‘Unexpected’, Angie Stone’s fifth album, is her strongest to date, as she delivers an LP that effortlessly combines the finest elements of Neo Soul with old-skool R&B. The album sees Stone lay down some of her most honest tunes to date. Tracks like ‘Kiss Me All Over’ and ‘Think Sometimes’, are beautifully written ballads whilst more upbeat tracks like ‘I Aint’ Hearin’ You’ and ‘I Don’t Care’ are brutally honest accounts of modern life. However, the inclusion of ‘Tell Me’, a song built on a techno groove feels out of place, and the use of auto-tune seems like a desperate attempt to give the album a more commercial appeal.
8/10
Words by Kevin Angel
