Previously known for singles and the occasional LP, Jhené Aiko bares all on her new album, Souled Out, which symbolizes life through a girl’s eyes. At the end of the album, an exhausted Aiko murmurs, “Yes, this is all that I have left in me.” Yet, it is unclear whether this personal journey is one listeners want to take.
The album’s instrumentation is composed of soft, synthetic chords that support complex, thumping drum lines. Constantly shifting into syncopation, these beats serve as an admirable attempt to prevent the album from growing dull. Unfortunately, background beats alone couldn’t salvage Aiko’s lackluster work.
The one saving grace of Souled Out is Aiko’s vocals, she sings every verse and chorus on the album, except for rapper Common’s underwhelming verse on “Pretty Bird (Freestyle)”. Unlike her work on her debut EP, Sail Out, Souled Out gives Aiko’s voice, both alluring and sensual, the space to stand out.
Unfortunately, this raw vocal talent is wasted on boring lyrics. In “W.A.Y.S,” Aiko repeats the same phrase, “you gotta keep going,” over and over, fruitlessly attempting to create the next uplifting feel-good anthem.
It’s on “Promises,” however, that the repetitive lyrics carry the intended emotional clout. The track features vocals from Aiko’s 6-year-old daughter, Namiko, and samples a recording of Aiko’s brother, Miyagi, who died of cancer in 2012. The song builds as Aiko asks her daughter to promise her “to be all right,” while she tries to support their small family. Reaching a huge crescendo, Aiko’s voice crashes in gorgeous waves over the thumping beat and gentle orchestration.
When addressing the listeners directly, Aiko’s words are lost in repetitiveness and soporific lullings. But when she speaks from her experience and to those she loves, her Souled Out creation truly shines.
Voice’s Choices: “Lyin King,” “Promises”
