Of course, Solange would drop an album the day after black history month ended. Of course, she would.
Feb. 28, the artist debuted a collage of visuals, song names, tracks and titles on a pro-black social media site called blackpanet.com. On her social media, she posted a call line for fans to call and listen to samples of the album.
Knowles has always been known to represent and exhibit her black pride. Even in her third studio album, A Seat At The Table, had an ongoing theme centered around black women, sexuality and growth. The theme on her prior project contains a lot of dialogue focused on struggle, internalized insecurity and anger. “When I Get Home” feels like the complete opposite.
The sounds on each record create a visual of progression and complete enlightenment. People from the south will easily recognize the Houston and New Orleans sonics within songs like “Way to the Show,” “Nothing Without Intention (Interlude)” and “Sound of Rain.” Each track reflects a reverb and an alternative echo of Houston- rap.
When I Get Home paints a picture of Houston, Texas and her childhood home, Parkwood. These places stand as an elusive- misty Eden, created and entangled by memories that make themselves visible, but never to be lived again. Knowle’s ability to permeate and blend her production, black-girl country aesthetic and writing is found so heavily in this body of work. When I Get Home is not only an “Exploration of Origin,” but it is a complete thought of A Seat At The Table and her documentation of her childhood.
9/10
This album truly deserves an 8/10 because most of these tracks had so much potential to exceed Knowle’s usual funkadelic and milky sound. At the same time, her artistry overpowers every aspect of this project. She could poop on a table and her feces would be considered as art. Stand out tracks include “Binz,” “Stay Flo” and “Almeda.”
