Despite the success of artist of the Nu Soul or Neo Soul genre like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Angie Stone or Chico DeBarge there fortunately hasn't been an invasion of soundalikes and the attempt of records labels to milk this 'trend' to death so far. Until now you may say if you have a superficial listen to Jaguar's debut album. Well, on first listening to Jaguar Wrights album it's obvious who was her major recent influence. Just listen to Same Shit Different Day Pt. II or Self Love (by the way the standout cut on this album and with 9+ minutes it's quite epic) which is the best Jill Scott song Jill has never done! But to say that Jaguar is just another puppet on a string for some record labels execs won't do her justice because she (co-)wrote most of the songs and even delivers a great cover of the Gamble & Huff track Love Need And Want You. Other fine songs include The What If's, Country Song (hardly no country music), Stay or the superb Same Shit Different Day Pt. I that makes clever use of George Duke Capricorn. All in all a great album except maybe for the two songs with Black Thought on rap duties, but maybe it's just me who isn't really into hip-hop, and maybe Jaguar's duet with Bilal (I Can't Wait) that sounds very 80ies influenced and reminds me of Prince's Lady Cab Driver in some way.
Time will tell if Jaguar has enough potential to achieve the same status like Jill Scott or Erykah Badu, but Denials, Delusions And Decisions promise all the right things and maybe the market has a niche for everyone.