreciate and certainly not something that’ll be blasting through their earphones on the train. Nonetheless it’s a well done album, particularly for a debut project. Glover manages to let her vocals take center stage without sacrificing good music or overdoing it. The only problem I have with the record though is it seems more like an opportunity to explore what Glover’s sound is instead of an already decided and developed sound of her own. That’s why I think it may have been better to release an EP first to figure out her sound and not just her niche. Mainly, this album is full of good R&B and gave me nostalgia for good R&B music and proved it can still be created. If you love R&B go check this album out on iTunes, and support this new artist.