Following the disappointing reception and sales to her 2008 debut album, “Shontelligence”, R&B singer Shontelle is back with the release of her sophomore album, “No Gravity”, which was released in the U.S. on September 21st. The album was preceded by platinum selling single “Impossible” and explores more of a dance vibe than her previous effort did. The singer/songwriter is still trying to make her mark in the music industry and this album is a step in the right direction. Even though current sales for the album are nowhere near great, Shontelle should be proud of her work.
The album starts off with the best song, “Perfect Nightmare”. Once the song begins, listeners will automatically assume that it is another ballad, but as soon as the chorus starts, it quickly turns into a club banging, pop masterpiece. It is different, unique, and just plain amazing. “Impossible”, Shontelle’s most successful single, keeps the album on a positive path. This track proves that the singer has the vocals that rival most in the industry today. The song is beautiful and filled with emotion which makes for a great moment on the album and her entire career. A different sound is explored on the title track, a fun, catchy, upbeat song that is something new and refreshing that we have not heard from Shontelle since she came onto the scene. It is nice to see that she can do more than ballads. The album continues with “Take Ova”. The track comes off hard with heavy production that makes for a great club hit. The title does get a little repetitive, but the vibe is nothing short of pop gold. Pitbull, who is featured on the song, gives the song a little something extra which the track needed. Everyone will be quick to compare “Say Hello to Goodbye” to Nick Lachey’s only hit “What’s Left of Me”, that is because the beat and rhythm sound like they were just ripped from that song. With that said, Shontelle’s voice is as beautiful as ever and the track is something special. What I consider to be the biggest disappointment on the whole album comes from “DJ Made Me Do It”. The track is fun and fast, it has a disco vibe, but I do not take it seriously even if that was the case. Shontelle can do better than this and Asher Roth just adds to the chaos which is not a good thing. I do applaud her for trying something outside her comfort zone though. “Love Shop” is a song that I consider good, but I feel that it is just filler that you would find on any pop artist’s album these days. It is not a strong or impressive piece of work in any sense, no single potential at all. Another song on the album embodies a disco feel. “Helpless” actually takes that vibe and lets it work to its advantage. The song sounds like a ballad in terms of lyrics, but the beat and tempo let it become something totally different. Vocals are sweet and soft which is a plus. “Kiss You Up” is a sweet song that ends the new songs on the album on a good note. The whole up-tempo feel of the album gets leveled off with this song to bring it to a good close. The track is the slowest on the album but it fits perfectly with the rest of the track list. “No Gravity” officially ends with a remix of Shontelle’s first and only hit off her debut album. It is unfortunate that her debut did not make an impact in the states, so it is nice that the song gets to breathe new life. The song is slowed down as a duet with The Dream which finds its own place on the album. If you purchase the album on iTunes, you will be treated with a bonus track not available on the actual album. “Evacuate My Heart” is a club-thumping, powerful song that would have gone great on the track list. It is a shame that most won’t be able to hear it, but it is a good song nonetheless. Overall the album is a great listen, but I do not think it is a strong piece of work as a whole. The album has its bright moments, but also contains dark and dull ones as well.
“No Gravity” is a good second album. Shontelle has the powerful chops that make for an amazing artist, but unfortunately she does not get great material to show off her talents, which is nowhere near her fault. The album is a great pop sounding album that comes from an R&B artist. The album does have its highs and peak, but does showcase some major lows. The album is an improvement from her first and that shows in the reception and sales towards it, but it needs a more positive reaction. When it is all said and done, the album receives an 82% and stands on its own.
Tracks to Hear: "Perfect Nightmare", "Take Ova", and "Evacuate My Heart"
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