The Compilation
With a distinctively velvet vocal style and pleasingly balanced selection of uptempo grooves and reflective ballads, Toronto native Carlos Morgan’s sophomore CD provides an appealing palette for R&B and pop listeners alike. First drawing the attention of new-jack-swing fans with the 1996 singles “Baby C’mon” and “Give It to You,” the singer-songwriter won the Juno […]
Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again
There’s an interesting story behind the title track to Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again. In her annotation for the song, Valerie Simpson recalls what happened when she and Nick Ashford met with a label executive on one particular occasion. “We actually got the ‘dinosaur’ feeling once in a major record company’s office — while waiting […]
The Classic Christmas Album (2012)
It is tough to believe that it has been nearly a decade since Luther Vandross died. It is even tougher to see how his recording legacy continues to be sliced, diced and repackaged by Sony like home mortgages by big banks in 2007. It seems that every year a “new” Luther album is released that […]
Church Muzik & Inspiration
The story of the Gospel Group Half Mile home begins in churches in Northeast Ohio, takes a detour onto the R&B road before returning to the straight and narrow road a half-mile outside of the city of Akron. Group members Terence and Todd Burton from Akron and Youngstown’s Darryl Brownlee all came from musical families […]
At The BBC
There are those who never quite understood the Amy Winehouse phenomenon. Her high-as-a-kite latter life concert performances did her legend little favors. Nothing encourages head-scratching faster than to hear a breathless endorsement of an artist only to see them spectacularly bomb live. Yet, as many fans can attest, trained at the same school that produced […]
True
After what seems an eternity of paparazzi publicity but little in the way of new product, the other Knowles sister is back with an eclectic set of evening songs. Now on her third project, Solange Knowles continues to find ways to intrigue as a branded personality and cosmetically distinguish herself from her mega-superstar sister, Beyonce. […]
Churchy Christmas/Joy To the World
Churchy Christmas/Joy To the World is more than just the title of Beverly Crawford’s new holiday album. The title is also a description of the spirit that went into this project. Churchy Christmas is a brash, unapologetically preachy record that means the remind every listener about the true meaning of the season. In short, this […]
Little Drummer Girl (2012)
I’m not a Black Friday guy. One reason for my resistance is a reaction against the artificiality and crass commercialism of the entire enterprise. I also don’t think that deals on Black Friday are better than the ones retailers will have on, say, Dec. 3. That’s what this Wall Street Journal article said, and it […]
Mutatis Mutandis
Mutatis Mutandis is like a gallery. It houses all of the hats Nona Hendryx wears: artist, songwriter, musician, producer, band leader, iconic funk rocker. Vibrant, bold colors paint the walls. Progressive ideas inform each piece. Most importantly, the work on exhibit prompts bystanders to enjoy themselves and think. Though Nona rocks out, she’s also dropping […]
Talking Book
Long time SoulTrackers know that cover albums tend to elicit a response among our reviewers that can best be described as the literary equivalent of eye-rolling. The cynicism is often well-deserved because these projects often smack as the desperate move by an artist bereft of new ideas. What they do is cut an album featuring […]
