As one of the most promising neo-soul artists yet to emerge in the past few years, India.Arie casts her lot with the best artists of her label's storied history, playing deeply introspective songs laced with glistening acoustic guitar, churchy organ, and smooth, supple beats. When she name-checks those artists no longer with us that she claims as influences (Ma Rainey, Miles Davis, Karen Carpenter, Charley Patton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Donny Hathaway, etc.) in three separate interludes, you have no doubt she is looking back as well as forward, even going so far as to invoke Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come. But Acoustic Soul is at its best when the arrangements are deliberately modern. And despite the uniqueness of being a guitar-based RB album, it is Arie's thick, sandy voice that shares star billing with her exceptional lyrics. Betraying youthful vulnerability while at the same time projecting strength, confidence, and uncanny insight for a 25-year-old singer/songwriter, Arie wraps herself effortlessly around the deep, funky sensuality of Brown Skin, and stands tall in defiance of pop-fashion expectations on the irresistibly catchy Video. The uplifting Faith, Courage, Wisdom rides along on a euphoric chorus, and the plainly autobiographical Back to the Middle recounts an emotional and spiritual coming of age. Without the many concrete references to the great RB music of the past, Acoustic Soul would be a purely modern gem, but as Arie is determined to pay her debts up front, it's much more, and that is admirable. ~ John Duffy, Rovi

1		Intro
2		Video
3		Promises
4		Brown Skin
5		Strength, Courage and Wisdom
6		Nature
7		Back to the Middle
8		Ready for Love
9		Interlude
10		Always in My Head
11		I See God in You
12		Simple
13		Part of My Life
14		Beautiful
15		Outro
16		Wonderful (Stevie Wonder Dedication)