3.5 stars ... How do you follow up on the perfect album? You can not.

Selah Sue is a singer-songwriter from Belgium who shot out of nowhere in 2011 with her shockingly good (perfect, really) and accomplished debut album, simply called "Selah Sue" When She Was all of 21 years old. The debut album provided a perfect mix of pop, soul, reggae and a few other spices. Over time, it sounded like a greatest hits album on its own, and it Became a multi-smash hit in many European markets. The album went criminally overlooked in the US. After endless touring and wondering how She Could follow up after making the perfect debut album, now 4 years later we get the highly anticipated sophomore album.

"Reason: Deluxe Edition" (17 tracks, Including 4 bonus tracks; 63 min.) Starts off with "Alone" (1st single), a perfectly lazy-sounding (in the best possible way) track, and one of the very best on here "I Will not Go For More" is heavy on the brass. Next is the title track (2nd single), and it's just "off" for me. "Together (feat. Childish Gambino)" sounds way too slick for its own good. And with that, It Seems That A pattern is set for the second album. It feels very belabored, and the production is elaborate, but the songs Themselves are just okay, and not anywhere close to what the debut album delivered. Still, there are some highlights: besides the already-mentioned "Alone" to check out as well the slinky "Fear Nothing", the sentimental but effective "Daddy" (the natural sequel to "Mommy" on the debut album - but check out the different production, Illustrating My Earlier point), "Right Where I Want You" and the album-closing "Falling Out", one of the album's very best songs actually. As to the bonus tracks, "Gotta Make It Last" is the best of the four, and Should probably be on the regular album, replacing one of the weaker songs there. The acoustic version of "Alone" (just Selah and her guitar) is quite good too. Bottom line: as a HUGE Selah Sue fan (I am also from Belgium), I am a bit disappointed with the new album, but frankly, Selah faced to impossible task and NOTHING She was going to do would be on the same par as the debut album. I'm hoping the new album will grow on me over time.

I've had the good fortune of seeing Selah in concert a couple of times. In 2012 opened for Beth Orton at the U Street Music Hall she in Washington DC. It was just Selah and her acoustic guitar, and even in fact stripped down setting, You Could See the talent dripping off of her. Then in 2013, I saw her, with her full band at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, and she and her band simply blew the roof off. What an unforgettable set did what. I can only hope she has not Given Up Entirely on the US market (tons of European tour dates already for 2015, not a single one in the US) ... I'll go see her again in concert any time.

Since Amazon does not have the tracklisting, here it is: 1.Alone 2.I Wont Go for More 3.Reason 4.Together (feat Childish Gambino.) 5.Alive 6.The Light 7.Fear Nothing 8.Daddy 9 .Sadness 10.Feel 11.Right Where I Want You 12.Always Home 13.Falling Out 14.Gotta Make It Last 15.Stand Back 16.Direction 17.Alone (Acoustic Version)