Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics

India.Arie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Republic
• ASIN: B001NY4WLU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,941 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The world renowned award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie debuted in 2001 with her Motown release Acoustic Soul. She followed up in 2002 with her sophomore CD Voyage To India and then in 2006 released her third album, the more personally expressive Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. She has sold over 7 million copies worldwide and has received numerous awards and nominations including 16 Grammy nominations, 2 Grammy awards, along with awards from BET, NAACP Billboard Music, Radio Music, MTV, VH1 Vogue Fashion, Essence Magazine and others. She has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Ashley Judd, John Legend and so many more. In between touring and writing music, India.Arie has served as an US Ambassador for UNICEF and has traveled to Africa several times addressing the AIDS crisis. She has used and shared her music to bring awareness to various causes; her single "I am Not My Hair" was the Centerpiece of Lifetime's Award-Winning Public Awareness Campaign, "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" and her song "Beautiful Flower" was used to raise funds for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. In June 2008 she launched her own label imprint through Universal Republic called Soulbird Music with her first signing singer/songwriter Anthony David. India.Arie says "SoulBird (which is another name for a butterfly), is meant to evoke the Energy of the music rather than the Style and will represent; music with intelligence and heart, music that moves people in their souls AND their bodies. Music with wings." The cathartic first single from David's new album, "Words," was nominated for a 2009 Grammy award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete perfection!!!, February 11, 2009

By 

CoveredbyGrace - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (Audio CD)

This album is phenomenal!!! I own all of India Arie's previous albums, and already this one is my favorite. India represents the quiet in a world of chaos. Her music has meaning, her lyrics have depth. This album will get you to look not just at yourself and your own 4 walls, but also on the world around you. India has maintained her integrity and self respect by once again refusing to give into the world's system oversexed marginal talent. The album is soulful, deep, theraputic, beautiful and sensual at the same time. It's great from beginning to end, so you can play it all the way through without skipping one song. Even the interludes she sings are hot. For those out there who have Vol. 1, Vol. 2 is much different. Vol. 1 is a great album if you've just had your heart broken or just got out of a relationship, while Vol. 2 is about real, true love. Love for yourself, and love for one another. I have to say also that India's voice has never sounded better. She hit some notes on this album that I didn't know she could hit! I can't say enough about it, except Buy It!!!! You will not be disappointed.

Although I love all the songs, my favorites are:
Therapy
Ghetto
Chocolate High
He Heals Me
Pearls
Long Goodbye
Better Way

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not disappointed - Love it!, February 12, 2009

By 

willow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony Vol. 2: Love & Politics (MP3 Download)

I have all of India.Arie's albums, and have been looking forward to this new one, but wasn't sure what to expect...I was surprised to discover this is one of my favorites! Positive, joyful, diverse and lovely songs. India.Arie continues to be one of my favorite artists.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still super optimistic, February 10, 2009

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (Audio CD)

India.Arie turns in another stellar effort of her fourth CD. The follow up to "Testimony Vol. 1" which garnered her first US #1 album. Musically, she sticks to her acoustic Soul style almost Folk-like in places, with deep social conscious lyrics.

Lead-off single is the retro organ-drenched sultry "Chocolate high" with Musiq Soulchild. The Folk-y "Therapy" (featuring Gramps Morgan) is a more upbeat fast strummed number. Keeping up the tempo are the groovy Hip Hop/Jazz-tinged "Psalm 23" (with MC Lyte), the Blues/Rock "Better way" (about the issues unearthed by Hurricane Katrina and other ills), and closing bonus cut "A beautiful day".

Standouts to me are the awesome Latin-tinged "Ghetto" ("To be hungry in LA/is just like starving in Bombay" she sings, telling us poverty and hardship is shared by all humanity), her beautiful West African-tinged take on Sade's sombre lament "Pearls" (featuring Dobet Gnahore, some lovely harmonies, and including a woman in Rwanda in the lyrics), the tender acoustic ballad "He heals me" (a beautiful love song), and the retro sounding "Yellow" (featuring Terrell Carter) which sounds like some lost song from seventies Stevie Wonder.

India's lyrics, as usual, brim with over-positivity and optimism, something that oddly puts some people off. I wonder why, lyrics like this are a welcome escape from the harsh and sad realities of the world. Another solid outing from the talented Ms. Arie, a winner!