India.Arie

India.Arie has simple goals; as stated in the letter to her listeners that appears in the Testimony liner notes, she merely wants to make music that "will speak to you in exactly the way your soul is calling out for."

Wow. Well, maybe it doesn't seem so ludicrous when people have called you the "Oprah of the music world." Indie.Arie is clearly looking to deliver listeners from evil, to be a guiding light, and that's noble and all (if a tad pretentious), but the dilemma is that the lyrics on Testimony are -- by far -- the weakest part of the album. It begins with that hackneyed Alcoholics Anonymous prayer ("God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change…") and goes on to dispense a million platitudes about self-love and inner peace and God and holding on to all three. It's Oprah, but reduced to the "you go, girlfriend" episodes.

Granted, platitudes can provide strength, particularly when given voice by someone with India.Arie's effortless cool. Perhaps her most valuable skill is her vocal restraint; it counteracts her "never met a motivational poster I didn't like" approach to lyrics. On the mic, she never pushes herself into histrionics, and doesn't mistake volume or long notes for proof of emotion. When she made her splash as a Grammy-winning, platinum-selling artist, it was ostensibly as an R&B artist, or "neo soul." Even then that oversimplified her style, and now she's still eager to grow beyond genre walls. That openness to exploration results in two collaborations that are among the album's highlights: the playful "Summer" with country's Rascal Flatts and bassmaster Victor Wooten, and the cinematically uplifting anthem "I Am Not My Hair," with hip-hop influenced crooner Akon.

"Good Mourning" works in an effective orchestral arrangement that doesn't overwhelm the soulful vocals. It shows that India.Arie is plenty capable on her own, particularly when she's digging deeper and not just settling for the sunshiney, self-help vibe. When she tells about "the greatest story never told" in the heartbroken "These Eyes," featuring one of her most committed and impressive vocals, it's infinitely more compelling than an Arrested Development-styled reminder to thank God because "it doesn't cost a thing to smile" ("There's Hope"). - Adam McKibbin, The Red Alert

India.Arie's third album would've sounded much different if it had been recorded and released shortly after 2002's Voyage to India. It would've either been made just before or immediately after a major breakup, one that informs much of Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. This isn't a bitter breakup album; instead, it's largely a breakup album that instead involves forgiveness, closure, and -- of course -- the kind of soul searching that Arie's fans have come to expect. Arie's relationship was apparently very serious, as demonstrated in "These Eyes," where she demands respect and wonders what her and his children would've been like. Though songs like "Good Mourning" deal with the immediate aftermath ("Good morning silence, good morning to myself/Good morning to the pain in the center of my chest"), they also seem to revel in it as just another part of being alive ("Good morning acceptance, good morning inner strength/I'm loving every moment, even the inner strain"). The album is a major production. Many of its songs involve well over a dozen musicians, some of which -- Rachelle Ferrell, Keb' Mo', Victor Wooten, Rascal Flatts, Acoustic Soul accomplice Mark Batson -- are bound to make some listeners freak. It's clear that Arie has been listening to a lot of country music; while these songs are completely hers (with the exception of Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter," a song that easily fits into the scheme of the album), it wouldn't be surprising to hear a handful of them covered by contemporary country artists. Since a significant portion of the album is centered around heartbreak and moving on, some of Arie's fans might not ever connect fully connect with it, but it will certainly be of great assistance to any of her fans who find themselves coping with something similar. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide