Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

If you’re in the market for a newer R&B chanteuse less plagued than Amy Winehouse but with more creative range than Alicia Keys, then give consideration to Alice Smith. On her first album For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, Smith beautifully blurs genres - jazz, soul, folk, funk - all the while grounding each song with her throaty, supple and oh-so-soulful voice.

When Smith sings it almost sounds like she’s not trying, both in the sense of her seemingly effortless talent and even at times stylistically. There’s a languid element to her delivery on certain songs like Woodstock that is the perfect accompaniment for her mellow vibe and matter-of-fact lyrics. Still, she makes sure to contrast that with more expressive and entreating vocals that seem to pour our from the pit of her stomach. Just listen to the pleading chorus of Gary’s Song when she cries “ If we, start the ball rolling will it stop or keep going to the point, I don’t know where?” and its clear exactly how broad her range is.

So many elements seem to filter into her melodic arrangements. There’s folk-pop reminiscent of Fiona Apple (Desert Song), seductive jazzy R&B in the vein of Sade (Do I) and earthy soul that brings to mind India.Arie (Secrets). I wouldn’t say Smith strives to defy classification so much as she doesn’t even consider it. She simply sings the way she feels and the artists accompanying her play accordingly, managing to make for an enjoyably eclectic album.

The jaunty, island-infused Love Endeavor brings the album to an apt conclusion. It’s breezy and different from ever other song on the album and with it’s upbeat trail of “la la las” it makes you want to sway. It leaves listeners understanding that For Lovers, Dreamers & Me is a solidly good soul album that doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed and it only succeeds because Smith has the ability to meet the expectations of each of song.