Esthero

Esthero’s long awaited follow up to her critically acclaimed 1998 debut Breath from Another is more musically adventurous than it’s predecessor. The album’s blend of hip-hop, jazz, house and much more, for the most part, fires on all cylinders.

The disc opens on a strong note with Esthero declaring that “I'm so sick and tired of the shit I hear on the radio and MTV” on the lead off track and first single, ‘We R in Need of a Musical ReVoLuTIoN’. While it may be a message that we’ve been hearing for years, she delivers it with such passion and intensity one can’t help but agree with her assessment of Top 40 radio and music television.

By opening up musically she has improved her already absolutely gorgeous voice. Whether she’s singing a whimsical love song (‘Everyday is a Holiday (With You)’) or a gentle R&B ballad (‘Gone’) her colourful personality shines through on each of the disc’s 17 tracks.

While there are a couple of fillerish tracks and the phone messages scattered throughout the release feel like an inside thing the listener isn’t privy to, the good far outweighs the bad and it’s great to hear Esthero doing her own thing again after so long.

Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another seven years for her next album.