For many people, Bilal can do NO WRONG. Yeah, I said it.

 

With a career that has spanned more than a decade, it can be noted that Bilal hasn’t lost much steam. With the heavily slept on 1st Born Second, he still garnered a cult following. This following only ensured that his concerts could still bring a crowd while people clamored to sing the praises of the shelved Love 4 Sale. With the artistic genius-yet-weirdness of Airtight’s Revenge come and gone, listeners are now set to let their ears appeal to A Love Surreal. Any true Bilal fan would appreciate the impressiveness of this new album.

 

However, any person that writes music reviews would realize that this album is pure greatness. In fact, it may be his best all-around project yet.

 

What makes this album work so well is the fact that it remains focused on its particular subject: love. But what people need to notice is that it goes from the beginning (“West Side Girl”) to the sexual infatuation phase (tracks like “Climbing” and “Longing and Waiting”) to the eventual break up phase (“Slipping Away”, “Lost For Now”, “Astray”). By the time the album begins to wind down, the feeling of the album dwells into “letting go” (“The Flow”). Unlike the overly dynamic aura of his previous works, Bilal kept everything intact and on track. Conveniently, A Love Surreal reeks of a man with full concentration.

 

It is worth noting that A Love Surreal isn’t as experimentally subdued as previous efforts. In the past, he would retreat to experimental production, cadences, and approaches. Now, his approach is simplified. However, what is lacking in overt originality is made up for with fluctuating feelings, dynamic musical structures, and singing that oozes humanity. Bilal did the totally unexpected: he constructed a conventional R&B album.

 

A Love Surreal is an album about love in all of its affection and affliction. With a newfound energy and concentration, Bilal’s music is as strong as ever. Plus, his singing delves more into the emotions and less into the pure artistry of it all. Some may feel that he is “losing his edge”. However, people must realize that he is an artist. This recent artistic turn has produced one of the best of albums of his career and for the year of 2013.