Hey there Insighters and welcome back to another #FiveOnFriday music post. It’s been a while since our last ‘Album Appreciation’ segment. But rest assured, I’ve got a slew of incredible projects lined-up for review.

And for those of you who may be unfamiliar with the concept, here’s the gist:

‘Album Appreciation’ is where I discuss my thoughts on an entire body of work from a musical act based on recommendations or out of personal curiosity. And to keep in-tune with the Top-5-countdown spirit of things, I rank and comment on my 5 favorite songs from said body of work.

That said, I decided to do a little back-peddling and revisit an album I practically dismissed earlier this year.

Upon initial listen, this album did not grab me. I admired the production mainly, but everything else sounded similar and didn’t really stick.

But recently I heard the track ‘Down With The Clique’ playing during a time and place I shall not mention. Nonetheless, it compelled me to give Miss Solange another go.

This was still the very first Solange album I’ve listened to. And with about 4 months’ time standing between my listening periods, I still didn’t know what to expect.

Luckily, I was won over with almost every track; the interludes are especially something to behold.

Thus, I’ve come to the realization that these songs transcend the essence of being just a record; instead they cohesively mesh together a vibe from start to finish.

And normally I’d do a little intro on the artist, but you all should know Solange Knowles.

Not only is she an incredible, singer/songwriter/producer/director, etc, but she’s also Beyonce’s younger sister.

And if you don’t who Beyonce is, that’s some hell of a rock you live under. So without further ado, let’s get this countdown started!

NUMBER-FIVE [5]

‘Down With The Clique’

Undoubtedly, this was the track that reignited my interest in this album. I found myself immediately engrossed with its smooth keys and sublime melody.

Solange’s voice on this track find her practically crooning the entire time as the vocal arrangement becomes more and more enticing on the chorus.

“We were, we were (Down) down with ya, down with ya/ (Down) Down, down with ya, down with ya/ Down-down-down-down with ya, down with ya/ Down, down with ya, down with ya” , the chorus resonates repetitively.

Although lyrically simplistic, it embeds itself into your mind. So much so, that you’d find yourself subconsciously singing it during random hours of the day (speaking from personal experience).

As Solange takes us on a nostalgic joy ride filled with “rollin’ up in the street” and “chasing the divine”, I get the sense that the song is questioning one’s integrity or level of commitment to their relationship/friendship or even a cause.

In any event, Solange won me over with this imprinting number.

Genres: R&B, Electro-Funk

NUMBER-FOUR [4]

‘My Skin My Logo’ ft. Gucci Mane

The lax, chilled mannerisms of this song are accentuated by the rippling, jazzy production. Similarly, the playful vocals that pendulum between Solange and Gucci Mane are rather entertaining, comical even.

In fact, my favorite pair of lines from the entire song are without a doubt “Gucci on his sheets, Gucci on his feet/ I didn’t want to sock her, she had Gucci on her cleats”, Solange cleverly giggles adding even more charm to track.

Coupled with her lighthearted antics are the satisfying ad-libs by Gucci Mane.

I can’t really describe it, but there’s just something endearing about hearing Gucci Mane outlandishly going “Wop” on a track.

He effortlessly manages to lyrically match the lighthearted atmosphere already in creation. Case in point, “Solo like to shop, Solo bought the mall (Yeah)”.

Eventually, the song goes from this fun listing of each others’ like to this passionate moment of Solange belting amidst some ad-libs from Tyler, The Creator.

“Ooh, that’s my baby/ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh/ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh”, she muses, pulling you even deeper into the moment with her. Simply powerful.

Genres: R&B, Electro-Funk

NUMBER-THREE [3]

‘Binz’

What starts of as this groovy, melodious wave of vocal delight, soon sonically manifests into a funky, almost reggaeton-infused…bop!

Solange enters with a hauntingly, ethereal vamp “Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah/ Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah/ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh”.

By doing so she wastes little time pinning down the attention of listeners; so now we’re left wondering where this song is going to take us.

But rest assured, in less than two minutes, Solange manages to get you moving and swaying.

With braggadocios lyrics that speak to having an abundance of money and being able to afford the best life has to offer, Solange paints the scene of luxury.

“I just wanna wake up to the suns in Saint Laurent/ Hundred thousand dollars on the fronts, hella blunts/ I just wanna wake up on ya thigh, on a yacht/ Or in the Rolls that’s rented, windows tinted”.

Additionally, the chorus provided by R&B phenom The-Game, gives the song another layer of enjoyability. “Sun down, wind chimes/ Break it down, one line, a line…“.

Inevitably, you just find yourself encaptured with the production and lost in a truly transcendent groove, waiting to spam the replay button.

Genres: R&B, Electro-Funk

NUMBER-TWO [2]

‘Stay Flo’

Wrapping up one-third of the album, ‘Stay Flo’ finds Solange once again providing enthralling production and a catchy beat.

Her words seem to flow effortlessly across the length and breadth of this track, like butter across a warm piece of toast.

Lyrically, I’m pretty much at a lost when piecing together any particular meaning behind the song.

And even after multiple listens, I still find the lyrics to serve as a collection of arbitrary thoughts and images.

This elusive sense of concrete meaning gives the song an admirable quality. It makes abstract sound appealing.

Furthermore, it’s laced through and through with onomatopoeia. Between the “Ayy,ayy'[s]” and “Hold Up'[s]” and “Yeah'[s]”, you just find yourself once again getting lost in the music.

And this transportation into another realm is recurrent throughout the entire album.

Yet this track especially manages to find a balance between cosmic ethearality and earthly traits.

Translation: It’s something you can dance to and mellow out to at the same time with ease.

Genres: R&B, Electro-Funk

HONORABLE MENTIONS

  • ‘Things I Imagined’
  • ‘Sound Of Rain’
  • ‘Way To The Show’
  • ‘I’m A Witness’

*NUMBER-ONE [1]

‘Almeda’ ft. The Game & Playboi Carti

If you managed to tune-in into my Top 5 Songs Of 2019 (So Far) post, then you wouldn’t be surprised by my number one pick. ‘Almeda’ is hands-down the best the album had to offer.

I literally melt into the melody and sonic landscape of this track with each listen. It’s ambient, light, ethereal, and filling.

It’s pretty much musical manna for the soul.

Taking time to reflect on Black pride, Solange lists throughout the track features and landmarks exclusively indigenous to the Black race.

She crows softly, “Brown leaves, brown keys/ Brown creepers, brown face/ Black skin, black braids/ Black waves, black days/ Black baes, black things/ These are black-owned things”.

Soon enough, her words become a chant, an encantation that radiates empowerment, joy, knowledge, and heritage.

The Dream’s blissful vocal contributions paid off, adding to the serene vibes of the track.

Likewise, Playboi Carti’s verses got my head bobbing and played well into the song’s experimental mannerisms (baby voice and all) – “All black coupe (Holup, yeah)/ Now I want you (Holup, yeah)”.

Ultimately, even after all that Florida Water, this remains one of the best songs of 2019 so far and definitely sits on the top tier of this album. Now sip, sip, siiip, siiiiiip, sip.

Genres: R&B, Hip-Hop, Electro-Funk

Did you enjoy today’s Album Appreciation segment? Have you given this album a listen? If so, which songs are your fave? Let me know in the comment section below.

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