Ranking the Best Amel Larrieux Albums

Time is wild. This month marks 28 years since soul songstress Amel Larrieux captivated us with the debut of Groove Theory AND it also marks 10 years since we were last blessed with a solo release from her.

That’s a shame. The game needs her.

From her star-marking partnership with Groove Theory to her underrated solo career, Amel has made music on her terms. She never followed trends, never sacrificed her sound to chase the charts. She instead made music that spoke to her and her fans.

Her realness and authenticity – along with her angelic vocals – make her a rare Pokemon in today’s R&B field. Though glimpses of her sound live on in current artists like Cleo Sol and Snoh Aalegra, we’re long overdue for a comeback.

While we get our wishful thinking on, today we’re celebrating Amel’s career with a look back at her solo discography + one more.

Yes, I’m doing THAT album too.

We need more Amel’s – unapologetic soul angels.

6. Lovely Standards (2007)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Amel covering a collection of jazz standards might seem odd to some, but for those who have followed her career, it’s a natural evolution. Jazz has been an integral part of her sound for years, so Lovely Standards isn’t a drastic jump from her previous work. That said, there’s nothing groundbreaking here. Amel adapts seamlessly but few tracks truly stand out. If you’re a jazz lover, by all means, check it out. But if you prefer Amel’s neo-soul offerings, this might be a tougher sell for you.

Forgotten favorites: “If I Were a Bell,” “Younger than Springtime,” “If I Loved You”

5. Morning (2006)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Morning dropped just a few weeks after my wife and I married, so this album became an unofficial wedding soundtrack for those early months of wedded bliss. And playa, the way my wife wore out that “oooooooooooh TROUBLE” track – I swear had to hear it, well, every morning. Naturally. By solo album No. 3, Amel’s formula was solidified, and this was more of the same airy soul fans were accustomed to – for better and worse. Like the albums before it, acoustic feel is a great mood setter but, also like those albums, several tracks feel too same-y, causing lulls in the experience. It has it share of winners, though – “Gills and Tails” is lowkey one of her best songs to date. Someone should have slid that onto The Little Mermaid soundtrack.

Forgotten favorites: “Gills and Tails,” “Weary,” “Trouble”

4. Bravebird (2004)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Amel’s albums are often characterized by one standout track, and if you know like I know, “For Real” is the jewel in this crown. But she doesn’t lean on that track alone. Bravebird shows Amel is willing to expand outside the jazzy tones of her debut, incorporating funkier songs like “Congo” to diversify the listening experience. But Bravebird is also the first album that gets lost in itself at times. It’s another solid album that’s slightly hurt by pacing issues.

Forgotten favorites: “Bravebird,” “Congo,” “We Can Be New”

3. Ice Cream Everyday (2013)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Amel’s final album to date wasn’t afraid to shake the table. Ice Cream Everyday is probably her most sonically diverse album so far, which helps it avoid the sameness that plagued previous efforts. The first half of the album is especially energetic, featuring some of the best track sequencing we’ve seen so far. Now, sometimes it does go too far off the path – I still have no idea what “Trapped Being Human” is supposed to be; it sounds like a mumble rapper sealed in a Ziploc bag. But the missteps are few and Amel sounds more motivated than she had in years. We deserve a follow up. Call it Ice Cream For Two.

Forgotten favorites: “Afraid,” “A Million Sapphires,” “I Do Take”

2. Infinite Possibilities (2000)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: After I finished researching and finalized my ranking of this list,  I asked my wife and card-carrying Amel stan to name her favorite solo album. Without hesitation, she said Infinite Possibilities. And it’s pretty easy to see why Amel’s solo debut is so beloved. It features the jazzy production and mellow vocals that would become a hallmark of her sound. But even more impactful are the beautiful themes of self-reflection that touch nearly every track. For lack of a better term, the album just sounds gorgeous. We knew in 1995 that Amel was a star – this was the album that proved it.

Forgotten favorites: “I N I,” “Shine,” “Make Me Whole”

1. Groove Theory (1995)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Y’all HAD to know I wasn’t leaving this one off the list. We often talk about D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and Maxwell, but a very strong case could be made for Amel Larrieux and Bryce Wilson to be placed among the architects of the neo-soul movement. Groove Theory is an oft-forgotten cog in evolution of 90s R&B. In a genre that increasingly leaned on sampling and hard-hitting hip-hop influences, the subtle blend of soul, jazz (and dashes of hip-hop here and there) made Groove Theory an instant standout in a crowded field. And though this album will always be known as the home of “Tell Me” – an unquestionable R&B classic i– there are so many more gems to be found. Groove Theory will always be Amel’s signature work, and for good reason. It’s one of the most important albums of its era.

Forgotten favorites: “Time Flies,” “Didja Know,” “Good 2 Me”

What’s your favorite Amel album? Let us know below.