Hey all ! I've purchased a few cds in the last few months
that I think folks here would be interested in.I've been
meaning to post this for awhile....but great stuff just kept
comin out ! So this morning..I decided to buckle
down and share some of my favorite new releases with you.
Like some of you, when it comes to Soul / R&B music,
I tend to like the older stuff.The newer artists just seem to
lack the kind of soul,depth and range as some of the veterans
of the genre. That being said, some of the artists I'm going to list
are from the new school. The difference is,these newer cats
know their history and aren't afraid to revisit and also bring
some much needed life back into the genre. As for the older
or more established artist on my list. They bring a history and
richness that very few new artists can bring to the game.
These artists are ' the real deal ! ' No fancy studio tricks to
hide lack of skills or uninspiring beats that are forgettable
after the first listen. Just soul and some low down nasty
funk fo yo rump ! So with that being said, here are a few mini
reviews of some new cds I think some of you will love to hear.
BETTYE LAVETTE - THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
This 35yr + veteran of R&B releases a strong follow up to her 2005 ANTI label debut
" I'VE GOT MY OWN HELL TO RAISE." This underrated songstress has recorded
some of the best material in her career in the recent years. A Muscle Shoals legend,
Bettye teams up with indie country band "Drive By Truckers" to release some of the
most personal and gritty songs of her career. Like her last cd, produced by indie singer/
songwriter Joe Henry, this cd is comprised mostly covers. But don't be fooled into thinking
this is a bad thang! Bettye has taken these songs ripped them to shreds and makes them her
own. Most of the covers she's done bear VERY little resemblance to the original. She puts
some soul and rawness in them that make it seem as if these songs were hers all along.
A stand out track for me is her cover of Elton John's Talking Old Soldier. A song that sounds
eerily like Mrs LaVette hangin at the bar with a younger admirer of her artestry. Love It !!
The Queen is alive and well.....and lucky for us...currently on tour ! Don't sleep on this disc
and get yo butt out there and support a living legend on the road! You won't regret it!
www.bettyelavette.com/
ME'SHELL NDEGE´OCELLO - THE WORLD HAS MADE ME THE MAN OF MY DREAMS
Sporting a title that is nothing less that deep, Ms. Ndegéocello does her magic again
on this her first release on the Emarcy label. ( let's hope it's not her last ! ) This disc has
all the thought provoking funk of her debut "PLANTATION LULLABIES," the genre defying
style of " PEACE BEYOND PASSION" and the laid back funk of "COMFORT WOMAN."
This is Me'shell at her best ! Let's hope Emarcy can promote this artist better that Maverick
was able to. Me'shell is also currently on tour. Bringing her fonky basslines and spiritual
bliss to fans everywhere!
www.freemyheart.com/
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS - 100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS
Sharon and the Brooklyn based band the Dap-Kings have cooked up another
delicious stew of fonky tracks for this their third disc for Daptone Records.
Like Mrs LaVette Ms Jones is a veteran of this game and it shows,not only
on this album, but on stage as well. Sharon and the boys are from another
time when brothers were " cats" in sharp suits and shades and girls were
teasing their beehive doos and sporting mini's as they shimmied to the soul
of Hitsville USA. On "100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS" Sharon and the boys take
us back to Stax records circa 1968. The result is nothing short of brilliant.
While in my honest opinion,this one isn't as good as their last two discs,
"DAP-DIPPIN WITH SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS and their 2005
breakthrough disc NATURALLY" the gang doesn't stray too far from what
makes them one of the most exciting acts out there today. For those of you
who got caught up with artists like AMY WINEHOUSE, LILY ALLEN, and
MARK RONSON this past year, know that they're sound HEAVILY relies
on the heart and soulstirring rhythm of hte DAP_KINGS who have played on the cds
by all of the artists I've just mentioned!. These cats put on an amazing show and
Ms Jones is deserving of her title of the "Hardest Working Woman In Showbiz!!
Don't take my word for it....pick up this release and catch them on tour now!
www.daptonerecords.com/pages/...on.html
4 HERO - PLAYING WITH THE CHANGES
4 HERO broke onto the scene back in 1998 with their stunning debut
"TWO PAGES." Their debut release helped change the face of the
then growing genre of Drum & Bass by infusing it with a vintage
soul sound harkening back to the days of Curtis Mayfield and Margie
Joseph. The end result was sweet,smooth,deep and fonky as hell !
