::SOUND CHECK:: Teresa Jenee | Electric Yellow

::SOUND CHECK:: Teresa Jenee | Electric Yellow
Review by Nocturnal Charm

It’s rare that an LP grabs me the way Teresa Jenee's debut album, Electric Yellow has.  And to think I stumbled across the download while peeping one of my favorite lyricists’ Black Spades’ Twitter page.  He was shouting out a fellow St. Louis natives’ debut album of which he had a hand in producing and wanted the masses to check out what in my opinion is the best debut album since Jill
Scotts’ Who is...

I realize that’s a strong statement but I firmly stick by it; The young lady just has IT.  She’s like some sort of amalgamation of what all modern day artists R+B SHOULD be in the eyes of soul music snob (of which most of my colleagues happen to be).  Vocally she’s reminds me of Janelle Monet as her voice slithers through valleys before soaring to peaks that I’ve yet to hear even as skilled a singer as Monet reach.  The songwriting is easily some of the best I’ve heard in recent memory. Here you’ll find NO cliches’, NO typical subject matter, and no lines placed simply for the sake of rhyming. The lyrics throughout this album read like a collection of personal diary entries backed by lush aural landscapes that range from electro-soul to stripped down piano ballads.

Among this collection of great tunes are a few that stand out especially in my mind.  The gorgeous, “Ode to October” is an appreciation of all the sights, and sounds of nature in the fall season.  This is a perfect example of the complex and layered songwriting that fills the album; as its not only
details the crisp air and crackly, brown leaves but speaks of the romantic feeling that accompany such surroundings. "Cleopatra Love & War" finds Jenee channeling her inner Prince as she employs her rendition of his trademark falsetto over a sparse synth-dominated track and informs her lover that she wants to play the role of submissive and have them to take charge.  The shining star of the album is clearly  the title track. "Electric Yellow". It’s no wonder this is the projects’ title because it represents the incredible artwork on the cover. The song is full of color, life, vibrance. Its clearly Jenee at her best as her voice soars over aggressive,  eletrolicious-soulful production by the singer herself that makes you either wanna shake your ass or drive VERYYYYYY fast.

At a hefty total of 15 tracks, including one beautiful rendition of Des’ree’s classic “Kissing You", this effort is more than solid, its great. Instead of a project that has a few hot tracks meant to entertain til the next “joint” drops, she’s managed to make an album that has the potential to become timeless, much like (the aforementioned) Who is Jill Scott and The Miseducation...  Take a bow Teresa Jenee; you are indeed…next.

Down load Electric Yellow HERE and follow Teresa Jenee at @TERESAJENEE