Love Deluxe (1992)

Love Deluxe

• The first thing I can even say about Sade is that she has the second most beautiful voice I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing (number one would be the very talented Bjork). If you’ve never heard Sade sing (you probably have at one point or another without realizing it), please do yourself a favor and throw this album on. Throughout nine tracks of beautiful minimalist production, Sade swims through themes like love, poverty, and self-acceptance. Released in the early 90s, the album is a very modern version of the blues that ruled the 60’s and 70’s combined with the contemporary sounds of 90’s R&B. At forty minutes of length (the perfect album length to me), this album has not one moment of boredom or average talent. Sade gracefully slides through this album like a woman with the world in her hands.  “No Ordinary Love” starts the album off with a bouncy optimism that is quickly redirected on the next track, “Feel No Pain”. “Feel No Pain” explores themes like unemployment and poverty and the blues that come along with it over a funky instrumental that makes you want to groove despite the song’s dark themes. The album builds up to a climactic peak with “Like a Tattoo”, easily Sade’s best vocal performance on the album where she describes her relationship and how she wears it ‘like a tattoo’. The minimalism of the production on this album allows Sade to display her vocals at the forefront of everything, a creative choice that pays off tremendously. When I first heard this album years ago I was blown away by the sheer beauty of Sade’s voice, and upon revisiting it today I can confirm that the pure excitement that I feel upon hearing her sing does not go away. This is a great album to listen to on a cold and rainy day, cozied up with some coffee or maybe a book. Sade, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your talent and grace with us for all these years.