Who I Am

by

Beverley Knight

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It is an absolute shame that Beverley Knight has not seen the breakthrough that she so much and so well deserves. While in the UK she has seen a good amount of success with her three albums, which was further validated by the recent top ten success of the lovely single "Shoulda Woulda Coulda," still she remains unfortunately unkown on the other side of the Atlantic. And even with the aforementioned success in The European side, Beverley's talent is one that deserves to reach greater heights. This latest release might be the one that allows her more exposure (which was also granted by the success of its first single "Get Up").

Who I am is a wonderful example of what UK soul is about. There is no talk of gangsters, money, or sex anywhere in this set. The lyrics (written by the artist) are uplifting, empowering, and inspiring (just listen to "Beautiful Contradiction"), proving that R&B can be intelligent and sassy at the same time. And, to top it off, Beverley's sweet vocals are a treat to the ear, as usual. The album has many bright moments, I will however highlight the two singles that have been released so far ("Get Up" is a good combination of dancehall with a touch of R&B, a true example of UK Soul that deals with being an original and respecting what one has to offer; "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" is an inspiring story of a love gone wrong and the regret that follows) and the duet Musiq Soulchild (a perfect example of nu-soul). Also noteworthy is "Hurricane Jane," which is full of energy and should be considered as the next single.

If you enjoy classy, soulful female artists (in the full sense of the word), this is one album to purchase. File it under "REAL SOUL."