ATLANTA — It's a testament to India.Arie's blithe spirit that there are no bitter songs on her second album, "Voyage to India." After all, the folky R&B singer/songwriter suffered the public embarrassment of being shut out at this year's Grammys, despite nabbing seven nominations. And, as a rule, sophomore albums by successful acts tend to focus on the acute pressures of dealing with sudden fame.
But Stone Mountain-based Arie is all sweetness and light on the new set. Her music is soul as simple affirmations, reminding us to take note of the "Little Things," show "Gratitude," and to relax and "Slow Down."
She exhibits an earnestness that's uncommon in today's pop scene. It's both a mark of distinction — and an Achilles' heel.
Too often she seems like she's just spouting platitudes: "I take life as it comes"; "You have to heal your heart"; "To choose life is to forgive." Her convincing bassy delivery shows that the lyrics are deeply felt. But the sentiments feel empty because she doesn't reveal the specific struggles that led to these revelations.
What made her biggest hit, the bouncy "Video," so charming was that it was a tale of self-esteem grounded in her own experiences. She desperately needs to return to this revelatory mode of song-writing.
The new tunes could also use a little of "Video's" light hip-hop kick. The album's overall pace is so sluggish that it could be used to treat hyperactivity and sleep disorders. The gently bopping "Can I Walk With You" would be an average midtempo number on anybody else's album, but, in contrast to Arie's other tunes, it's nearly disco.
Arie is most endearing when singing about love. For the singer, even the slightest crush is like magic or the evidence of God. "The Truth" finds her nearly loopy over a guy with a gap in his teeth. "If he ever left me/ I wouldn't even be sad," Arie sings. "'Cause there's a blessing in every lesson/And I'm glad that I knew him at all."
"Voyage's" finest number also has romance at its core. "Good Man" is about how a father wants his wife and children to remember him in case he dies. This sharp cut shows how good Arie can be when she sticks to telling simple stories instead of brandishing sappy self-help sermons.
But overall, the album is far too languid and mushy. And it's unlikely to change her losing streak at the Grammys. (But it's notable that the album is being released just six days before the end of the Grammy eligibility period.) Arie has good intentions, but it results in little more than an album of mildly pleasant Hallmark moments.
"Voyage to India"
Motown. 16 tracks.
Grade: C