by Solange
Released September 30, 2016 via Saint Records / Columbia Records
Reviewed October 6, 2021
Top tracks (based on community voting)
Cranes In the Sky (64%), Don’t Touch My Hair (56%), Mad (40%)
There exists a strength in A Seat at the Table’s tenderness that makes it one-of-a-kind. Issues that have affected Black women both preceding and following Solange are tackled with the softest of hands on this 2016 masterpiece. By intertwining soul and funk into a contemporary approach like no other, ASATT navigates through emotions that seem too hard to seamlessly pack into one record. Yet, Solange executes effortlessly in all aspects: Her songwriting, cadence, and vocal presence breathe even more life into an already vibrant sonic palette. The critics of so-called “political” albums should have absolutely nothing to critique about A Seat at the Table; Solange sincerely created her opus, and at no point does it sound preachy. Because, when emotions are true and genuinely expressed, room for shallow sentiments dissipates. – Ben (Synth) (10/10)
Solange’s 2016 masterpiece, A Seat at the Table, is to Black women what Limp Bizkit and nu metal was to angsty middle of America white men at the turn of the century: Relatable! The album is a complicated look into the day-to-day life of Black women. The joy, the pain, the triumphs, and most importantly, the healing. Solange uses the delicacy in her voice to graciously tell the story that needs to be told time and time again, which makes this album all the more impactful. A Seat at the Table combines societal history with contemporary situations in a way that makes the Black experience, both good and bad, linked by community. This album is one that stands the test of time, sonically, lyrically, and societally. – Pablo (10/10)
The mixture of Solange’s soulful vocals with the neo-soul production of Raphael Saadiq makes A Seat at the Table sound like an evolution of what the Soulquarians did 20 years ago. The lyrics and themes— arguably the most vital part of this album’s quality—are a nuanced take on her experience as a black woman that hasn’t changed a bit since its release; Solange is tired. She is tired of her place in the world, tired of people touching her hair, tired of being mad, and tired of being tired. But within it all, Solange produces a celebration of black success, black music, and blackness overall; it is chock-full of self-love and empowerment. In just one album, Solange managed to go from Beyoncé’s little sister who did the Proud Family theme song to one of the decade’s finest R&B acts. – Alan (9.2/10)
Solange reinvented herself in 2016 with the masterful A Seat at the Table. This release was entirely her moment, as she found herself crafting one of the most memorable R&B albums in recent memory. There is a dreamlike atmosphere to A Seat at the Table constantly propelling its momentum forward; lush and breezy, while still fully captivating. Stories of female empowerment, struggling with societal setbacks, and learning to love oneself as a black woman are gorgeously presented by her stunning vocals. Solange is never in-your-face to demonstrate her vocal mastery; rather, she stretches her range in more nuanced ways that will initially fly under the radar. In a year like 2016, one filled with tons of amazing records, A Seat at the Table still stands as a contemporary R&B classic that has only gotten better with age. – Jared (9/10)
Ben (Synth): 10/10 | DeVán: 10/10 | Pablo: 10/10 | Pax: 10/10
Alan: 9.2/10 | Jared: 9/10 | Victoria: 8.8/10 | Daniel: 8.5/10
Hadley: 8.5/10 | Dominick: 8.3/10 | Cam: 8/10
