ALBUM REVIEW: Melanie Durrant – Anticipation

There are stark differences in the musical styles of each producer that Melanie Durrant has worked with on Anticipation, yet all the songs meld together to give a modern motown feel seductively sung in a strong raspy voice.

Melanie Durrant was born and raised in Toronto while getting her musical education at the Earl Haig School of Arts and the Royal Conservatory of Canada. Although its been a decade since she released her first album she has kept busy sharing the stage with heavyweights including Jay-Z and 50 Cent. She has collaborated with Common, Choclair and Kardinal Offishall. Anticipation was released February 2015 and has garnered a Juno nomination for Best Soul/ R&B.

The album opens up with ‘By Your Side’, a large track that makes you think you’re listening to a title track on a James Bond soundtrack. Watching the video confirmed this feeling.

When she works with which producer Ced Solo on ‘Wait’ and ‘Ain’t Coming Back’  she channels Amy Winehouse ever so slightly.

‘Four Seasons’, produced by Allstar showcases her strongest vocals while being the most original sounding. Her title track ‘Anticipation’ has a slight seductive latina feel to it; ‘Sunburn’ is lyrically optimistic and romantic making it her most pop-like sounding song. Both songs are my favourite and also produced by Allstar.

Rounding out the album is ‘Goodbye’ which brings you back to the motown era yet is modern and very upbeat.

Track List:
By Your Side
Wait
Life Goes On
Ain’t Coming Back
Black Box
Gone
Anticipation
Sunburn
Mr. Wonderful
Goodbye

Watch Melanie Durrant‘s latest video for “By Your Side” below