Testimony Vol 2: Love & politics

It’s no secret that 2009 is going to be a pretty dark year for the majority of people in Ireland. Shops are closing, gig ticket prices are going up and the weather outside is bad enough to give Jack Frost a chill. But fear no more, because if you want to listen to something to cheer you up then look no further than India Arie’s Testimony Vol2: Love & Politics. Although sadly not intentionally funny, Arie’s fourth studio album has some of the funniest lyrics this writer has heard in a while.
Take the cheese-fest that is ‘Chocolate High’ for example. In this recent single, the singer compares “sexy stuff” to eating chocolate with hilarious results. “Your precious darkness got me so strung out/And lovin’ the way that you got me so wide open, my baby doll” she coos with no hint of humour whatsoever. We don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt that way about a Twix before in my life.
What is most grating about this record (and a lot of self-styled, legends in their own lunch time “divas” in general) is the sheer po-faced nature of the songs. ‘Ghetto’ not surprisingly features India preaching about, erm, ghettoes, ‘Pearls’ has the singer preaching once again about ghettos (snore) and if that wasn’t enough to put you off, her holier than thou god-fearing lyrics on ‘Grains’ (which is threaded throughout the album) will have you reaching for the stop button in double quick time. Horrible stuff.

Key Track: 'Chocolate High'