AMG Review of Dirty Little Secret

Tom Semioli
All Music Guide

Stella Soleil's debut is an infectious collection of dance pop and contemporary soul. As one would surmise by the album's moniker and sexy cover art, the songs all center on the perils, pitfalls, and triumphs of romance. What Soleil lacks in vocal prowess, she makes up for in attitude. Her voice is thin, yet her phrasing captures the listener's attention with a subtle vibrato and occasional whisper. For a dance album aimed at the youth market the lyrics are realtively insightful and mature as the Chicago native often draws from personal experience and erotic fantasy. The song-craft is undeniable as well. One could render these tunes in any genre and win an audience. With an all-star production team that includes Thom Panunzio and Brain Rawlings and mixes that dispaly a cutting edge electronica sheen with a strong backbeat, this disc is set to conquer Top-40 radio.