Initially introduced back in 2017, Singer-Songwriter Eric Burton and Guitarist/Producer Adrian Quesada would form the duo that is Black Pumas. Rather unique to everything else going on within music today, their 2019 self-titled debut took listeners by storm. A mix of Blues, Rock, Pop, Funk, and R&B, the album was anchored by the hit single “Colors” and led Black Pumas up the charts, and on their way to Grammy nominations in 2020. A stellar beginning for a refreshing new act, Burton and Quesada returns as Black Pumas again in 2023, releasing their second album Chronicles of a Diamond.
Released on October 27th once again through ATO Records, there certainly had to be a substantial amount of pressure to write these new songs. Why? Because sophomore albums are always ones that either solidify an artist, or show they were a flash in the pan. Furthermore, if that debut album was successful, and Black Pumas absolutely was, then the pressure has to be tenfold. This in mind, Burton clearly took this in stride, because the music that makes up Chronicles of a Diamond is nothing short of captivating.
Consisting of ten new tracks, Chronicles of a Diamond’s release was preceded with four singles – “More Than a Love Song,” “Mrs. Postman,” “Angel,” and “Ice Cream (Payphone).” Each quite different from the other, “More Than a Love Song” led the bunch with a delightful track with delicate textures, “Mrs. Postman ” is a cool R&B cut, “Angel” is more a stripped-down acoustic ballad, plus “Ice Cream (Payphone) is undeniably irresistible with Burton’s distinctive falsetto, and it will immediately put you in high spirits.
These singles discussed, the remainder of Chronicles of a Diamond is nothing short of a smooth, laid-back listen including the title-track, playful “Hello,” mesmerizing “Sauvignon” and groovy “Gemini Sun.” Giving insight to nearly every track on the album, there are no valleys, but rather there is an even trajectory of well-produced and composed songs.
In all honesty, it is surprising that Black Pumas have provoked such a positive reaction. This is only said because it seems like the modern music scene has left no place for unique artists with ingenuitive music talent. So, if anything, Black Pumas’ rise reminds us – if you give people good music, they will embrace it. All this said, Chronicles of a Diamond is a stellar follow up record and showcases that Burton and Quesada are a fitting duo that know how to capture sound, melody, and moods perfectly. For fans of classic R&B, Soul, Rock-n-Roll, and everything in-between that makes your soul feel alive, Cryptic Rock gives Chronicles of a Diamond 5 out of 5 stars.
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