“Video” echoes Psalm 139:14 as the singer loves who she sees in the mirror and rejects the need for worldly accessories such as fancy clothes or a perfect figure. She also honors unselfish moms and mates who keep their “Promises.” “Strength, Courage & Wisdom” and “Back to the Middle” allude to the paralyzing power of fear, and advocate taking calculated risks and leaps of faith. On “Ready for Love,” India.Arie pledges patience, kindness, faithfulness and truthfulness to a man she admires. “Simple” expresses love to a partner, while “Wonderful” praises fellow recording artist Stevie Wonder for his influence in her life. Despite past mistakes, the 26-year-old singer states, “My sexual desire ain’t controlling me” (“Part of My Life”).
Her sexual desire does control her on “Brown Skin” (“Something magnetic pulls me . . . All I know is that I wanna lay you down”). “I See God in You” and “Beautiful” include subtle theological references that betray the artist’s religious roots (Mom named her India because her due date matched Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday).
Had it not been for “Brown Skin” and a few blink-and-you-miss-’em contradictions of biblical truth, Acoustic Soul would’ve been a terrific pick. Still, with so much good here, some families may decide to talk through the spiritual issues and hit the skip button on “Brown Skin.”
