Shine Through

Aloe Blacc | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Stones Throw
• ASIN: B000EUMKEA
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,025 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Whole World

2. Long Time Coming

3. Are You Ready

4. Busking

5. Bailar Scene

6. Nascimento (Birth) Scene II

7. Dance for Life

8. Patria Mia

9. Shine Through

10. Caged Birdsong

11. Arrive

12. Want Me

13. One Inna

14. I'm Beautiful

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

SoCal native Aloe Blacc – one half of mainstay indie rap duo Emanon – has evolved into a true Renaissance man with his solo debut, Shine Through. Dubbed "the indie R. Kelly" by online retailer Turntable Lab, Aloe integrates an amazingly broad spectrum of influences. His sound often forays into the digital R&B realm, but always grooves with a tinge of Latin and the pulse of hip-hop.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aloe Blacc really Shines Through Here..., November 25, 2006

By 

gflah "m-flo" (SF) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shine Through (Audio CD)

Dude, what is wrong with ya'll

no reviews on this Great CD???

i didn't even know Aloe Blacc put the solo album out.
i randomly went to Tower Records coz they were goign out of business
and everything was 50% off.
then i saw this record and i knew i had to pick it up without reading any reviews, i simply knew it will well worth my money and MORE.

Aloe Blacc is from Emanon with DJ Exile. their EP, 'The Waiting Room', is also a great album, but Shine Through tops their group effort.

Most of tracks are prduced by Aloe Blacc himself, but also OhNo and Madlib produced some tracks as well. Executive producer was Peatnut Butter Wolf. so you know, without a doubt, the quality is there.

i loved madlib produced: One inna. that song is just too beautiful.
the CD actually has 2 extra tracks that is not listed here. This CD is a pure pleasure from beginning to finish. please support this artist.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great find!, December 16, 2006

By 

B. Wilson "Neosoul maven" (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shine Through (Audio CD)

I picked this up after seeing a review in Pitchfork, and what an excellent find this is! In some of his neosoul songs I hear Cody Chestnutt, Martin Luther, Bill Withers, and even Anthony Hamilton on a "Change Goin to Come." He astutely covers a range of styles from latin and hip hop to R&B. The carribean flavor of a couple of the songs surprised me - I'd never heard of an artist intermingling neosoul with latin, but Blacc pulls this feat off with aplomb ease. Not all the songs are consistent throughout, but his beautiful vocals and fine production make this a superb first effort. I really like the song where he is singing about waiting for a bus at the bus stop. This song really displays the honesty and spontaneity of his artistry. Highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars neo R&B, soul, and dance-able jazz, January 29, 2007

By 

jtherkel "jtherkel" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shine Through (Audio CD)

My friend works for a major media company in the music business, and I picked up this album out of a basket of CDs by the elevator. I had no expectations, but this album blew me away. It's easily my favorite album in the last 12 months. It's a mix of R&B, hip hop, and a little bit of jazz.

"Long Time Coming" sounds vaguely like something a somber, tingly version of the Miami Vice TV soundtrack.

"Bailar" is a beautifully sexy song that captures the desire to approach a beautiful woman at a dance club.

"Patria Mia" starts out with a Carribean feel, but the horns lend it a jazzy feel. I wish my Spanish was better. I think it was inspired by the island of Bocas del Toro.

"Want Me" makes me think of LL Cool J.

"One Inna" sounds exactly like Anthony Hamilton, which would be a bad thing if the whole album had the same sound, but in context, it just shows Blacc's diverse talent.

The 2nd to last song, an untitled track, sounds like an ode to Latin America. He mentions Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico--pretty much every country there--and builds to a crescendo, declaring with enthusiasm, "Todo el mundo Latino, canto," and that's when a chorus of voices joins him, raising hairs on the back of your neck.