BUCK C. COOKE
| 8.27.2008
OKAY, ADMIT IT: when you heard Beyoncé’s little sister was going to release her debut album (2003’s “Solo Star”), you either didn't notice, or you thought, “Here’s another album by someone riding on someone else’s coattails.”
Well, put that thought out of your pretty little head. Solange’s sophomore album, “Sol-Angel & the Hadley Street Dreams,” is an exciting fusion of '70s soul and the catchy accessibility of Motown’s golden age.
But even with all the retro influences, “Hadley Street” sounds modern thanks to slick production from the industry’s biggest names: Soulshock & Karlin, the Neptunes and Mark Ronson.
The debut single, “I Decided,” takes a note from the do-wop sound of girl groups like the Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, and the Shirelles. Solange vamps over the big beats and precise production much like her sister, and she also made lucrative use of dance remixes.
British dance darlings the Freemasons remixed the album version, and an edit of their mix is included on the CD at the second part of the track. The full length Freemasons remix, along with others from Mr. Mig, Moto Blanco and Lost Daze, propelled the single to the top of Billboard's Dance Club Play and Dance Singles Sales charts.
NEXT UP IS the delightful “Sandcastle Disco,” which, as you would expect from the title, is playful. For this one, Solange even directed her own video, in which she calls to mind Diana Ross as she cavorts around on giant instruments and frolics among animated effects.
For a first try, the video is not bad, so go on, girl! But go easy on the garish fashion. Some of the outfits she wears are mind-numbing!
“Cosmic Journey” is a sumptuous track with layered vocals, musical interludes, full orchestration, and a sophisticated vibe. Solange flexes her versatility Bilal joins on vocals. Other strong tracks are the jubilant “Would’ve Been the One,” the smoky “Ode to Marvin,” and the super retro “Dancing in the Dark.”
Of course, comparisons to Beyoncé are unavoidable. Yes, both are right at home onstage and in the studio. Yes, both are multitalented artists (singing, dancing, acting, etc.). Yes, both are stunning to look at.
But Solange wants to be judged on her own merits as an artist, which was something of a challenge when it came to getting “Hadley Street” made.
“I reached out to producers I felt like could capture this sound right on, but it definitely didn’t come without a lot of persistency,” she says. “Because of my past associations and ties, people tend to cast me away easily.
“It was so important to actually play the music for these producers and not go the traditional way,” she adds. “I reached out numerous times through managers and agents, but it wasn’t until the producers actually heard my new music that they wanted to be apart of it, and I understood that.”
SOLANGE ALSO WIDENS her resumé to include “songwriter” along with singer/dancer/actress. In addition to co-writing all of the tracks on “Hadley Street,” she also co-wrote “Get Me Bodied” and “Upgrade U” for Beyoncé, “Love” for former Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland, and “We Break the Dawn” for the third member of that trio, Michelle Williams.
Little sister also understands the place her music occupies in our world.
“When hearing this album,” Solange says, “I hope the listener is taken back to a time when music was melodic, sweet, and soulful; when music was less provocative and came from a place of inspiration and storytelling. I hope to have followers with an intelligent ear and that are willing to take risk.”
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