India.Arie

Combining African head wraps with a folkie sensibility, India.Arie looked like Erykah Badu but sounded more like an upbeat Tracy Chapman when she first arrived on the scene. On her debut album, matter-of-factly called Acoustic Soul, neo-soul is the flavor, but with a strong singer/songwriter bent -- and a focus on organic over orgasmic. The lyrics spell out the vibes: She's not built like a supermodel, as she sings in the reggaeish single "Video," and she loves brown skin kissed by the sun ("Brown Skin"). She sings of promises, courage, and wisdom, and strives to achieve holistic balance in her life. She also makes sure to pay tribute to her forebears, naming everyone from Billie Holiday to Stevie Wonder in song. And while the moods of Acoustic Soul rarely deviate from smooth, laid-back, and occasionally sultry, the album's sameness is more than made up for by the strength of the songs.

The followup, Voyage to India, offers few sur-prises, and because Arie's earth-mother/unplugged-diva thing is now familiar, there's less novelty appeal. Still, "Little Things," her first song not built around acoustic guitar, shows growth, while other tracks ("Talk to Her," "Slow Down," "Good Man") relay a soul classicism that should make her label proud. While her occasional impulse to preach syrupy New Age platitudes and commit other lyrical offenses mar the record (as does a slightly slicker production sheen), on the whole, Voyage compares favorably with the debut -- and keeps you wanting more. – Roni Sarig

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide