- Audio CD (18 Oct 2004)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: V2
- ASIN: B0002Y9TJM
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 147,871 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. 1980 |
| 2. Don’t Talk |
| 3. On And On |
| 4. Free |
| 5. Go Gone |
| 6. Dance With Me |
| 7. All Over Again featuring Royston |
| 8. Hey Girl feat Baby Blue and John Legend |
| 9. Dance Bitch |
| 10. Change Is Coming |
| 11. I Wanna Love You |
| 12. Crazy |
| 13. Gonna Win |
| 14. Freedom |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although voted best newcomer at the 2004 MOBO awards, for some, Estelle's debut, The 18th Day, has been a long time coming. One of the most respected female rappers in the UK, Estelle's style effortlessly eschews the trappings of sounding like her US counterparts and gives her a really natural, British, flow.
The album is almost split into two distinct styles: one half funky, UK R&B hip-hop whereas the other more downbeat and soulful. Opening track "1980" sums up the early part--the backing a wall of sound and the catchy vocals reminiscing about growing up. "Dance Bitch" is slightly more US sounding where one can hear echoes of Missy Elliott; "Go Gone" is fun and poppy, sounding like an update on the classic Northern Soul sound; and "Free" is a bouncy funk number and also second single.
For the ballad "I Wanna Love You", Estelle slips more into singing mode and her confidence grows with each subsequent song. "Crazy" shows off the range and dexterity of her voice, it may not be that of a world-class soul diva but it's strong and the phrasing is fantastic.
One big highlight is, "I'm Gonna Win"--dramatic, rousing and an uplifting moment on a really enjoyable album. On The 18th Day there is very little filler and whilst the heavy ballad section can be a little bit too much, it never falls into bland mediocrity.--David Trueman
Review
Upon first hearing her autobiographical debut single "1980", you'd be forgiven for dismissing Estelle as another Chav chancer yammering about her newly-bling life. However, on closer inspection, the song's self-deprecating lyrics suggest a more humble approach than the grandstanding of many of her peers, and it's precisely this down-to-earth, every woman charm which characterises much of her debut LP.
Estelle's key reference points are clearly evident throughout The 18th Day - equal parts Salt 'n' Pepa and Missy Elliott (whose influence is most notable in the tart lyrics and high sass of "Dance Bitch"), the album is topped off with a significant nod to Destiny's Child (the twangy hookline and sexy, shadowy chorus of "Don't Talk" are a thinly-veiled imitation of "Bootylicious").
Musically, however, there is also a significant amount of individual ambition on display, as showcased most impressively in the multilayered urban bustle of "Change Is Coming". Indeed, Estelle's willingness to experiment with different styles is a major plus-point: a pounding modern spin on 60s girl-groups makes "Go Gone" a notable standout, whereas latest single "Free" is an obvious choice for chart success with its funky, Jackson 5-esque disco-bounce.
It's a shame then that after such an inventive start the album begins to flag midway, with a series of mid-tempo ballads plodding by in unremarkable succession. Guest appearances from Baby Blue and Royston occasionally enliven the proceedings, but after the initial sparkle it often seems like Estelle is the kind of friend whose parties you'd readily attend provided she doesn't start talking about her love-life.
Thankfully, there are a couple more blinders scattered along the way in the form of the catchy schoolyard hip-hop of "On And On" and the soaring, inspirational "Gonna Win", both of which suggest that if Estelle can match her infectious energy and engaging personality to a higher percentage of winning tunes, she will rightfully follow in the footsteps of the artists she so clearly admires. As it stands, this is a promising and slickly-produced debut which -while far from groundbreaking - possesses enough easy charisma to mark her out from the rest of the pack. --Chris Carter
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Class,
This review is from: The 18th Day (Audio CD)
This is a must for any fan of Urban music. Est'Elle is a fantastic singer and has an album full of strong, soulful tracks. The singles '1980' and 'Free' are great but the album has so much more to offer. Every song is credible and worth listening to and this in my opinion is one of the best (if not the best) album of the year. Est'Elle is here and flying the flag for British black music, let's not turn away another raw talented artist! Buy this album!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The 18th Day (Audio CD)
This album is fantastic, each track is different and all brilliant. Estelle is very talented, as a singer, rapper and writer. Well worth buying.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Debut Albums I've Ever Heard,
By
This review is from: The 18th Day [Bonus Track] (Audio CD)
All the songs make you feel good. "Go Gone" is a particular favourite aswell as "1980" which tells the story of her life in a creative way. Im beginning to think that her first album is better than her second but since i've played it more times maybe it is not a fair comparison. Needless to say both are amazing, it's great to see a successful british R&b/rap artist which is actually talented.
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