After a four-year hiatus, Grammy-nominated R&B artist Aloe Blacc returns with an enthusiastic, exuberant new single, “Brooklyn in the Summer.”

“The Man” has returned…well, the man being Aloe Blacc. After a four-year hiatus, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter comes back in enthused fashion on “Brooklyn in the Summer.” Interestingly, on the verses, Blacc seems to struggle with romantic memories of the past.  In everything that he does and every place he goes he asserts, “You’re everywhere that I ever known.” The comparison to “Brooklyn in the summer” arrives on the chorus, clearly the ‘happiest,’ most major-key moment of the record.

“You feel like Brooklyn in the summer

Been hiding, had to wait for so long

And it’s the subtleties, you’ve only ever seen

Bring the mess of me back together…

Gotta forget that feeling, give into something real…

Gotta let you go.”

The chorus ends up being relatively catchy, amplified by the underlying harmonic progression, not to mention the bright production work.  As a song, “Brooklyn in the Summer” sounds quite different than previous Aloe Blacc hits like “The Man”, “Love is the Answer”, or even his collaboration with the late Avicii, “Wake Me Up.” Still, the soulfulness and easy-going vocals remain intact to the fullest degree.

Final Thoughts 

So, how does “Brooklyn in the Summer” stack up for Aloe Blacc? All in all, it’s an enjoyable, enthusiastic, and incredibly sunny number.  Sure, Blacc has to overcome the past and visions of the past, but he seems to be up for it.  His romantic approach to this record, coupled with his vocal performance make it a winner. It doesn’t feel like a surefire hit like “The Man” or “Wake Me Up,” but the soul and vintage pop are definitely in play.

Aloe Blacc • Brooklyn in the Summer – Single • Interscope • Release: 4.27.18

Photo Credit: Interscope