Snoh Aalegra, Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies | Album Review 💿

Swedish-born Iranian R&B singer/songwriter Snoh Aalegra ‘shows out’ on her third studio album, Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies.  

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iss me with the BS that R&B is dead – it’s not! Swedish-born and bred Iranian singer/songwriter 🎙 Snoh Aalegra (Shahrzad Fooladi) is a prime example of an artist infusing life and sheer excellence into the genre. Aalegra shines on her third studio album, 💿 Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, released in the hot summer of 2021. Set in the ‘progressive’ vein of the genre with ample cues from the past, Aalegra delivers a surefire gem.  Over the course of 15 tracks, she captures the listener’s attention with cool but expressive vocals and songs centered on matters of the heart – L-O-V-E.

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“Indecisive”

Snoh Aalegra commences Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies with the intriguing, ever shifting 🎵 “Indecisive.” How does it shift? Well, the intro, two verses + chorus, and outro have contrasting backdrops.  This makes “Indecisive” sound ‘indecisive’ as well as ear catching.  Vocally, Aalegra sounds great, singing with ease and expression. The tone is set for sure. “Although I lost you / I, I’ll always want you / ‘Cause you take me high.” Things percolate on the soulful ✅ 🎵 “Lost You,” among the crème de la crème of Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies. The production (🎛 No ID and 🎛 Maneesh) balances past and present superbly, setting up Aalegra for surefire success.  Of course, she puts in work with beautiful, pure vocals.  She never over-sings or forces things, singing with a cool energy, if you will.  Thematically, Snoh reflects on losing love yet still longing for that person.

✅ 🎵 “In Your Eyes” keeps Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies on the up-and-up.  The production plays a sizable role, considering Snoh Aalegra enlists the services of 🎛 The Neptunes.  After so many years in the game, 🎛 Chad Hugo and 🎛 Pharrell Williams continue to construct top-notch, contemporary, and often, forward thinking, futuristic backdrops.  Besides sound sleek and modern, “In Your Eyes” also has a classic sound about it, which is incredibly cool.  As for Snoh, she continues to impress with a classy brand of vocals, floating above the production.  At the end, her ad-libs are everything.  The theme, once more, is L-O-V-E.

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“Just Like That”

“Just like that / Need a love like that / Take me just like that / ‘Cause I like that.” ✅ 🎵 “Just Like That” maintains momentum, finding Aalegra classily singing about the ecstasy of love.  Over lush production by 🎛 Christian Rich, Snoh glides making us experience and relate to the feels she’s experiencing. She pairs up with 🏆 Grammy winning rapper, singer, and producer 🎙 Tyler, The Creator on ✅ 🎵 “Neon Peach,” which easily ranks among the top tier of Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies.  Continuing to amplify his game behind the boards, Tyler gives Aalegra an awesome instrumental that fuses hip-hop, jazz, and soul.  Additionally, he supports her with some great bars on the verses, while she shines on the pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, and outro.  There are not merely temporary highs on this album but highs that should reside permanently on the listening rotation.

✅ 🎵 “We Don’t Have to Talk About It” commences the second third of the album (in the context of having 15 total tracks). Following a couple of juggernauts, “We Don’t Have to Talk About It” doesn’t miss a beat.  The record blends right in, continuing Aalegra’s honest, relatable tales of love.  “I can’t see, I can’t see you past / Like the sun in the rain on a cloudy day,” she sings on the chorus, continuing, “But I can feel, I can feel your pain / Was it something I said? / Was it something you said? / We don’t have to talk about it.”

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“Tangerine Dream”

🎛 Compass works the boards for the first time on 🎵 “Tangerine Dream.” Even with a different producer, the sound isn’t fundamentally changed.  We get more of the same aesthetic, sensibilities, and vibe.  In other words, “Tangerine Dream” is another perfectly suited record for Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies.  The high continues.  Speaking of that high, well, those 🎵 “Temporary Highs” finally arrive on the track listing. An interlude essentially, it’s compelling nonetheless given the mood of the backdrop as well as the playful, soulful vocals.  “Temporary Highs” proves to be a fitting prelude to the other effective title track ✅ 🎵 “Violet Skies.”

