There are so many lesser-known and lesser-popular artists out there who receive lots of praise or are deemed incredible when they are anything but. Ledisi on the other hand, is totally deserving of the praise. This album features top-notch production and vocals. These are well-chosen tracks and range from very melodic and upbeat to somber. I bought this album from iTunes randomly for no particular reason and had it for a few months before I just started playing it. I have been listening to it since. The songs are easy to catch on to and the album flies by in no time because it's such a great listen.

Do yourself a favor and buy this, odds are you'll be a fan.

I first heard Ledisi on my local NPR station doing big band standards. I next caught her amazing scat turn on the We Love Ella CD, and then she popped up on the new Sergio Mendes work. In every case, where she brought a soulful R&B sensibility to familiar pieces, I was led to believe that Ledisi was the new Sarah/Ella. This image is also supported in the information on the Verve website, where they wax rapturously about her live renditions of "Yesterday," "Blues in the Night," and "Unchained Melody" at various events.

So, I was happy to find her CDs (I had to do some serious Googling to find how to spell Ledisi), and snapped up this one, in spite of not recognizing the tunes on the play lists. I was very disappointed to find that she does NOT sing any standards on the albums. That's certainly her perogative, but I do hope that someone on her management team deals with this blatant schizophrenia.

There's nothing that says that a singer has to be buttonholed. However, it's frustrating for a fan to feel like they've been hornswaggled--you hear "apples" on the radio, but when you dig into your pockets and buy the CD, the music is "oranges." A further example: Her next gig in New York, where I live, is at the Blue Note jazz club, with the Count Basie Orchestra, so the dual personality syndorome continues. Let her try to sing some of her own neo soul tunes to that audience and see what happens!

If your tastes run to Eryka Badu, and you haven't discovered Ledisi yet, you'll love the latter. If your exposure to her runs along the same venues I described, pass her current CDs up and hold out for a jazz classics project, which is surely on its way. (Inexplicably, her next CD, coming in Sept 2008, is Christmas music!) I don't expect my review "to be helpful" to fans of contemporary urban music, but I hope I can stop other old school jazz lovers from making the same assumptions/mistakes that I did. I am giving her 5 stars for her boundless talent, as I don't think it would be fair for me to downgrade her just because I don't like her music.

I like the beat to both the intro & outro, they frame a pretty good CD. Track III "You & ME" has real soulful feel as well as beats. My favorite song is Track VI "Think of You". A real upbeat song kind of reminiscent of Jaguar Wright. The XI "I tried" is another upbeat song that can be considered a good dance song. I think the fifthteenth song "Someday" is the most heartfelt song of the whole CD. She mentions her family in a very loving way. Songs IV, "Best Friend", V "Alright", VIIII, "Upside" Down", are decent cuts as well. I know I shouldn't but I must compare her sound to Angie Stone with whom I have a high opinion of.

Ledisi takes you on a journey of emotions with this CD. I guarantee that anyone who is into NeoSoul will not be disappointed and for the newcomers this is a refreshing change from the same old music you hear on the popular radio stations. Give her a try and if you can check her out live like I did this summer you will instantly become a fan.

i wasn't crazy about this one when i bought it, so like some others it sat on the shelf. got up to clean one day and popped in and couldn't believe that i slept on this cd. great flow, great sound and great voice. buy it!