I admire people who can do more than one thing well. Though the amount of actor/singer/clothing designer/jewelry maker/perfume testers in the entertainment industry is irritating to say the least, I have less of a problem if you do a couple of things and do them well. I personally find any type of artistic talent to be extremely impressive, as my own abilities are, shall we say, lacking. With the state of female emcees in the music industry today, you'd think Estelle would have shown her rhyming ability a lot more often on second album (and first American release) Shine. While there are glimpses of her talent on here, this is a singer's disc and one that the Brit performs admirably.
My favorite thing about the record is that the guest appearances are strong across the board. Cee-Lo graces Pretty Please (Love Me) with some powerful background vocals and an all too brief solo verse; his harmonization with Estelle makes the hook that much more enjoyable, so you almost wish that he had an even bigger presence. Done with a wink, this shimmying, uber flirty uptempo doesn't come off as needy as the title suggests. It moreso feels like a smiley retro toe tapper, as Estelle doesn't take herself too seriously and adds a certain amount of kitsch to the vibe of the song. Wait a Minute (Just a Touch) mixes Estelle's singing and rapping to positive results against this melding of sparse percussion, jangling keyboards, and taunting background vocals.. The main thing I like about her reserved yet assertive flow is that she doesn't sound like anybody; she just sounds like herself, which makes it more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. Though the Black Eyed Peas' frontman's appearance isn't the best thing since sliced bread, his brand of inoffensive pop hop has enough energy to add some life to the track. You Are slows things up a bit, as Estelle duets with the man who signed her, John Legend. Out of all the duets, they have the most chemistry and make for the most musically compatible team, as evidenced by this warm, loving midtempo that is the epitome of feel good soul music (its wall to wall vocals and just enough tempo to avoid the cheesiness that could have plagued it). It's got such a big heart to it and truly exemplifies genuine romance, Estelle and Legend's back and forth quite captivating.
Shine works well as an album closer, a slightly tribal bit of inspirational soul that gets a little autobiographical and lets us know the origins of Estelle's music career. Instead of being self-indulgent, it's more of a song that lets us see her confidence and optimism and boy, does she have both in spades. This is the best her flow sounds on the record (so much finesse) with some of her most affecting vocals to accompany it. In the Rain just screams summer love, a laidback track that's based on a Barry White sample. Instead of pretty much singing to that track, she speeds it up and makes it into this glistening tale of sunrises and walking with the one you fancy. Something I really enjoy about Estelle is how much energy she brings to a track; on the entire record, she never sounds bored or disinterested and that commitment is all over Rain. Her eager vocal rides this early 90s-ish uptempo with a whole lot of style, making this an underrated listen on the record. Back in Love feels like something I probably should adore, but it's not the type of track that sticks to the ribs. It has all the makings of a strong listen; with a nostalgic lyric, some dreamy production, and a subtle vocal, it should have been the track that you play when you get back together with your ex or when you realize you can't deny your feelings for someone. Instead, it's a pleasant but ultimately forgettable midtempo that's a slight disappointment.
I'm personally worried where Estelle goes from here. Judging by her first "buzz" single Freak (scheduled to appear on her next record, due in September), her music has been radically transformed from organic soul with reggae/hip hop tinges to obnoxiously generic dance music that is as faceless as it is tasteless. The talented double threat already has a Grammy to her credit and the good graces of American music critics, so it'll be interesting to see where that momentum takes her. Nonetheless, Shine is a truly beautiful album, cocky in places, hushed and humble in others. The guest appearances add more than they subtract (a rarity in her genre), though Estelle's unique presence makes the album what it is. Her star may be dimming just a bit now, but this is a worthwhile purchase for any r&b fan that needs a little light in their record collection.
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