India.Arie came out of nowhere about 18 months ago to capture the ears, and hopes of her listeners with a genuinely original approach to soul music. Using quiet instrumentation amd upbeat heartfelt lyrics, she made a clear impression with her debut. "Voyage To India" confirms that India's approach to music is vital.
This album could be called "Acoustic Soul, Part 2" for there is no clear deviation from the debut. India's songs remain acoustic guitar based, and her lyrics could make up a couple of weeks of "Oprah", but in this case, that is a plus. Listening to a joyful lilt like "Little Things", you are reminded of how great soul music can be. It's a beautiful song, from it's let's keep it simple message through it's borrowing of Rufus's "Hollywood" to lay down an accompanying beat.
"God Is Real" lets India loose on a spiritual jam that is both hummable and intelligent. "Can I Walk With You", the closest thing to a genuine toe-tapper, quietly bops along while offering up praise and inspiration. And "Good Man", a personal favorite, tells a beautiful story of love and rememberence against an acoustic backdrop that is perfect for its lyrics.
India's 2nd album may not suprise you like "Acoustic Soul" did, for other female soulsters have taken up with their guitars in the wake of India's success. But if you enjoy simple, spritual tunes with soft yet smart instrumentation, then this album belongs in your collection.

After hearing "Little Things" (a song that makes you go, of yeah) on the radio, I eagerly anticipated the entire "Voyage" CD.

I can say I instantly liked "Talk to Her" (which is my favorite and "Slow Down". I agree that these songs may come across as preachy, but it's something that many of us may need to hear. So much of today's music doesn't have any message at all, so it's always good to hear a song that does. This is one of the things that I love about Ms. India's music.

Surprisingly, it took me a while to decide what I actually thought of India's sophomore effort, especially given that I still listen to "Acoustic Soul" at least twice a week.

The one thing that I truly like about this CD is that India is doing her own thing and doing it different than she did it before. I believe this is another showcase of her talent, a true artist (which we don't see many of these days). Now that I've listened to this several times I can say it is a "Beautiful Surpise" (which is also another great song on the CD).

It's different from Acoustic, but a very welcomed addition to my CD collection.

I must admit I love India.arie. Her voice, mind, and soul are natural beauties. Her debut, "Acoustic Soul" was a refreshing blend of old-school soul with some jazzy and newer production qualities. What struck me was her honesty and the fact that the music was so real! She writes her own stuff, plays guitar, and, man, does she sing! When she got the recognition she deserved with 7 Grammy nods, I had hope for the music industry. When she went home empty-handed I couldn't help feeling for her, she's so down to earth and thru that I felt like she was a friend of mine. The strength that she has displayed is unbelievable. With "Voyage to India" she sill remains true to herself. The album's sound is more complex and her vocals are plain amazing. The first issued single "Little Things" is pure ear candy and carries a message without forcing it upon the listener. It is probably refering to the Grammy's almost rejection of her. The three interludes are like poems that strig the voyage together. My other favorites are 'Talk to Her' (almost a jam with solid vocals), 'Slow Down' (I think it's the most pop track on the album, very infectious), 'Can I Walk with You' (very sweet, but keeps it real), 'The One' (I like the LA LALA LALA LA thing), 'Complicated Melody' (it's so earthy and ORIGINAL)...GOD! I like all the tracks! They all have a great honosty and beat to them. India is here to stay and has truly grown on this release (even though its been like a year since her last). I highly recommend this album to any soul or quiet storm fan. If you're new to India, her first is a better intro, this is her voyage's continuation; lets hope it keeps going! INDIA.ARIE deserved a whole lot of respect for preserving her integrity and sharing her talent with the world!

Voyage to India is the name of India.Aire's sophmore album and there is definitely no sophmore jinx this time around. The title comes from a song of the same name written by Stevie Wonder (India's most oft noted muse) that appeared on Stevie's much acclaimed, but less well known double LP entitled Journey Through The Secret Lives of Plants. The song, a simple Stevie instrumental, taken from a soundtrack for a film that never materialized brought India to tears the first time she heard it at the age of 18. And it is with the profoundness of that moment and the sheer respect for the art of music that India releases this album.

