Perseverance (2011)
Sometimes the title of an album reads like something that was made by committee. ‘We had to name it something, so let’s call it ….’ Then, there is Eric McCaine’s (aka eM) Perseverance. The title of McCaine’s debut solo album says something about what McCaine had to go through to release this record. McCaine is another […]
The Legacy Project (2011)
John P. Kee probably had as much to do with the growth and popularity of contemporary gospel music as anyone. He may not receive as much publicity these days as younger peers such as Kirk Franklin, Deitrick Haddon, or J. Moss, but Kee has long been an innovator in the contemporary gospel field. Kee fused […]
Still Bill (Movie Review) (2011)
It’s hard to imagine popular music without the indelible imprint created by singer, songwriter and musician Bill Withers. With his rich, gravelly baritone, Mr. Withers turned straightforward songs like “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me” and “Lovely Day” into modern classics that chronicle the journey we all take to live and to love. And while […]
The Best Night of My Life (2011)
In today’s flighty and fickle entertainment industry, where it seems that most of what’s considered ‘hot’ panders to the lowest common denominator of originality and talent, it’s refreshing to find a performer who excels in one field, much less three, and that’s a feat that the former Eric Bishop, AKA Jamie Foxx, has indisputably achieved. […]
Glassell Park Grit (2011)
Rob Brill, drummer and keyboard player for the LA based funk/soul band Stedapol C.C. Watt resists any temptation for the band to be labeled as a nostalgia act. “We’re not looking back 30 years,” he said in an article that appeared on buzzbands.la. “We’re keeping it contemporary.” Now, a statement like that begs for interpretation […]
It’s All About Love, Vol. 2 (2011)
Call me a relic, but before there were R&B songs serving as career launching pads for rappers, paying homage to body parts and bodying folks in every way imaginable, I remember an abundance of….well…actual love songs. Once upon a time, there were actually verses that encapsulated moments of sweetness and subtlety, describing the first heated glance, […]
Live/I Believe (2011)
When James Fortune takes the worship stand while leading his vocal band, FIYA (Free in Yahweh’s Abundance), he is never shy about focusing on the greatness of the Lord Jesus. His charismatic personality can certainly be attributed to one of his major inspirations, fellow Texas native Kirk Franklin. Since their beginnings as Youth for Christ […]
Naked (2011)
Taking a look around these days, it wouldn’t be too much of a leap to assume that plenty of folks don’t mind letting it all hang out: exposing oneself at every opportunity seems to be how some people build relationships, notoriety, and in many cases, careers, so being naked doesn’t draw as much shock and awe […]
Sound Advice (2011)
Though never hitting the lofty career heights of many of her peers, Patti Austin has been a consistently pleasing and prolific artist since the late 60s. And while many casual fans know her most for her work with Quincy Jones and James Ingram in the 80s, she has successfully straddled jazz, pop and soul for her entire career, […]
No Boys Allowed (2011)
On her 2009 debut, In a Perfect World…, Keri Hilson came out the can like a new generation Mary J. Blige wearing Beyoncé stilettos. Her follow-up, No Boys Allowed, shifts gears – transforming her into a dirty Rihanna Rated R-era heroine. First things first: The album’s title is a bit misleading since Chris Brown, Nelly, […]
