Marilyn Ashford Brown opens the album with a groovy song that remind us of the better sounds from the eighties. Her soulful dance track "I've Got A Feeling" is critical towards society and positive at the same time because Obama is in the house and Change will come. Another songstress Inobe has the funk in "Front Porch" while Ms. Monique a lá Millie Jackson brings you sensuality.

Speaking about sensuality Cornelius MD will remind you of Barry "Wicked" White with his dark and sexy voice when he sings "Step Baby". A big dose of soul music is brought to you by Governor in "Decisions". His vocals are coming from deep inside and are full of emotions. You can compare them a bit with those from The O'Jays in the song "I Love Music". If we go on comparing voices the song "Wishin'" from Da Wonda Twinz Ft. Redd Soul feels more like a Chi-lites song.

Staring with Orly we go to the more jazzy and soulful section on "The Contemporay Soul Songbook volume 2". Orly will definitely be one of your favourites with the soulful delivery she gives away in "Sit Back". Another great voice is that of Asanda Bam in "Brand New Day". She is our new South African hummingbird! Jazzy, soulful and funky is Gemma Genazzano who together with Marlon Saunders brings you great songs on her debut album "Si Me Quieres".It's a great album. One of those great songs from Gemma Genazanno is "Take Me Away". Last but not least is Erin Hunt with her sunny mix of bossa nova and latin rhythms in "If You Believe In Me". Why not?(TA)

Soldier of love is an album with songs where the lyrics are important to listen to. The music although mostly quiet is sometimes very energetic with the roaring guitars. Love is the theme of the album and it is celebrated and lamented.

The first song "The Moon And The Sky" gives you the feeling of longing for a lost love, a lamentation. In "Soldier Of Love" you will get convinced that love will always come around, you have no reason to panic. Listening to these songs you will notice that Sade has found a new sound to their music. It is not as smooth as we used to hear in a song like "Smooth Operator". It is tougher. Still a bit of the old Sade comes back in the beautiful track "Long Hard Road". Some kind of loversrock you will find in "Babyfather". A song that will get to you right from the start is "In Another Time". It has that classic soul feeling which even starts before Sade Adu begins to sing. Another favourite of you might become "Skin" with it's underlying hiphop-beat.(TA)

Most of the songs are uptempo and the slower songs you will find towards end of the album. The opening song which is co-production by Akon has a spectacular beat. It is exciting. The One featuring Drake is exciting too with the dancehall rhythm. The dance vibrations continue in the songs "Said and Done" produced by Ryan Leslie, Good Love featuring T.I. and they really culminate in the party song "I Feel Good".

Almost every song Mary J Blige sings sounds good. The challenge for producers must be to give her the best songs and not the simple sing alongs. The song "I AM" is a nice uptempo love song and love from the hood Mary finds with Trey Songz in "Hood Love". Just like the bedroom the kitchen is known as a place for love affairs to happen. The message from Shirley Brown in "Woman To Woman" is the same message that Mary J Blige sends from the "Kitchen". The sweetest ballad on "Stronger withEach Tear" is "In The Morning". The crooners have to listen to "I can See In Color".(TA)