Customer Reviews
Finest UK Female Artist Around! - By: Mr. Jordan C. W. Lloyd, 01 Jul 2008 
Much like Her 2004 debut album, 'The 18th Day', Shine proves to be an outstanding contribution to the world of UK hip-hop. Featuring collaborations from Kanye West, Will.i.am, Cee-Lo & John Legend, the album had alll the ingredients to be a major success. A very summer feeling on the record, & a 2008 must buy!!
Second Impression - Lacklustre - By: The Wolf, 18 Jun 2008 
I gave this one some time. I reallly did. "Don't let first
impressions get the better of you" - That's what I told myself.
I want to like Estelle but there's something disingenuous
about this album which keeps me at arm's length.
Perhaps it's the celebrity pals. A pretty blatant US market launchpad.
Perhaps it's the uneasy slipping & sliding between West London
and American brogues...NB 'More Than Friends'.
Perhaps it's that the voice is pretty ordinary truth be told.
Lacking in dynamic variation & uncertain in tone.
Of the twelve songs in this collection only a couple rise above the middle of the road.
'Come Over' & 'Pretty Please' both possess a degree of sassy charm.
'So Much Out The Way' & title track 'Shine' however are real stinkers.
Unfocussed & disappointing.
One of the finer albums in 2008 - By: lcollens, 11 Jun 2008 This album is one of the best, solid, seamless yet diverse albums I have heard in 2008. Estelle, for me, is filling that void in the market of credible, soulful R&B/rapper which was ploughed by Lauryn Hill with her 'Miseducation' album. Estelle is no Lauryn Hill, but I am more than satisfied to listen to this until Ms. Hill chooses to return.
After her debut THE 18th DAY I thought that we probably would not hear from her again & she would another talented British artist to disappear into obscurity because of a lack of penetration into the Top 10 yet alone the Top 40. This may be due to a number of American artists churning out R&B albums. So Estelle moves State-side to sign up with John Legend. I saw Estelle in concert with John Legend in 2005 & I am not surprised that they have teamed up. "American Boy" was a tremendous will.i.am produced Kanye West featured track (Kanye rapping about WAGs & Ribena!!) & there are a number of other track which illustrate Estelle's dexterity courtesy of production by Wyclef Jean (another Fugee), Mark Ronson, Swizz Beatz, Jack Splash & others. This album is great for summer & I listen to it regularly on the tube in London.
Estelle bravely covers Bob Marley's "So Much Things To Say" (like Lauryn Hill did with Bob) & creates a George Michael inspired No Substitute Love. "Come Over" is an beautiful balllardy tune which shows off Estelle's softer side a bit more. "Wait a Minute" featuring will.i.am manages to show the I'm-nobodies-fool side of Estelle with some moving production from will.i.am.
Estelle flows between singer to rapper effortlessly in this album on a few tracks & features with artists such as Cee-Lo on "Pretty Please" -- which is the MOST genuine JACKSON 5 sounding song I have heard post Jackson 5. "You Are" features John Legend where they sing back & forth to each other. A song that manages to sound intimate like you're the only other person witnessing this exchange.
I fear that this album will not shift as many units as it should. It won't show internationallly that the UK is not just Amy Winehouse, Adele & Duffy. I always say just to download individual tracks for albums but this one reallly deserves to be listened to from beginning to end as the album's mood is reallly a journey from beginning to end. Maybe leave off Shine with Swizz Beatz if you want to save some money. This album is the yardstick for others to follow for a while.
FAB ESTELLE !!!! :) - By: Katie, 25 May 2008 Estelle is the singer we have alll been waiting for. A singer that has talent, can sing great hip-hop, is beautiful & who actuallly looks a cool & down to earth girl. Her sounds on this album are very original & I am always bopping along to this. The songs are groovy, original & perfect for a summer party. This girl cheers you up just by listening to her album. I don't think the music industry has heard such a fab sound before. She is the talent we have been searching for !! All the songs are great & if you liked American Boy buy this album ):
Absolute awesome! - By: C PETTY, 18 May 2008 This is a great album, American Boy is such a funky song. Just love it. The whole album is reallly good. I`ve been a fan since her last album - 18th day. Looking forward to her next album already! Estelle rocks.
