Solange - Seat at the Table

Solange
Seat at the Table
2016
Spotify

Solange Knowles has followed in her sister Beyonce's footsteps, releasing a surprise album to much critical and actual fanfare. Solange's singing ability, and personality for that matter, are much softer than Beyonce, more understated. The album is similar a much more "personal" account rather than empowerment anthems. "Cranes in the Sky" is this sweet and beautifully put together track that just dances around Solange's vocals rather than overpower them ever. Throughout her career Solange has either being playing second fiddle, catch up or been simply exploring. Albums, movie roles, motherhood and divorce have been a part of shaping Solange and the place that this album arrives. Being Black in America is front and center on this album especially being a Black woman. It almost seems like these emotions and thoughts have been rattling around in Her head for some time and the only option was to just get them out in to the world. However there is a problem with all that. People will quickly praise Solange for her bravery, her ability to touch and connect with a theme and Her clearly of the moment song selection. What people won't point out is the insane number of writers on this album and the multitude of producers.

The same can be said of Lemonade as well these are products made by companies, not real personal art. The result might be something you can, and likely will find a connection with, but attributing that with the work of just a singular person is disingenuous. You'll find Raphael Saadiq's name in the liner notes almost as many times as you will see Knowels' and what that says on who had the guiding influence on this record is unclear. That is a problem. In today's day and age such a premium is put on honesty and being true to yourself that even the slightest question on whether something is fully genuine or not needs to be discussed. Another issue is the interludes. While they are saying powerful things, those things are already said with great subtlety and grace in the actual songs and don't need to be dictated to us again eight times on a 21 track album. "Scales" is a place where we see her and Kelela bring in some really beautiful harmonies and this late album stunner is definitely a place to hang your hat. Seat at the Table is a real in depth look at being a Black Woman in America but in the end it feels more like a beautiful recounting rather than a first hand narrative.

7.6 out of 10