Ledisi

Ledisi exhales on the funky opener "Get Outta My Kitchen," pumping mad adrenaline and setting the bar for the next 16 tracks. She confronts incest and domestic violence matter-of-factly on "Papa Loved to Love Me," a tell-all about a father raping his daughter. Cool jazzy flavors (including the catchy "I Wantcha Babe") and sweet floaters ("Take Time" and "In My Life") balance the more dramatic cuts and provide a comfortable plateau for Ledisi's fluid alto. "Coffee" is reminiscent of the '60s/'70s poet-artists Nikki Giovanni and Gil Scott-Heron. Soulsinger has that freshness that makes first albums special. The multi-talented singer co-wrote most of the songs with keyboardist Saundra Manning. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide