to listen or purchase
Fresh out of Boston 's Berklee School of Music, Yvette Rovira is on a fortunate path to a surreally successful career in music. On her self-titled album, Rovira proves effortlessly that she's an impeccable songwriter and a smart singer comfortable with her salt and pepper mix of accessible pop and rich Detroit soul influences. With producer/arranger Rob Mounsey (Steely Dan, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna) at the helm, she is totally surrounded by trusted resources and a well-versed clan of musicians. There are is a diversity of sounds from various eras on this project. On "Psychedelia," Rovira proves she isn't afraid to go spiritual/intellectual in her verses nor ashamed to revisit the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" fantasy world.
Probably the heaviest of her exhibitions are her bold civil rights stances and beckoning calls of action to "be the change that you wanna see in the world." Using Marvin Gaye's What's Going On blueprints, she spits lyrical protest speeches on "Everybody Stand Up" while aptly describing the socio-political conflicts in an Obama America ("Mahatma Gandi would have a lot to say/About the greed that's running rampant in our institutions today/Dr. King would be rollin' in his grave/If he could hear about the haters tryin' to ruin the progress he made"). The opening, up-tempo gem also accesses a post-Prop 8 search for equal rights. It might be a bit heavy for an opener, but the beautiful pop arrangement and sing-along-chorus gives the song the wings to fly far beyond its courtship with preachy controversy. Glowing with echoes of funky, positive hip hop, Rovira also reaches back to the ‘90s with the Lion's Share-produced "Let's Go Out Tonight," an offspring of Young MC's "Bust a Move." One shouldn't overlook "Fearless," her SWV-styled ode to NYC-"City of Lights ," or the radio-ready ballad "Gimme Just a Little Bit of Time." Tucked in the mix is also a pretty decent cover of Aretha's "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" where Rovira pays tribute to one of her idols. While clinging tightly to that indie cred threshold, Yvette Rovira proves to be one of the freshest, friendliest underground projects to burst out of 2010.
Notable tracks: "Everybody Stand Up," "Let's Go Out Tonight," "City of Lights ," "Fearless" and "Gimme Just a Little More Time."
Vocals: 3.5 stars
Music: 3.0 stars
Lyrics: 3.5 stars
Production: 3.5 stars
SoulTracks Call: Highly Recommended
By J. Matthew Cobb