Piece of me

"When Piece of Me was released (...), two-thirds of it had been released physically on 7" and/or digitally, making its arrival somewhat anti-climactic, but it ultimately adds up to a satisfying Queen Alone follow-up that's somehow both a little darker and more welcoming. This is all original material that doesn't stray all that far from Queen Alone, coming across like muscular, expertly detailed revamps of deep Curtom, Invictus, and Atlantic sides from the late '60s and early '70s ... The previously unheard cuts aren't throw-ins. "I Do," a somewhat regal and dubwise opener, sets the album's poised tone with Wray declaring that "nothing can trouble these waters"".

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"Lady Wray is at her best when she's singing about heartbreak and uncertainty, as is the case with some of the best R&B in history. The title track is a marriage between the best of yesteryear Mary J. Blige and yesteryear soul music ... Piece of Me is a must-listen for any fan of any era of R&B or soul music. It has enough callbacks to the roots of the art, but it also highlights the evolution of where it is today. In some ways, it's kind of like the way these tracks were introduced into the world - more the Song than the Album. At the end of the day, that's OK, because no matter what decade of the genre you love the most, this collection has you covered. Or in other words, be it 1972 or 2022, this is a voice, and this is a record, that is timeless".

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