Music Review: @PhilBeaudreau - Ether

Phil Beaudreau is a man that came out of nowhere. At a certain point, in early 2013, he dropped his Dawaun Parker produced “Anyway”. Ever since then, he has released a string of singles to test the waters. With a growing response and adoration for his singing skills, he decided to release the full length labeled Ether. For a debut album, Ether is a strong representation of a man’s desire for musical greatness.

The album is filled with either slow or mid-tempo tracks; if you are looking for dance numbers, “Won’t Go Away” is the closest thing to that. However, what you will get is a lot of songs with meaning and emotion. “Buried Alive” is for those that consistently live in fear. “Take It High”, a previously released track, sounds wondrous while Phil revels in summertime daydreams and being with the one he loves. What this album lacks in dance-floor filling tracks, it more than makes up for with songs containing substance.

The beauty of this album is that it isn’t afraid to be what it truly is: a pure R&B album. There isn’t a whole lot of hip hop/rhythm and blues hybrid songs outside of the Dawaun Parker featured “This Is Why”. In fact, this album is much more traditional than most common “R&B” albums that you may here. And that traditionalism is what makes this album such a delight to listen to. Phil Beaudreau found his lane and didn’t work to retreat out of it.

What can be said is Phil Beaudreau wanted to make an album that fans of R&B could listen to. With tracks that are heavy on subject matter and substance and light on pop offerings, purists can enjoy what he does. Also, the production does have some modern nuances that the younger generation can get into. From here, Phil can just make sure that more people are aware of his skill. Still, he won’t have a hard time gathering a following with such engaging music on his resume.