Jill Scott: The Real Thing, Words and Sounds Vol 3 (Inertia)

To be honest, this one might take a few goes: initially it seems fragmented, opening with a taut and percussive two minute track, kicks into something soulful driven by a distant rock riff, moves into a blast of tough r'n'b, then a mellow and intimate mood enters . . .

But it was nominated for best r'n'b album at the Grammys and Scott for best female r'n'b vocal for the track Hate on Me.

Four and five stars have been liberally littered throughout reviews across the States and Europe, and her powerful delivery in places puts you more in mind of Etta James than some try-hard rap singer. Then she can cut back to a sultry style which seduces with its whispered delivery.

Yes, Scott is all woman and all the emotions which that brings and on this repeat-play album you get the many moods of Jill -- and they are all engrossing. With 15 diverse and distinctive tracks -- a few around the two minute mark -- this also feels like an album of the old kind, where you remember every single song.