All Monsters Are Human

Two singles issued during the last few months of 2019 weren't exactly outliers in the singer's catalog. "Supahood," a chiming, booming, and boisterous track featuring the perfectly compatible and , celebrated her supportive-not-submissive dedication to certain deserving men. The candy-coated ballad "The Rain," co-produced by the re-emergent , mixed lust and humor by reimagining 's "Can You Stand the Rain" with , true to form, sexualizing the metaphor, probably not what had in mind when they wrote the original. As with its preceding singles, the rest of is of a piece with the vocal powerhouse's other LPs in its lyricism, sound, and quality -- all that, despite being made with a presumably tighter budget. (It's her first release through , after four with major-label .) In fact, she's still with creative partners like , while the primary new collaborator is , known for his Grammy-nominated contemporary gospel recordings and extensive work with brother . continues to make full use of the album format. She examines peaks and valleys of personal and interpersonal dealings with a rare combination of wit, candor, vulnerability, and conviction. Those who are still waiting on her long-threatened contemporary country album get another couple teasers with the opening "Just Like Jay," one of her rawest and most open introspective numbers, and the easily adaptable "I Don't Like You," a ballad of grace and spite with a bridge that hits like an unexpected combination-punch knockout. Beyond the obvious standouts and are some solid slow jams. These include "Ciara's Prayer" and the slightly country "All the Lovers," which are akin to finely sanded offcuts recovered from 's compound, and "Can't Let (You Get Away)," a trap-styled scorcher. ~ Andy Kellman