Diamond Needle

First listens are always fun - proclaiming a song is the worst you've ever heard only to be licking the screen when it plays two days later - which is why we're going to have a bit of a laugh and review Shontelle's cleverly-titled debut 'Shontelligence' track-by-track, having not heard it until now. Keep your eyes peeled for contradictions over the next few days!


Shontelle - Shontelligence [2008]

T Shirt > The album's opener and lead single has been steadily making waves for a few months now. It's sweet, twinkling, is highly addictive and the idea of wearing her man's t-shirt to tide her over until his return is a nice one. Not a ground-breaking song, but it's not aiming to be, and it can be enjoyed for what it is - a gorgeous, catchy hit.

Battle Cry > This one was used to support the Obama for President campaign. Obviously Shontelle swung it! This is my first listen and it's in a similar vein to T Shirt, with a beat a little harsher. Her vocals are strong and there's a petite rap-ish middle 8 - a good start to the album.

Superwoman > This is the second of the two I knew before sitting down to listen to Shontelligence. It's another summery confection with another pretty message (she seems to be good with her lyrics and themes) and it's extremely instant; it should be a future single without a doubt.

Cold Cold Summer > Well, cold is the key word here! This is an icy, stringy affair with a nice echo during the verses and a soulful, stripped-back sound. It's got quite a bite in a so-over-you sort-of sense. Definitely going to be a future favourite of mine I think, and it's firmly in album track territory.

Roll It > This is an older song which has been recorded with Rihanna, Shontelle's fellow Bajan, in the past, but this is my first listen. The synthy intro sounds distinctly Kat Deluna-esque; the song sounds like a RedOne production to a degree. Shon's Carribean tones shine through here; it's a very sexy, fun song which could be a hit with a proper push.

Life Is Not An Easy Road > The Jamiacan tongue sticks around here for another pleasing, breezy number with a chilled backing track. It's the sort of thing you can imagine would've been a hit in the 1990s, complete with a video portraying lots of muscular people getting high on a beach at sunset. Contrary to how that sounds, it's a good thing! This track treads the gap between filler and decent nicely.

Focus Pon Me > Oh, fierce! It has to be said Shontelle's vocal during parts of this sound extremely similar to Rihanna's whisper-singing voice. The middle-Eastern beat works remarkably well under Shontelle's silky tones. It's another welcome album track, and a departure from the rest of them in style.

Plastic People > This is another summery one, with guitars and a lovely verse. Somehow though the chorus lacks the punch you feel has been build up to. It sounds demo-like too; a definite filler.

I Crave You > Unless I'm very much mistaken, this samples Sting's 'Shape Of My Heart' - how utterly random! Aside from the well-applied string sample, it has a dark reggae beat and an emotive vocal. It reminds me so much of 'Shape' though! This is a good thing however.

Ghetto Lullabye > A haunting flute compliments the drum beat on this one, which sounds as if it was recorded somewhere between the rainforest and the pyramids. It sports a smooth vocal which remains cool and monotone until the slightly raised middle 8 section. Not very commercial at all, and probably all the better for it.

Flesh And Bone > Not quite the epic closer I had desired; instead another reggae-infused song. It's perfectly competent.

So to sum up, Shontelligence is, on first listen at least, a reasonably good debut. It has it's highlights and it's fair share of Filler, but said filler is at least perfectly listenable, and when it is great, it's really great.

I'm going to say singles should be Roll It second and Superwoman third. Overall 7/10 - a good start for a girl with big promise, and a good point from which to build on next time around.