::ALBUM REVIEW::
by J Matthew Cobb
Posted: June 17, 2009

Once again proving there’s something mighty nice about the Bay Area water, Oakland native Tamika Nicole comes out swinging on her masterful independent projects by using the same gusto of Ledisi, Mary J. Blige and Sarah Vaughn. Though she’s still a young newcomer, she comes to the forefront with a resume’ filled with experience and life lessons on The Art of Letting Go - her sophomore independent release. It’s a modern record, infiltrated with the neo-soul movements of India.Aire and the jazzy Quiet Storm sensations of contemporary R&B, but with an amazing epic story. Each song serves up doses of life inspiration through depression, relationships and insecurity that works as easily as any urban gospel record. The singer/songwriter collaborates with R&B/gospel producer Jamie Hawkins (Sunny Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Destiny’s Child) and Jimi Fischer to get the right polished studio sound for the album’s jazz-influenced tunes.

The most obvious advantange of The Art of Letting Go abides in how each song points to a variety of remedies that justifies the strong album title. “Down,” using urban funk and hard rubber bass, offers up encouragement on how to get out of life’s setbacks and frustrations. “Only (You Ain’t Right)” is a woman-to-woman life lesson on breaking away from losers with the help of God. But the album seriously rises to higher heights when the songs match up with even stronger melodies and deeper lyricism, like on the Anita Baker/Michael J. Powell-styled “Enough” and the synth funk-infused “All I Need,” “Enough” is a touching prayer that certainly touches the windows of heaven as she asks God to help her “know that I am enough and always loved.” The dazzling saxophone solo effortlessly works the song into a smooth song of praise. “Get It Right,” with its smart synths, is so ready for radio with its empowering message towards moral maturity. Consider it a brighter version of Faze-O’s “Riding High.” And for serious funk jazz connoisseurs, they will get a kick out of the mellow lounge grooves of “Too Bad for You,” which serves as the ultimate “dump ‘em” anthem. After seeing too many urban movies like Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” where women have a hard time resisting no-good leftovers, this song comes off sounding like a modern parable with lots of 'sistah' attitude.

There are a few spotty areas including the bonus remix of “Get It Right,” which sounds extremely identical to the original. If only if there was a version featuring full acoustic and rhythm play without the a capella pauses on the verses. “Can’t Walk Away” finds Nicole facing rock. Musically, the song isn't radically edgy but her voice isn't fierce enough for this kind of party. And “Tryna Maintain,” with its computer-galactic sounds and grooveless beats, isn’t the perfect opener for such a moderately spotless project. It’s usually best to put the better material in the very front of a project.

But Nicole dazzles and impresses more than anything on Letting Go. Most of the songs are primed with believable instrumentation and work easily on Nicole’s confident vocals. And since the album serves as a half-gospel, half-mainstream celebration, the experimentation with musical styles and the strong lyrics both work as welcoming additions to those in need of unshakable discipline. Since the album sounds almost like a quick tutorial to life’s challenges, you can expect young ladies to gain inspiration from Nicole’s brand of urban devotionals.