When Amber Mark’s “What It Is” first hit my eardrums, I started over immediately. Could this be an R&B song that not only showcases the genre’s cousin personality, but hints at classics from my own heyday? Answer? A resounding yes! A patient, but still probing, Mark methodically dissects her emotions, brooding over their origins and calling on a higher power to solve this puzzle. But you guys! There is a bridge! (Remember those?) The song climaxes with deep reflections and a guitar solo, finally asking the answer to her question if it’s love.
