Barnes & Noble
"The only constant in the world is change/That's why I take each day as it comes," muses India.Arie on the opening interlude of her sophomore disc, Voyage to India. Alongside "Healing" and "Gratitude," that acoustic track aptly titled "Growth," sums up the confessional album's recurring themes. During the whirlwind year in which she rose to pop and neo-soul stardom on the strength of her liberating single "Video," only to be denied all seven of the Grammys for which her life-affirming debut, Acoustic Soul, was nominated, the earthy chanteuse has had many reasons to grow, heal, and be grateful. Despite her fame, on the lead single, "Little Things," which borrows some of its lyrics and musical arrangement from Rufus's "Hollywood," India gives thanks for life's simple pleasures. "I did all this for the love of music/Not the glitter and gold," she sings in her husky alto. Although her esteem-boosting lyrics sometimes sound preachy -- particularly on the mid-tempo "Talk to Her," where she urges men to make their "words sound like candy" to the ladies in their lives -- India's strength lies in her message of love. On this journey, however, she speaks less about self-love and more about being in love, as on the celebratory ballads "The Truth," "Beautiful Surprise," and "Good Man." With its 16 spiritually uplifting and empowering songs, this is a Voyage you won't want to miss. Tracy E. Hopkins
All Music Guide
Despite an excellent debut, India.Arie still had much to prove with her second record. Several of her neo-soul compatriots, from D'Angelo to Erykah Badu to Macy Gray, had faltered with sophomore albums, and it appeared she may have already said everything she had to say on Acoustic Soul. That anticipation, and trepidation, is exactly what makes Voyage to India such a beautiful surprise; it's a record that easily equals her debut, boasting better vocal performances but also better songwriting and accompanying production. As on her debut, there is a marked balance of organic and artificial: an acoustic guitar paces many tracks, though the edges are shorn off for a digital feel; the beats are often sampled, but there are still plenty of handclaps and fingersnaps; and the arrangements are simple yet obviously very polished. The improvement in her songwriting is most obvious from the first three tracks (after the short intro). The themes driving "Little Things" (keeping it simple), "Talk to Her" (the importance of honesty, warmth, and communication in relationships), and "Slow Down" (taking life one day at a time) certainly have been covered already, many times even, but India.Arie writes with a fresh perspective that makes it sound as though she's the first to broach the topic. And, finally, her delivery is the best of any neo-soul vocalist, barring only the incomparable Jill Scott, alternately earnest and playful and sexy and questing. It all adds up to one of the most glowing comebacks of the year (if she ever left), an important record whose stamp -- the Motown logo -- isn't the only thing it has in similarity with a classic LP by Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder. John Bush
Entertainment Weekly
The disc sustains the twitchy coffeehouse R&B found on its predecessor, last year's Acoustic Soul...and the tracks stick to soothing, non-hip-hop textures and rhythms. [B] David Browne
People Magazine
The singer-songwriter continues to worship at the neosoul altars of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway on songs such as "Beautiful Surprise," one of several lovely acoustic-guitar ballads. Chuck Arnold