Jennifer Hudson’s long been in search of an artistic personality that’s as big as her voice. Her two albums have had their spots, but they’ve felt like patchworks. Also, despite a powerful instrument, there’s been the sense that she’s more talented than her material. I guess that’s the problem with trying to make someone that sounds like her a pop star.
The Grammy & Oscar winner is easily comparable to R&B stars of yesterday like Cheryl Lynn and Evelyn “Champagne” King: they were (and are) great voices that, in their heyday, were only as good as the songs they were given. So I guess it stands to reason that JHud, Hudson’s third album, is a modern update of the retro-boogie sound that Lynn and King were most successful with. It’s by far the best album of Hudson’s career, and a bit of a surprise, considering I’d pretty much given up on her after 2011’s mediocre I Remember Me.
The vibe of JHud is very much uptempo-only 2 of the album’s 10 tracks are ballads. One wouldn’t necessarily expect a Jennifer Hudson album to set the party off, but the atmosphere is festive from the very first track-“It’s Your World.” With a retro-disco vibe and a sizzling duet vocal from R. Kelly, it sets a solid tone for the remainder of the album. The producers-including ubiquitous names like Pharrell Williams and Timbaland-bring a uniform sound to the proceedings, keeping the old-school party going despite unnecessary interruptions from T.I. and his protege Iggy Azalea (who’s actually at her least annoying on “He Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.”)
Hudson’s voice is a thing of beauty, and she uses it to the best of her ability on JHud, properly interpreting the songs where another singer her age might be tempted to show off. That’s not to say that Hudson can’t wail-she just does it in a way that suggests that she has control of her voice. The mournful closing track “Moan,” which would be unlistenable in the hands of most contemporary artists, is evidence of Jennifer’s skills. Meanwhile, the insinuating “Bring Back The Music” feels like a mission statement of sorts, and a conscious effort to bridge the gap between music fans of yesteryear and more contemporary listeners. It’s to Jennifer’s credit that she’s able to do just that with JHud.
Grade: A-