Something Out Of Nothing

Shelly Bhushan’s latest release, Something Out Of Nothing, does face a bit of a challenge with the first few tracks being consumed by the chorus. My first few goes I just couldn’t help but feel like the lyrical lacked some substance as Bhushan continued to repeat the chorus over and over. Mind you, she has a decent voice in these songs and the music is pretty stellar, but the repetitiveness almost killed it for me. That’s just too much filler right up front. 

 

As I sat in my living room relaxing to the album on the couch, and we had gone beyond the first few opening numbers, I really got into the album. If Bhushan made me think that her voice was simply decent in the beginning, by the fourth song on the album I was highly into her voice by then. It was a mix of sophistication you’d find in jazz, sultriness that comes from R&B, and a margin of pop sentimentality that tied it all together. 

 

Going back from the beginning again I can’t say that those first few songs grew on me. They’re enjoyable but not even a shadow of the power and passion that follows. By the end. When Bhushan performs Unrequited Love Song, I knew then I’d have to grab her previous work and see what I’ve been missing. It’s an accessible luxury of adult contemporary jazz and unapologetic pop without the weighted down radio feel. I highly suggest.