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Frequently Bought Together
Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Beautiful Night |
| 2. Breakout |
| 3. In Your Shoes |
| 4. 100% |
| 5. Every Step |
| 6. Soul Survivor (with Chaka Khan) |
| 7. Turned To Stone |
| 8. Bare |
| 9. Square Peg |
| 10. Gold Chain |
| 11. Moneyback |
| 12. Painted Pony |
| 13. Too Much Heaven |
Product Description
Review
Anyone who’s ever accused British black singers of being perhaps a little bland compared to their American equivalent has clearly been at the shops for the last 20 years: black music in the country has encompassed everything from the brilliance of Dizzee Rascal, the internationalism of Estelle and the prize-winning suss and sass of Speech Debelle. But for the old school trailblazers, times have been harder, and so it’s been for Beverley Knight – her thoughtful, soulful music has often been seen as both retro and a bit dull.
Not so this time round, as 100% – Knight’s fifth album, produced by the awesome Jam & Lewis – sees the singer rip it all up and start again. Literally so in the case of the splendid, must-be-a-single In Your Shoes, which doesn’t so much sample Orange Juice’s Rip It Up as sit on its back and ride it to market. Throughout, musical surprises complement Knight’s natural smoothness.
The title track, which is a full-on proper Anita Baker croon tune, is predicated not on a lot of timbales sprinkling about over some nice chords, but an ambient ripple running under it like Brian Eno leaving his bath taps running and some nice brassy, almost John Barry-esque soul stabs. And the stand-out moment, Soul Survivor, is built to resemble the Big Song from an 80s movie (so much that it even has big chunky synths and the presence of the great Chaka Khan) before working its way through most genres of soul (there’s even a great Fauxtown bridge).
Fans of the traditional Knight sound will be heartened by balladry and such on Bare and the closer, a gorgeous waft through The Bee Gees’ Too Much Heaven, but what prevails here is a sense of invention, imagination and even freedom. In an age where soul music is often seen as being a weepy girl singing every note known to humanity on a TV talent show, it’s good that Beverly Knight is not only back but also brilliant. --David Quantick
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Doubt !!,
By
This review is from: 100% (Audio CD)
Let there be absolutely no doubt. Beverley Knight is a national treasure !!
No more - No less. '100%' is a fantastic album. 2007's 'Music City Soul' was too but this new collection of 13 songs really is the finest work she has produced in a long and consummately distinguished career. Listen to 'Soul Survivor' (a marvelous duet with Chaka Khan) if you require any kind of proof of her worth. R&B doesn't get much better than this. Ms Knight's voice is a naturally and wonderfully expressive instrument. Never forced - always graceful, powerful and masterfully considered. If quality was measured as a percentage then the title track completely lives up to its moniker. A superb composition. In 'Bare' she delivers one of her most radiant performances. Experience and maturity and rock-solid good judgement shine through here with uplifting and truly magical conviction. 'Square Peg' made an Old Wolf's hair stand up on end. You want credible hot funk? You got it! 'Gold Chain' generates enough heat to melt a Wolverhampton manhole cover in December. 'Moneyback' is a sly and slinky personal favorite but you will find your own. 'Too Much Heaven', with its simply gorgeous harmonies, brings this magisterial album to a meltingly beautiful conclusion. Absolutely Essential !
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
QUEEN OF BRITISH SOUL!,
By lyrical (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 100% (Audio CD)
Beverley Knight is easily the Queen of British Soul, consistently delivering amazing album after amazing album and this album is definitely no different. With a great tracklist, Beverley delivers each song with such ease and minimum effort, it leaves you amazed at how underrated this artist actually is within music, despite being in the industry for over fifteen years.
The first single, 'Beautiful Night', starts off the album well and then slams straight into what I think is one of the best songs on the album, 'Breakout'. Of course all of the songs bring something very different to this project and Beverley even has the legendary Chaka Khan (providing vocals on the song 'Soul Survivor') on this album, which is a definite plus. The cover version of a classic Bee Gee's song, 'Too Much Heaven', brings something different to the album also. The bonus song, 'Force Of Nature', available for download through Play is definitely one of the best songs from this project. Only Beverley Knight could deliver an album this good and although I still prefer her previous album, 'Music City Soul', this album is definitely worth every penny. Beverley Knight is a talent that deserves so much more love within music.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hold on to the beautiful Knight,
By
This review is from: 100% (Audio CD)
Beverley Knight has for a long time, in my opinion, been the best female soul singer we have in this country. 100% goes to prove that that assertion can justifyingly be made.
The first single, "Beautiful Night" was an instant hit for me. As soon as I heard it on the radio I knew it was her and I knew that that I had to get my hands on the new album. In my opinion, Knight's best work is often the ballady type songs - they are always packed with emotion and they very often speak to me, putting lyrics and music to feelings / thoughts that I have often had myself. "Bare" is one of the most fantastic song on this offering. It perfectly showcases her voice; the range, depth and force of it. My other personal favourites include, "100%", "Soul Survivor", "Turned to Stone", "Square Peg", "Gold Chain", "Moneyback" and "Too Much Heaven". Beverley is an amazing artist. Just goes to show that it's not only the Americans who can produce brilliant soul singers. Highly recommended.
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