SoulBounce has been keeping you updated with the news of Sade's latest, Soldier of Love, and the released tracks and videos have only heightened the anticipation for her long-overdue return. Only Sade could be absent from the music scene for ten years and cause an internet and offline buzz of such high magnitude. The new album brings the familiar mellow and ethereal sound that we have long associated with the elegant Helen Folasade Adu and her highly acclaimed band of musicians. However, Soldier of Love offers little more than a pleasant rehash of the sound and energy that we have grown up with over the years when listening to past Sade albums--from Diamond Life to Lover's Rock--and, frankly, that may not be enough this go round to lead one to buy it. While new listeners of the Sade sound may fall in love--simply because this is the signature sound of Sade--die-hard fans who have followed Sade for her entire career may listen to this disc and realize that it may be time to stop believing that there will be another Sade output that can rival the heat brought on Stronger Than Pride or Love Deluxe.
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The first single, "Soldier of Love," is, by far, the standout on the
record. The aggressive, punctuating energy of this song was the spark
this CD needed by offering a vocally confrontational side that we may
not have seen before. However, the newness offered in "Soldier of Love"
does not spread to other tracks on this short 10-track collection.
There is a definite tone of wistful love on this disc and while it's
the rehashed sound of beloved Sade albums from years past, the lyrics
are interesting enough to hear and ponder. Sade's songs have always
used the most simple poetic verse to express mountains of emotion and Soldier of Love
does not stray from that trend. You can't deny the in-your-face honesty
that is delivered almost matter-of-factly--"I'm going to peel you away,
cause you're not right within/Now it's time to wash you off my
skin"--like on the tune "Skin." However, while great metaphor abounds,
"Skin" resonates with traits of earlier Sade tunes like "All About Our
Love" from Lover's Rock. With that said, it's not necessarily a
bad thing, because past work by Sade is nothing less than stellar.
However, if you are looking for something new to be delivered by this
musical legend, then you may be a bit disappointed. It definitely seems
that the band Sade has found a tried and true sound and they are
sticking to it.
Sade Soldier of Love [Amazon][iTunes]
