Sonia Dada: Barefoot Soul : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Ever wonder what happened to the funky feel-good AM-radio music of the Seventies? Seems the very talented Soniadada found a way to bottle its sweat and sunshine. On their latest release, Barefootsoul, Dada's eight members continue a nearly twenty-year tradition of melding soul, R&B and rock. They take solid melodies, lace them with arresting vocals and shine 'em up good with all the colors of their superfly rainbow. The opener "Better Brains" showcases sweet falsetto vocals a la the Stones' "Emotional Rescue" before leading you into the sexy heated gospel of "Baby Woke Up." "Raise the Roofbeam," a jazzy ballad, finds Shawn Christopher's voice floating around like billowy clouds. But the real elixir is the masterful "Daisy"-a glorious epic, it begins with sublime acoustic guitar that bounces into electric; it then segues into a lilting romp with carefully placed clarinets and culminates in a New Orleans celebratory jaunt -- all in under five minutes. Many of the songs are grand, soulfully orchestrated feats; they almost play like tunes from a really good musical -- one produced by Sanford and Son, that is.

ROBIN AIGNER
(August 20, 2002)