| Shontelligence | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Shontelle |
| Cover: | Shontelligence.jpg |
| Released: | (re-release) |
| Recorded: | 2006–2008 |
| Genre: | R&B |
| Length: | 40:23 |
| Label: | SRC Records/Motown |
| Producer: | Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, Classic Soul Productions, Andrew Frapton, Fredo, The Heavyweights, The Jam, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Stargate, Wayne Wilkins |
| Next Title: | No Gravity |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
Shontelligence[1] is the debut studio album of Barbadian R&B/pop singer Shontelle. It was released on November 18, 2008.[2] The album was re-released featuring the new single "Stuck with Each Other", on March 10, 2009.
Speaking to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul' in February 2009, Shontelle described how the album title first came about: "We were actually hanging out in the studio, kinda waiting for things to bubble up - you know, the guys there tend to get a bit silly sometimes with their sense of humour. So one guy somehow comes up with this bright idea - 'Hey Shontelle! Let's play a word-game with your name today! Whoever can come up with the most words using your name gets free lunch!'! So they're like 'Shontel-evator', 'Shontel-evision', 'Shontel-icopter'... Then my engineer, Al, suddenly turns round and says 'Yeah, that's some real Shontelligence there!'... And straightaway everyone in the studio turned around at the same time, and were like 'That has to be your album title!'!"[3]
The album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics.
Ben Ratliffe of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review stating that:
Any pop singer who's been through that mill, willingly or not, has something to tell, but it feels as if Shontelle's individuality is being squelched. The first two tracks, T-Shirt and Battle Cry, both produced by Wayne Wilkins, are the singles, and they stand apart from the rest of the album. They're rampagingly sweet R&B songs, one about the solidarity of lust, one about the solidarity of friendship. After that -- largely in songs produced by Mr. Sturken and Mr. Rogers -- things go sharply downhill. There are enough acoustic guitar and reggae grooves to distinguish Shontelligence from most R&B records, but it hardly matters; this is a record in which a song called Ghetto Lullabye, inevitably rhymes its title with the line hush now, shorty, don't you cry. A potential identity for Shontelle almost rises up in Plastic People, about political conformity, but it's for naught: redolent of Des'ree's You Gotta Be, the song is already drowning in sonic conformity.
Alex Macpherson of The Guardian gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars, citing the artist's "thoughtful songwriting and an understated vocal presence". The Guardians Paul Lester was more negative, saying the album's lead single was horrible and that he preferred Rihanna to Shontelle, and labeled her a "wannabe hitmaker", citing "the bland lyrics" of "T-Shirt" being comparable to any R&B song. Both reviewers compared Shontelle to Ne-Yo.[4]
David Balls of Digital Spy gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars:
Crafted by a team of established hitmakers including Stargate and Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, Shontelligence certainly has the potential to shift units in an age of disposable R&B. But considering Shontelle's high-achieving past, it's disappointing that the handful of shining moments are dimmed by a barrage of mediocrity. Still, with her strong ambition and clear determination to succeed, you wouldn't bet against her best being yet to come.
Notes:
| Chart | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC) | 147 | |
| US Billboard 200 | 115 | |
| US Billboard Top R&B Hip/Hop Albums | 24 |