I'm back!!
Frick guys... frick!! This album has been on repeat for me all day. Pure class!
Thick Skin is one of my favourites! Way worth the purchase of the deluxe imo.
Comments... In a sort of kind of order of my preferences out of the songs:
1. Thick Skin (Is it legal to be this good? Can totally imagine a single with diff production)
2. Thank You (gospel vibes are getting me wild)
3. You Knew Me When (beauty in simplicity, the pre-chorus is haunting)
4. Fire Under My Feet (This still needs to be a hit)
5. Power (This is everything)
6. Essence of Me (This is everything else)
7. Ladders (Really great vocal hooks. There's a similar personality in the instruments that reminds me of Bleeding Love, mostly the rhythmic devices, use of riffs and the such, obviously the songs are nothing alike otherwise)
8. I Am (Acoustic) (Really gives the vocals and lyrics room to breathe)
9. Thunder (Great catchy song, with once of Leona's best first verses)
10. Thunder (Acoustic) (Great rendition of the song)
11. I Got You (I've got a feeling this will be amazing to see performed live in person)
12. Another Love Song (Amazing dance song, stunning vocal melody in the verses)
13. I Am (One of the most stunning transitions from chorus to bridge I've heard)
14. The Best and the Worst (An almost introspective lyrics that closes the album nicely)
The quality on this album is outstanding and there's not a single song I feel like I don't like. Probably her strongest and most cohesive album to date.
This era, I'm going to enjoy the music. I'm not going to worry about airplay, or charting. If it happens it happens and that will be a bonus to the enjoyment of the era, but the quality of this album just means that if it doesn't get its deserved recognition, I will always consider it one of the most underrated albums I own.