India gets away with a lot of things that other artists don't and I can only assume it is because of her sincerity. For instance, this album stays in the vein of Acoustic Soul musically and never relies on heavy studio produced sound. One gets the impression that this whole album could be played live and remain extremely faithful to the original. But where other soul musicians would be marginalized as to folksy for attempting such pared down production, it is okay for India because even without a thumping hard driving bassline, the listener wants to dance and celebrate right along with the music. There is something about her music that is still lush and full and satisfying.

India.Aire also gets away with espousing her philosophy on almost every track. Where others may get attacked for being preachy, India comes off as an old soul that has experienced quite a bit and deserves our respect and attention. As for India's philosophy its a dash of new age spirituality, a touch of good old fashioned southern fried wisdom, and a heaping helping of personal experience. Perhaps it is her eternally optimistic outlook and repeated gratitude for all things small and large throughout this album that really captures the listener. This album WILL get a lot of folks through some hard times with love and with life. Its not modern philosophy...but it is practical wisdom that we all need a little to hear again from time to time.

I cannot give the album five stars because it is just too new. Perhaps I will decide that is indeed classic material at a later date, but there is one flaw. I hate to compare this album to Acoustic Soul, but there seems to be less of the musical diverstiy this time out. I mean India has a monopoly on beautiful tracks laced with acoustic strumming and deft, yet modest keyboards, but it gets slightly monotonous from time to time. Luckily, India has drawn more heavily from the funky bassline and creative drum patterns that showed up on just a few tracks on the last album. So I will say that this album grooves more than one might expect of and India.Aire album with less of the folksiness of the past.

India ties the album together with three short interludes titled 'Growth', 'Healing', and 'Gratitude'. And in three words, this really represents the direction the album goes in lyrically. India is growing in her comfort with expressing herself, growing in her spirit, and growing as an artist. The album itself is like a healing ritual in that each song offers a little salve for life's ups and downs and the struggles that sometimes feel too overwhelming, but turn out to be our greatest blessings. Speaking of blessings, its obvious that India is thankful for her obvious blessings, but even the difficult lessons that made her the person she is.

I hate to try to pick favorite tracks on this one. I think each song is going to touch certain people differently. It's the kind of album that strikes a chord with many, but some songs are just going to have more personal meaning. 'Little Things' starts off the album with a funky little beat interpolated from the classic track 'Hollywood' by Rufus and Chaka Khan. Later on in the album India really finds her stride writing beautifully crafted lyrics about love. 'The Truth' is a celebration og a man and the unconditional love she has developed for him. The following track 'Beautiful Surprise' seems to be prequel to 'The Truth' giving us a story of how that unconditional love came to be. They probably should have been sequenced differently on the album but both tracks are worth abusing the rewind button. The album shifts back to the upbeat fare musically with a little Latin flavor on the ode to spiritual growth, 'Headed in the Right Direction'. But India saves her biggest feat for the end of the album pulling a hat trick with the final three tracks. 'Good Man' finds a jubilant reason to celebrate life even in death. 'God is Real' is an answer to any agnostic or atheists ranting about the absence of God. And the final track 'Interested' is a foot stomping, hand clapping affair-so simple but yet such a fitting way to close the album that has covered so much ground with so much depth.

Hopefully, the guys who vote on the Grammies will get it right this year because India.Aire has done it again. Voyage to India is wa onderful strange trip that this reviewer ceases to grow tired of.

let me say this right off the bat:
she got four stars from me strictly because she gives me somethin new to lissen to! (and that is no longer even true because i gave this cd to a friend of mine as a house warming present!)
but i'm "ranting"... not "hating"...
this disc isnt bad... it starts off slow with the first song but picks up rather nicely. i was actually quite happy with the music... toe-tappin & finga snappin ensued...
but sista india does do that "lauryn hill thing" and get a bit gratuitous with her righteousness... BUT THAT'S HER THANG YALL so dont ack like you didnt know...
some of the lyrics i actually like better than her first album, it's just after awhile it's all the same message - not that the message is a bad one/it just sounds like this shoulda been made by an 'arie-wannabe' and not by the up-and-coming queen herself...
as a fan, i just hafta hold out until she finds her voice in variety while still maintaining the vision she has for herself...

four stars is generous, but still this effort is stronger than three...