CD Review
Artist: Ndidi Onukwulu
Album: The Contradictor
Label: Jericho Beach Music
Release Date: June 17 2008

Reviewed by: Tessa Perkins (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada) 

The Contradictor is an apt title for Ndidi Onukwulu's (in-DEE-DEE on-NOO-kwoo-loo) second album because these songs are quite a bit different than her last batch, and they do tend to contradict themselves in terms of genre. This album contains songs that seem to be a mix of many styles in one whereas the last one was a mix of songs of different styles.

Ndidi seems to have become more comfortable with her genre experimentation on this record, as well as becoming a more serious and dedicated artist. Onukwulu is generally classed as a blues singer due to her silky voice and the instruments used in her music, but there is much more to this singer-songwriter than that. Although some of her songs are upbeat and optimistic, there are also ones dealing with pain and deeper emotions. "I have a dark side," says Ndidi, "and I look at things sometimes from a skewed perspective, which I'm able to tap into. I don't like to shy way from deep emotions. I don't really have any secrets. I don't hide." Of Nigerian descent, one would expect to find some signs of this in her music. It turns out her heritage has a minimal influence on her musical style, but it does help to give her the spirit which she feels is inherent in blues: "Blues is the music of the people, of the earth, of the oppressed." With such a varied personality and such a versatile voice, it is no wonder Onukwulu has won the hearts of many.

There is an odd theme in the titles of her songs; all but four contain letters of the alphabet that seem to have no connection to the title such as "SK Final" and "Almost JD," but the titles seem to fit as the music is also a sort of mix of disconnected fragments that all somehow go together. With everything from country, to rock, to jazz, to big band all rolled into one nice musically pleasing package, Ndidi has changed the meaning of blues and opened the genre up to interpretation.
 

1 SK Final 3:22
2 The Lady & E 4:26
3 Forever SZ 5:24
4 Almost JD 3:48
5 Goodnight JF 4:09
6 Move Together 2:27 
7 No Everybody 4:01
8 Her House is Empty KH 4:57
9 Boogie MB 3:41
10 Cry All Day 2:51
11 Rise 4:51
12 He Needs Me 3:52