Since then, the genre has come and gone but 4 HERO continues
to grow and establish themselves as genuine artists. Refusing to succumb
to the quick death that so many in the D&B genre have suffered.
This the follow up to their fourth disc in 2001 entitled " CREATING PATTERNS"
seems to be playing with some of the ideas they created on that disc. ( hence the title )
Most notably the return of Swedish songstress Carina Anderson. Miss Anderson
uncannily, and with great success channels Minnie Ripperton on the opening track
"MORNING CHILD." A definite improvement over her rather uninspiring cover of
Minnie's classic hit "LES FLEURS" on the "CREATING PATTERNS cd.
This disc seriously bumps with tracks like the sexy as hell "TAKE MY TIME" featuring
Miss Jack Davis workin us over with her bedroom voice. Other tracks worthy of mentioning
are " LOOK INSIDE" with strings workin that classic Philly sound! ( one of the things I love
about this band! ), the broken beats of "SINK OR SWIM" will hook you in and make you
beg for more. This is classic 4 HERO at their best. Unfortunately the disc slumps about
halfway through grinding to a staggering halt with the totally awful cover of the Stevie
Wonder hit "SUPERWOMAN" featuring forgettable vocals by Terry Devos.
The problem with some 4 HERO songs such as this one is not only do they wear their i
nfluences on their sleeve, but sometimes they brazenly think they can try on the whole
outfit and have the same effect as the original wearer. Definitely not so!
The disc is later rescued by a hot track by the one and only JODY WATLEY.
Ms Watley co-wrote the uplifting BED OF ROSES on which she
gives one of the best, most inspiring performances of her career! I only hope her
collaboration with 4 HERO goes a little further and produces a little sumpthin,sumpthin
in the way of a new disc for Ms Watley in the future! We can only wish! All in all I give this disc
four stars despite the few complaints I have with a few of the songs, like the one
previously mentioned. It's a new direction in R&B and a welcome one. We can only hope
the rest of the world of R&B will catch a clue and start creating better music than it
has in the last decade. In the words of Canadian soul sista Esthero "WE R IN NEED
OF A MUSICAL REVOLUTION!" Bands like 4 HERO has given us good place to start.
VIVA LA REVOLUTION Y'ALL !
www.myspace.com/4hero
that I think folks here would be interested in.I've been
meaning to post this for awhile....but great stuff just kept
comin out ! So this morning..I decided to buckle
down and share some of my favorite new releases with you.
Like some of you, when it comes to Soul / R&B music,
I tend to like the older stuff.The newer artists just seem to
lack the kind of soul,depth and range as some of the veterans
of the genre. That being said, some of the artists I'm going to list
are from the new school. The difference is,these newer cats
know their history and aren't afraid to revisit and also bring
some much needed life back into the genre. As for the older
or more established artist on my list. They bring a history and
richness that very few new artists can bring to the game.
These artists are ' the real deal ! ' No fancy studio tricks to
hide lack of skills or uninspiring beats that are forgettable
after the first listen. Just soul and some low down nasty
funk fo yo rump ! So with that being said, here are a few mini
reviews of some new cds I think some of you will love to hear.
BETTYE LAVETTE - THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
This 35yr + veteran of R&B releases a strong follow up to her 2005 ANTI label debut
" I'VE GOT MY OWN HELL TO RAISE." This underrated songstress has recorded
some of the best material in her career in the recent years. A Muscle Shoals legend,
Bettye teams up with indie country band "Drive By Truckers" to release some of the
most personal and gritty songs of her career. Like her last cd, produced by indie singer/
songwriter Joe Henry, this cd is comprised mostly covers. But don't be fooled into thinking
this is a bad thang! Bettye has taken these songs ripped them to shreds and makes them her
own. Most of the covers she's done bear VERY little resemblance to the original. She puts
some soul and rawness in them that make it seem as if these songs were hers all along.
A stand out track for me is her cover of Elton John's Talking Old Soldier. A song that sounds
eerily like Mrs LaVette hangin at the bar with a younger admirer of her artestry. Love It !!
The Queen is alive and well.....and lucky for us...currently on tour ! Don't sleep on this disc
and get yo butt out there and support a living legend on the road! You won't regret it!
www.bettyelavette.com/
ME'SHELL NDEGE´OCELLO - THE WORLD HAS MADE ME THE MAN OF MY DREAMS
Sporting a title that is nothing less that deep, Ms. Ndegéocello does her magic again
on this her first release on the Emarcy label. ( let's hope it's not her last ! ) This disc has
all the thought provoking funk of her debut "PLANTATION LULLABIES," the genre defying
style of " PEACE BEYOND PASSION" and the laid back funk of "COMFORT WOMAN."
