It’s been nearly four years since R&B singer Jill Scott graced us with a new album. Her fourth studio venture is finally here, and is garnering generally positive feedback from critics.
“The Light of the Sun” was released on Tuesday (June 21), rolling off the momentum of her noteworthy lead single featuring Anthony Hamilton, “So In Love.” The 15-track album also includes collaborations with Doug E. Fresh, Eveand Paul Wall, as well as that signature spoken-word we come to expect from Ms. Scott.
Jon Pareles of the New York Times observes that many of the tracks resulted from studio jam sessions, creating an improvisational feel in both rhythms and vocals. He also notes that similarly to her previous albums, the context as a whole feels proudly feminine with the track “Womanifesto” setting the tone.
Entertainment Weekly’s Mikael Wood grades Scott’s latest effort a B+, praising her strong return to music after an acting hiatus. “‘The Light of the Sun’ has a distinctly early-aughties vibe, recalling an era when tempos were slower and voices less Auto-Tuney. It’s a welcome flashback,” Wood writes.
The chanteuse appeared in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too? in addition to starring in the Lifetime Movie, Sins of the Mother. She’s accumulated a few notable television credits over the years, as well.
Bestowing 3.5 out of 5 stars on the album, Jaymie Baxley of Slant Magazine describes Scott’s sound as “positively lackluster and dated on the album’s overwrought opener ‘Blessed.’” He later acknowledges approval of the third track “Shame” and the “terrific” “All Cried Out Redux.”
Sputnik Music’s Griff Fuller Jr. showers Scott with praise, grading the collection a 4.5 out of 5. He applauds her “confident” tone, describing the singer as “older” and “sexier,” arguing that the new album may be her best since the debut “Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1.”
“She has always been a shining example of creativity in urban music, and will remain to be the light in a music industry that grows darker and darker in quality and substance,” he writes.
“The Light of the Sun” was released on Tuesday (June 21), rolling off the momentum of her noteworthy lead single featuring Anthony Hamilton, “So In Love.” The 15-track album also includes collaborations with Doug E. Fresh, Eveand Paul Wall, as well as that signature spoken-word we come to expect from Ms. Scott.
Jon Pareles of the New York Times observes that many of the tracks resulted from studio jam sessions, creating an improvisational feel in both rhythms and vocals. He also notes that similarly to her previous albums, the context as a whole feels proudly feminine with the track “Womanifesto” setting the tone.
Entertainment Weekly’s Mikael Wood grades Scott’s latest effort a B+, praising her strong return to music after an acting hiatus. “‘The Light of the Sun’ has a distinctly early-aughties vibe, recalling an era when tempos were slower and voices less Auto-Tuney. It’s a welcome flashback,” Wood writes.
Bestowing 3.5 out of 5 stars on the album, Jaymie Baxley of Slant Magazine describes Scott’s sound as “positively lackluster and dated on the album’s overwrought opener ‘Blessed.’” He later acknowledges approval of the third track “Shame” and the “terrific” “All Cried Out Redux.”
Sputnik Music’s Griff Fuller Jr. showers Scott with praise, grading the collection a 4.5 out of 5. He applauds her “confident” tone, describing the singer as “older” and “sexier,” arguing that the new album may be her best since the debut “Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1.”
“She has always been a shining example of creativity in urban music, and will remain to be the light in a music industry that grows darker and darker in quality and substance,” he writes.
