Music

Review: Dawn Richard's 'Goldenheart' is golden

Dawn Richard, "Goldenheart" (Altavoz Distribution)

As a member of Diddy-Dirty Money and Danity Kane, Dawn Richard was impressive. As a solo artist, she's extraordinary. Her solo debut, "Goldenheart," is an R&B field day of progressive, electronic and smooth sounds that play like one amazing musical adventure. Her unique voice — which echoes Brandy — glides over each song like magic as she sings about heartache and breaking through in the music industry (check out "Return of a Queen.") And Richard, who co-wrote the 16-track independent release, doesn't skip a beat.

"Pretty Wicked Things" is spooky and eerie — in a good way. "Northern Lights" is addictive, while "Tug of War" and "Frequency" are certified Quiet Storm anthems. "Goldenheart" isn't just golden, it's grand.

Follow Mesfin Fekadu on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin

Related Headlines

  • Review: A look at overlooked albums of 2012

    While everyone was buzzing about big releases from Frank Ocean, Fiona Apple, Mumford & Sons and Taylor Swift, you might have missed some must-listens. Here's what you should ... 

  • Review: Novel draws on jazz legend's music

    "Tiger Rag" (The Dial Press), by Nicholas Christopher Buddy Bolden is a jazz legend whose powerful, original sound at the turn of the last century was so enthralling that some ... 

  • Opolais makes winning Met debut in 'La Rondine'

    Kristine Opolais was such a hit at her Metropolitan Opera debut that she got bopped on the head. The 33-year-old Latvian soprano had just completed her role debut as Magda in ... 

  • Review: Avant has an R&B goodie with 7th album

    Avant, "Face the Music" (Mo-B Entertainment) Avant's seventh album arrives just in time for Valentine's Day: It's full of ballads and seductive tracks that highlight the R&B ... 

Find your future job here