While many may have never heard of Stacie Orrico’s self titled debut, she's made a hit with Stuck, one of the catchiest songs ever made, but three years later, its any wonder if you could just stick on to her music going by her new album ‘Beautiful Awakening’.

Although Orrico possesses a dazzling voice, she is also blessed with a rare maturity to walk away from her career and to rediscover who she was and what, and whom, really mattered to her. Returning to her audiences who bought and maybe cherished her debut, she returns with a clutch of strong, simple songs taking control of the entire album. Her new offering is soulful, R & B powered and tells the story of that journey, which has landed her where she is today, in control of her life and career for the first time.

Stacie employs her attractive voice to the best she can, at times drawling, seductive, reflective and mildly raging with the largely acoustic backing suiting her wry and lived in tunes. Compared to her earlier work, the tracks sound a little identical cue on ‘Dream You’ to know more. The lyrics here are slightly dull and slow all along. But the teenybopper, who makes her music, makes sure she can hold a note and that’s for sure, for her music is peaceful. There are raw beats, guitar, piano and a few strings against Orrico’s jazz – inflected powerhouse vocals. There’s a slightly funky slow beat in the sublime Is it me, that does not last long enough. Orrico has done everything on this album, from singing to writing and even vocal training. Orrico co – wrote a majority of the album and worked with a variety of top-notch producers, including Dallas Austin, Kaygee, and co – writers like Anthony Dent and Novel. Orrico’s topics for her songs range from breakup songs like I’m not missing you, Don’t ask me to stay to perfect romantic ballads like Easy to love you and Wait that has some clever wordplay.

There’s also the slightly loud vocals in the shout to single moms in Babygirl to a celebration of the family in So Simple. The songs demonstrate a growing woman who seems focused on making music that has real meaning.

Smooth and sassy, with not many high tones and heavy vocals is the feeling running right through the album. Growing up in a household of a Christian Missionary, Stacie’s gospel roots are exposed in her music, from where she developed her soul singing background. Families listening to this album can talk about how it can feel better to write honestly about your deepest feelings, whether for others or just for yourself. Her lead vocals on Beautiful Awakening and Save me are expressive and confident, exploring a broad range of both pitch and emotion.

The Seattle born 20 year old has only her vocals as a plus point here, for her music is very rudimentary. No big band to accompany her and so just a few instruments, piano, guitar that goes along with the low-key songs. Some tracks that are the real highlights and worth a rewind would be Take me away, Don’t’ ask me to stay and Easy to luv while Beautiful Awakening is slightly misleading and has no much catchlines. With inspirations form Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys to fall back on, this is not one of a headbangers pop record.

Compared to her debut, ‘Beautiful Awakening’ is a slow starter but a good companion for an unplugged evening of music. Quality wise, Stacie excels, but she could do with a few hits to really make it to the top. The twelve tracks blend one into other without a difference to much beat changes, so a listen to Stacie Orrico is to venture into a more naïve, easygoing past where making music is more of an expression than a career. To teenyboppers this may seem unwelcome, but to mature audience it’s a relief.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira