India.Arie - Testimony Vol.2: Love and Politics Review

India.Arie returns with her latest project, Testimony Vol.2: Love and Politics. She begins by offering thanks to The Creator and continues this throughout the album with her Grains interludes. I give thanks to see that she picked guest artists for their musical contributions vs. their star power i.e. how much they could encourage listeners to buy her album through their presence. Arie treads familiar ground with her subject matter but has added much color to her musical palette via various world rhythms. Testimony Vol.2 will be a welcome addition to any India.Arie fan’s collection and is a worthwhile contribution to her musical legacy.

When I heard the album’s come hither songs lead singles: the syrupy Chocolate High and the made-for-dancing Therapy, I admit I had no clue what the album was going to sound like. Luckily, I blindly support most artists, and unlike most purchases this one delivers. She remains true to the title and her topics are largely about Love and Politics, but the politics are largely of an international origin. Ghetto is a song addressing poverty which she uses to great affect by putting to song the age old adage, The Ghetto is the same all over the world.”

Acoustic tracks only make a few appearances on Testimony Vol.2. One of which is He Heals Me, a song about an unconditional love that would fit perfectly on Acoustic Soul. The other is River Rise, which sounds surprisingly like a 2009 Donny Hathaway song via the keys, and immediately went on repeat. Largely, you hear more of a world music vibe whether it’s a Spanish guitar or a range of various percussive elements. She remakes Sade’s Pearls with a world sound that augments the words of the song and the places mentioned therein, but I still prefer the original. Like most Arie projects, there is a hip hop element via Yellow which I’m sure will go in DJs arsenals that are “devoted to the art of moving butts” on dancefloors, and Psalms 23 where she cites scripture with MC Lyte. Do I bow my head or do the rockaway to this one?

A dope project with few mistakes, Testimony Vol.2 will see a long life in your CD player. DJ Rahdu gives Testimony Vol.2 5.5 out of 7 headnods

*Head Nod Scale
1=Don't waste your time like I did mine.
2=Waste your time like I did mine but I dare you to disagree.
3=Well, there was the single.
4=If it were a hand in spades there's "two and a possible".
5=It's a "good" album. Meaning at least 3 or 4 solid songs.
6=Really Good Project. Has the "Rewind Factor" more than once.
7=The number of completion. Great Album. Instant Classic.