Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 26, 2008 | |||
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Length | 58:32 | |||
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Solange chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams | ||||
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Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams is the second studio album by American R&B singer and songwriter Solange. It was released on August 26, 2008, by Geffen Records. Solange was heavily influenced by the "Motown Sound" of the 1960s and 1970s prior to the album's recording, prompting her to work with several like-minded producers and songwriters such as Jack Splash, CeeLo Green, Mark Ronson, and Lamont Dozier, formerly of Motown's Holland–Dozier–Holland.[5][6] The production also incorporated elements of downbeat and electronic music that Solange had familiarized herself with on previous trips to Europe, while the songwriting explored themes of independence.
Departing from the dance-pop R&B of Solange's debut album Solo Star (2002), Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams was marketed toward the "intellectual, backpacking, coffee shop, digital" youth audience, as described by her record label.[7] In its first week of release, the album charted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and sold 46,000 copies; it eventually reached 138,000 sold in the US. Meanwhile, its three singles all reached number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs.[8] Critically, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams was well received, with reviewers generally finding the music ambitious, eccentric, and intelligently made.
Sol-Angel is savvy R&B
...one of three songs not soaked in bouncing pop-soul...
'Sol-Angel' is an appealingly freewheeling set of lightly psychedelic soul music
Electronica plays an unexpected role throughout Sol-Angel, with production assistance from Thievery Corporation on the opening track, and one song, a futuristic neo-soul duet with Bilal called "Cosmic Journey," morphing into a happy-rave trance track. Venturing off into the unknown plays well for Solange—the mix of organic, old-school instrumentation and more electronic elements makes for a loose, fun and reverent record.