When bathtime stopped being a dually traumatizing experience, it also got a soundtrack. R&B chanteuse Jhené Aiko got first duties.

A few weeks ago, bath time went through a radical change. The wet, shrieking infant who sounded like a victim in a Clive Barker movie, now resembled Tommy Chong. We were new parents, and from fear of scalding her would fill the plastic tub with… just-above-room-temp water. That’s like dropping you in a snowbank and expecting a tender moment to transpire. It’s very unlikely is what I’m trying to say.

But lo, when we took a risk and upped the temp, her expression immediately changed. Her eyes half closed and she looked like we’d (to a certain extent) found a suitable replacement for the womb. “This needs music” I thought. I threw on Jhené Aiko’s 2014 album Souled Out.

Souled Out Wowfacts™

• As far as the industry is concerned, Aiko is a megastar. She’s collaborated with B2K (remember them?) Kendrick’s Black Hippy collective, and even Def Jam big-macher, Cocaine 80s.
• Moreover, Aiko was selected as the opening act for Nas and Lauryn Hill’s Life is Good/Black Rage tour.
• Aiko is a show-stealer on Drake’s “From Time” on the classic Nothing was the Same. record.
• Here she is at Coachella 2014, bringing out Drizzy himself, and detonating the crowd.

Eleanor: “Ah. Aaaah wah.”

What works so well about Souled Out is its understated tone. Focus never diverts from Aiko’s velveteen voice, but it’s all conservative, intimate. Listening to it feels almost like a conversation with her. Tracks like “W.A.Y.S.”, “Promises”, “Lyin King” and “Spotless Mind” carry gentle guitar and piano riffs, backed by deep, echoing beats and just a tinge of robotic-sounding samples. It’s relaxing, but thoroughly memorable. Souled Out has the feel of Sadé’s Lover’s Rock or Massive Attack’s Blue Lines (both of which I’ll totally review some day), but a charm that is Aiko’s alone.

Aiko may be looked over by top-4o radio because her vocals aren’t needlessly gigantic like Mariah Carey’s or Alicia Keys’, but then again, that’s the point. For times like this, where quiet and dulcet tones are the order of the day; where we are setting the tone for a nightly ritual, a thing I spend my entire day looking forward to; an album like Souled Out is perfect.

For that reason, and for the wonderful changes it helped usher in, I simply have to give this record 5 out of 5 Chill-as-hell Ellie’s.

Here’s the entire album for your listening pleasure:

And as always, here’s the ever-growing “Albums my daughter Loves” playlist.