This is Me'shell at her best ! Let's hope Emarcy can promote this artist better that Maverick
was able to. Me'shell is also currently on tour. Bringing her fonky basslines and spiritual
bliss to fans everywhere!
www.freemyheart.com/
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS - 100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS
Sharon and the Brooklyn based band the Dap-Kings have cooked up another
delicious stew of fonky tracks for this their third disc for Daptone Records.
Like Mrs LaVette Ms Jones is a veteran of this game and it shows,not only
on this album, but on stage as well. Sharon and the boys are from another
time when brothers were " cats" in sharp suits and shades and girls were
teasing their beehive doos and sporting mini's as they shimmied to the soul
of Hitsville USA. On "100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS" Sharon and the boys take
us back to Stax records circa 1968. The result is nothing short of brilliant.
While in my honest opinion,this one isn't as good as their last two discs,
"DAP-DIPPIN WITH SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS and their 2005
breakthrough disc NATURALLY" the gang doesn't stray too far from what
makes them one of the most exciting acts out there today. For those of you
who got caught up with artists like AMY WINEHOUSE, LILY ALLEN, and
MARK RONSON this past year, know that they're sound HEAVILY relies
on the heart and soulstirring rhythm of hte DAP_KINGS who have played on the cds
by all of the artists I've just mentioned!. These cats put on an amazing show and
Ms Jones is deserving of her title of the "Hardest Working Woman In Showbiz!!
Don't take my word for it....pick up this release and catch them on tour now!
www.daptonerecords.com/pages/...on.html
4 HERO - PLAYING WITH THE CHANGES
4 HERO broke onto the scene back in 1998 with their stunning debut
"TWO PAGES." Their debut release helped change the face of the
then growing genre of Drum & Bass by infusing it with a vintage
soul sound harkening back to the days of Curtis Mayfield and Margie
Joseph. The end result was sweet,smooth,deep and fonky as hell !
Since then, the genre has come and gone but 4 HERO continues
to grow and establish themselves as genuine artists. Refusing to succumb
to the quick death that so many in the D&B genre have suffered.
This the follow up to their fourth disc in 2001 entitled " CREATING PATTERNS"
seems to be playing with some of the ideas they created on that disc. ( hence the title )
Most notably the return of Swedish songstress Carina Anderson. Miss Anderson
uncannily, and with great success channels Minnie Ripperton on the opening track
"MORNING CHILD." A definite improvement over her rather uninspiring cover of
Minnie's classic hit "LES FLEURS" on the "CREATING PATTERNS cd.
This disc seriously bumps with tracks like the sexy as hell "TAKE MY TIME" featuring
Miss Jack Davis workin us over with her bedroom voice. Other tracks worthy of mentioning
are " LOOK INSIDE" with strings workin that classic Philly sound! ( one of the things I love
about this band! ), the broken beats of "SINK OR SWIM" will hook you in and make you
beg for more. This is classic 4 HERO at their best. Unfortunately the disc slumps about
halfway through grinding to a staggering halt with the totally awful cover of the Stevie
Wonder hit "SUPERWOMAN" featuring forgettable vocals by Terry Devos.
The problem with some 4 HERO songs such as this one is not only do they wear their i
nfluences on their sleeve, but sometimes they brazenly think they can try on the whole
outfit and have the same effect as the original wearer. Definitely not so!
The disc is later rescued by a hot track by the one and only JODY WATLEY.
Ms Watley co-wrote the uplifting BED OF ROSES on which she
gives one of the best, most inspiring performances of her career! I only hope her
collaboration with 4 HERO goes a little further and produces a little sumpthin,sumpthin
in the way of a new disc for Ms Watley in the future! We can only wish! All in all I give this disc
four stars despite the few complaints I have with a few of the songs, like the one
previously mentioned. It's a new direction in R&B and a welcome one. We can only hope
the rest of the world of R&B will catch a clue and start creating better music than it
has in the last decade. In the words of Canadian soul sista Esthero "WE R IN NEED
OF A MUSICAL REVOLUTION!" Bands like 4 HERO has given us good place to start.
VIVA LA REVOLUTION Y'ALL !
www.myspace.com/4hero
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