Album Review: Estelle - The 18th Day (V2)

Writer: Scott Wright

Some songs have ‘Goal of the Month’ written all over them, and Estelle’s debut single 1980, with its majestic strings, fits the bill perfectly. Of course Match of the Day use the instrumental, but when coupled with its witty, self-deprecating lyrics (I for one now regularly check on my elderly neighbours to ensure they haven’t been eaten by cats) you’ve got a song that was all but inescapable this summer. With The 18th Day Estelle displays much more of that winning charm, while further indulging her curious date of birth obsession.

It’s been written that with this album Estelle proves herself to be the “UK’s answer to Mary J Blige”, but one listen proves her to be much more ambitious than that. She brazenly flaunts her influences. From Destiny’s Child on the slick, syncopated Don’t Talk, to Missy Elliot on the sassy Dance Bitch, Estelle is playing the spread and referencing almost every popular female R&B star in the process. Yet she’s no copycat. The bad old days of British artists affecting ridiculous transatlantic drawls have long since passed, and Estelle, in her voice, flow and subject matter is a very British and very accomplished MC. The Motown stomp of Go Gone and current single Free provide further evidence of her willingness to stray from the template.

The album’s unifying theme is self-improvement. Optimism abounds, and songs are packed with sisterly encouragement: “do something with yourselves”; “you’re the only one that seems to be stopping yourself”; “you’ve got the choice, it’s your life.” Her efforts to provide inspiration in a genre obsessed with aspiration are laudable. In fact, as I listened to this album I started to wish I was a teenage girl. This doesn’t usually happen when I’m reviewing albums - well, not often - but if I was thirteen and female I have no doubt The 18th Day would make me feel capable of taking on the world. It’s just so damned empowering. 

However, it’s not without its faults. As with most major label R&B albums it’s at least five songs too long. Some odd sequencing means the fillers- all syrupy ballads- are dumped together like unwanted kittens in the middle of the album. What we’ll call the ‘slowjam section’ is heralded by the horribly clichéd I Wanna Love You (chorus: “I wanna love you/ I wanna hold you/ I wanna kiss you/ I wanna hug you” x10) and doesn’t let up until the last two tracks, the accomplished On & On and I’m Gonna Win. It’s a shame. This needless attempt to broaden Estelle’s appeal deflates the album when it’s at its most buoyant. 

Of the earlier tracks the sophisticated hip hop of Change Is Coming hints at the direction she might have taken if the majors hadn’t come knocking. As it is The 18th Day is - for the most part- a sparky, confident debut. One for the teenage girl in all of us. 

RELATED LINKS:
Official Site



Buy Estelle's The 18th Day album at Amazon UK (CD)




PUBLISHED: 5 November 2004

RELEASED DATE: October 18, 2004 (UK)

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