Pebble To A Pearl (2008)

"Like every other new millennium nu-soul diva, Nikka Costa wound up being overshadowed by Amy Winehouse. But Costa takes the sixties revival deeper than Winehouse (who retained a bit of modernity in tight, sequenced rhythms) in favor of an old-school vibe built upon live instruments. It's also her first album for Stax records. The music is grounded in the earthy, down-home funk of Stax/Volt, a vibe that's retained even when Costa dips into a bouncier beat or girly harmonies straight out of Motown. That's because this is at its heart a groove album, one that's all about feel, how the rhythm runs, and how the band plays. That includes Nikka Costa, too, as she is freed by this live, loose atmosphere to really belt the hell out of the songs and she does, unleashing a fire she always hinted at beneath the gloss of her other records. "Pebble To A Pearl" is a bit of a gem, a true blast of retro-soul that helps push Costa out of the nu-diva pack and into her own distinct groove." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic)