A musical sorority sister of Alicia Keys and Angie Stone--though she'd doubtless bristle at the suggestion--Philly-reared soul singer Res nevertheless manages to strike a convincing balance between the street and the studio on How I Do, juxtaposing saucy, melodic pop with more ragged funk and R&B. That kind of crossover is impressive, but Res (pronounced Reese) uses her elastic and surprisingly vibrato-free voice to poke around in various corners, even taking tentative steps toward rhyme. Co-conspirator and producer Martin "Doc" McKinney's thumbprints are evident in the smooth flow of beats and gurgling ambient washes, though unlike his previous work with Toronto trip-hop unit Esthero, McKinney's sonic high jinks are opposite a voice with the muscle to stay in the spotlight. At once smoochy and sassy, How I Do goes a long way toward establishing Res as a powerful new voice on the pop and urban scenes.
