D’Angelo, Unshaken | Track Review 🎵

After a four-year hiatus, Grammy-winning neo-soul artist D’Angelo returns with an understated but incredibly soulful single, “Unshaken.”

“May I stand unshaken / Amid, amidst a crashing world.” What a pleasant surprise! D’Angelo released a new single, “Unshaken,” much sooner than later. Fans of the Grammy-winning, neo-soul standout understand that the wait between his sophomore album, Voodoo (2000) and his third LP, Black Messiah (2014), was excruciating. Sure, nearly four years is still a lengthy wait, but it’s much better than a fourteen-year hiatus.

“Did I hear a thunder?
Did I hear a break?
I can’t quite remember
Just what guided me this way.”

“Unshaken” is a unique single, beginning much more understated compared to the musician’s work on Black Messiah.  Lasting about four minutes in duration, “Unshaken” arguably commences slightly off-putting, lacking the assertion some D’Angelo songs contain.  Sure, it takes a while for the listener to get the ‘punch,’ but eventually, “Unshaken” picks up steam.  He matches the understated nature of the record, initially singing in an undertone. He sounds enigmatic – eventually, his vocal performance percolates. As the song progresses, the listener gets a better idea where “Unshaken” is heading.  Also, worth noting in the vocal department, the vocal harmonies are soulful and on-point as always – it wouldn’t be a D’Angelo record without those elite supporting vocals.

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Unshaken” gives D’Angelo another compelling addition to his catalogue. There’s definitely something here, even if the record feels like more of a ‘grower’ as opposed to an immediate, totally impactful R&B joint.

D’Angelo • Unshaken [Single] • RCA • Release: 1.4.18

Photo Credit: RCA