“Violet Skies” is a record soul and neo-soul enthusiasts can get behind.  It’s old-school, yet incredibly refreshing in 2021.  Snoh Aalegra seems to have anxiety about her relationship, getting in her head and unsure she can totally trust her lover. She asserts, on the pre-chorus, “If I could go back in time / I’d tell you get out your mind / I’d tell you get out your head / Everything’s gonna be alright.” Her anxiety and doubt, again, are relatable to both men and women with commitment and trust issues.

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“In the Moment”  

Tyler, The Creator returns for a second time on ✅  🎵 “In the Moment.” Once again, him and Snoh Aalegra have nice chemistry. Vocally, I continue to be in awe of how Aalegra’s voice just floats – it’s thoroughly sublime. I’d argue “Neon Peach” is my favorite of the two collaborations, but “In the Moment” is another surefire winner.  Furthermore, Tyler continues to shine behind the boards – radiant jazz, soulful production.

🎵 “On My Mind” continues the musical excellence of Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies.  A bit more ‘contemporary’ yet still with one foot in the door of the past, Snoh is edgier – a bit more unapologetic.  “Said you needed time, but you know I wasn’t with it,” she asserts on the first verse, continuing, “But we both know more time just mean you fuckin’ more bitches.” Woo! She’s assisted by the ever-soulful godsend, 🎙 James Fauntleroy.

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“Taste”

🎛 Terrace Martin and No ID get behind the boards on another ear catching joint, 🎵 “Taste.” “Taste” is short, but sweet, sweet, sweet! Smooth and chill, cultivating a surefire vibe, this is a record where Snoh Aalegra sounds her best.  Those decadent, upper register vocals are indeed, tasty. ✅  🎵 “Everything” makes up for the brevity of “Taste,” running north of four minutes.  Of course, those four minutes are fantastic – celestial.  This marks another neo-soul record which would’ve been at home in the late 90s and early aughts when the movement was huge.  No worries, in 2021, “Everything” makes us remember ‘everything’ we love about R&B.  The dedicated spirit of love is never taken for granted, particularly for those of us that are hopefully romantics.  Even those of us who aren’t 🎵 “Boo’d Up” can long for that feeling which Aalegra sings so convincingly.

On the penultimate 🎵 “Dying 4 Your Love,” Snoh Aalegra is going through sheer heartbreak.  The love she thought was love wasn’t, and her feelings are getting the best of her.  “Tell me, how / Are we supposed to still be talkin’ every day / When everything between us just completely changed?” she asks on the first verse.  Later, she has more questions, asking, “How could you tell me that you love me by mistake? Intoxicated, via texts, ain’t you ashamed?” She closes out Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies with the brief but potent 15^th track, 🎵 “Save Yourself,” where she’s supposed “good without” him.  Still, given the moodiness of the song, as well as lyrics like, “All I ever wanted was everything / Now I gotta unlearn everything,” it feels like ‘healing’ is still a process.

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Final Thoughts 💭

Don’t let anybody ever tell you the lie that R&B is dead.  Snoh Aalegra just delivered a superb R&B album – in 2021 mind you – with Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies.  15 tracks deep, there are no glaring miscues.  Every song, shorter or longer, is worth listening to and spinning multiple times.  This Swedish standout ‘puts in work.’ Aalegra is an artist who deserves far more recognition.  Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies = EXCELLENT.

✅ Gems 💎: “Lost You,” “In Your Eyes,” “Just Like That,” “Neon Peach,” “Violet Skies,” “In the Moment” & “Everything” 

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🎙 Snoh Aalegra • 💿 Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies • 🏷 Artium Recordings / Roc Nation • 🗓 7.9.21

[📷 : Artium Recordings / Roc Nation]

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