CD review: Ledisi, “Turn Me Loose”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
R&B
Ledisi “Turn Me Loose” (Verve Music Group)
R&B singer-songwriter Ledisi declares her independence on “Turn Me Loose,” boldly fusing hip-hop, funk, blues, jazz, soul and rock ‘n’ roll on her new album.
Her second record for Verve, “Turn Me Loose” follows her 2007 breakout “Lost & Found,” which earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for best new artist.
The New Orleans native effectively unleashes the full power of her supple voice and formidable charisma on “Turn Me Loose.” She also co-wrote all but one of the 14 songs on the album.
She and her collaborators prove they are unafraid of experimentation, crafting an album that never stops surprising. It veers wildly from old-school R&B to modern, refined hip-hop but still manages to feel and sound cohesive, mostly because of the sheer force of Ledisi’s magnetism.
The album explores the theme of coping with change, from the edgy bounce of “Everything Changes,” one of the best songs, to the restless piano ballad “Goin’ Thru Changes.” For the bonus track, she belts through a raucous cover of Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes,” the song that inspired her on the project.
The title track has Ledisi crooning about a broken relationship against a funky groove reminiscent of Stax Records’ heyday. She taps her spiritual side on “Higher Than This,” a track that is at once urban and urbane.
Ledisi worked with several producers and co-writers on “Turn Me Loose,” but her partnership with Raphael Saadiq yields the best results: the soulful ballads “Love Never Changes” and “Please Stay.”
- BAM
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