Teen Review: The Best of Sade

The Best of Sade album by Sade is a 1994 compilation that gathers many of her most beloved songs into a single collection that captures a blend of soft jazz, smooth soul and emotional intimacy. Some strengths of this album include Sade’s unique vocal style, which is warm and intimate; the excellent track selection that represents a wide emotional range; and the strong emotional resonance, which explores themes of love, heartbreak and desire with honesty and restraint. Some weaknesses are that there’s no new material, since the album doesn’t offer any new tracks; the limited energy range, which can easily bore some listeners; and the slight differences in production may be noticeable to longtime fans, as the album spans several years. What I liked about this album is its emotional consistency, which creates a warm, late-night mood, standout tracks such as “Like a Tattoo,” “Pearls” and “Kiss of Life”; and the fact that none of the songs sound dated despite being recorded from the 1980s through the early 1990s. What I did not like is the lack of upbeat or energetic tracks, the absence of new material, and the overall limited energy range. I recommend this album to people who enjoy smooth jazz and R&B music, those who like slow, romantic, atmospheric songs, and anyone looking for music to help them calm down and unwind. Overall, I give this album 5 out of 5 stars for its deep vocals and atmospheric compilation.