"Rock Candy", Shaheen Sheik's second album is a rock and folk music compilation with a vibe of fusion. Shaheen combines Eastern instrumentation like the Tabla, Ghungroo and blends them with the acoustic guitar. The CD's overall sound is a combination of Sheryl Crow meets Euro-based rock. Vocally, Shaheen is amazing! Even though she started out as a dancer who recently discovered vocal based performance, she sounds like she's been singing all her life. She's also a gifted musician when it comes to the acoustic guitar and because she is a dancer, it is apparent when she plays. She plays the acoustic guitar like someone would play the Tabla, making it the core source of rhythm for her tracks. As a South Asian, her CD stands out because it's not the usual Bhangra, Hip Hop based music we're used to hearing from South Asian musicians. It differentiates itself by being more of a mainstream rock based sound, which appeals to both South Asians and mainstream audiences.

Here's a list of tracks from the CD that I enjoyed:

Two: This is the CD's title track and it starts out with a funky pan flute artistically blended with the rhythmic strumming of the acoustic guitar. Shaheen's vocals seamlessly blend in without overpowering the feel of the track. The song's chorus is my favorite part because of its simplicity; I especially like it when she sings the verse "I want to grow into something made for two." This verse signifies that all successful relationships have to grow into something instead of magically happening. When listening to the track, you can't help but picture yourself floating on a cloud in a clear blue sky.

Here and Now: This is the second track and is also the intro music on her web site. Musically, this song is great because of its upbeat feel and the musical fusion of East and West. Unfortunately, Shaheen loses vocal clarity when she sings each verse. Vocally, this track becomes loose because it takes away from the upbeat musical feel.

Goodbye: The CD's third track is slower than "Here and Now" and is a much tighter track to listen to. Overall, this song's vocals and instrumentation blend perfectly together. As a listener, it's evident that Shaheen sounds the best when singing low tempo songs. You can tell she is more comfortable doing so, instead of singing up tempo songs. This track also has a major British Pop influence, since Shaheen closely worked with London based DJ Swami on the CD.

The remainder of the CD is mellow; it's something you can listen to and enjoy on a rainy day when you are sitting back and relaxing. My only complaint with the CD is that some of the songs become repetitious with the same sound throughout each track. Shaheen has such an amazing voice but as a listener you can tell she's playing it safe musically by only having one "fast" song on the CD.

"Rock Candy" is a good CD but I know her next CD will be much better. After all, a CD is a part of an artist's musical journey and I know she'll grow into an amazing artist the more she performs. Check out Rock Candy because it will give you entertainment and insight on a unique and mellow sound.

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