to listen or purchase
After more than a half dozen years away, Shanice has re-emerged with Every Woman Dreams, her first independently released album. I say "album," but a spin of the disc displays what appears to be two distinct, almost dichotomous albums: One a fairly bland effort at Vivian Green-like modern R&B and one a more classic pop/soul disc that highlights Shanice's formidable vocal prowess. Unfortunately you have to wade through the first to get to the second.
After more than a half dozen years away, Shanice has re-emerged with Every Woman Dreams, her first independently released album. I say "album," but a spin of the disc displays what appears to be two distinct, almost dichotomous albums: One a fairly bland effort at Vivian Green-like modern R&B and one a more classic pop/soul disc that highlights Shanice's formidable vocal prowess. Unfortunately you have to wade through the first to get to the second.
The opening seven cuts of Every Woman Dreams are relatively forgettable, self-conscious modern cuts that tread a too-often traveled road, both musically and lyrically, and short-change the singing talent that Shanice brings to every record. Fortunately the disc begins its redemption on the Mike City-produced "That's Why I Love You," a hooky gem that opens the second half of the disc. Shanice then follows it with a number of fine ballads and mid-tempo cuts, co-written and produced by Jamey Jaz, that should appeal to Shanice's longstanding fans. Shanice's tributes to her young children and husband, "I Can't Imagine" and the Gospel influenced "Joy," are treats as is the tender "Forever Like a Rose," a simply beautiful ballad.
At age 32, Shanice appears to be still searching musically, but - as the second half of Every Woman Dreams displays - she is always at her best when she comes back to basics: melodic, accessible music that displays her versatile voice and doesn't try to hard to keep up with flavor-of-the-week trends.
by Chris Rizik