Second Chance (2010)
Lately the word "comeback" has been used to describe just about any musician who has taken a hiatus longer than two years, and it’s a word that definitely needs to be re-defined, because in its essence, "comeback" doesn’t simply mean "I’m back," but it means "I’m back…and I’m stronger than I was before." Whitney Houston […]
The Lady Killer (2010)
Cee Lo Green has earned a strange reputation of reinventing himself over and over again. Maybe the artist in him gets bored with familiar, stereotypical styles or maybe he’s just loaded with multi-layered expressions and interpretations to bring forth. Just trace the history. He came out of the box, premiering with Atlanta-based funk rap outfit […]
Libra Scale (2010)
Like him or not, Ne-Yo and his Stargate-tweaked hits have earned him a strong presence in the R&B world. Since his ascension to the top as one of the genre’s most trustworthy songwriters (writing for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Chrisette Michele, Mario and others), the content on his solo entries have gotten stronger and more polished; easily […]
Love Me Back (2010)
After the first listen to Love Me Back, old school heads are going to wish Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb had produced the whole thing…and they’ll maybe throw in the Salaam Remi and Chuck Harmony tracks for good measure. The sophomore album of the Fearless lady, for whom many are pining the future of female […]
Take Me Away (2010)
Rena Scott has lived out her dream for most of her career, playing a supporting role with some cream of the crop musicians. Though her solo career is not as noted, the Detroit-born songstress was always in the spotlight in other capacities: whether opening for Motown stars like The Temptations, singing background for Aretha, replacing Randy […]
Christmas with the O’Jays (2010)
Yes, it’s that time of year again. It seems like retailers have barely put the Halloween decorations and costumes on sale when they start cranking out all things Christmas, and before you know it, you’ve heard enough variations of the same tried-and-true holiday classics while you shop to recite them as you sleep. It’s been […]
Fresh (2010)
I got a chance to hear a little bit of a Water Seed live show – via CD Baby. I was preparing to write my review of the band’s latest release, the very good Fresh. I listened to the joint and liked what I heard, but I needed to augment my opinions with something…so I […]
The Setup (2010)
It is almost inexplicable that in 2010 we are still talking about Anthony David as a "successful indie artist" rather than simply as a star. The Atlanta-based singer/songwriter won an underground audience in 2004 with his debut album, Three Chords and the Truth, and took his game up a notch three years later with The Red […]
Mr. I (2010)
Someone searching for a living example of the phrase "soul survivor" would need to look no further than Ronald Isley. As both a solo performer and a front man for the iconic family band, The Isley Brothers, his signature croon has been a constant presence on the pop and R&B charts for the last 50 years, […]
Michael Jackson’s Vision (DVD Review) (2010)
It should be news to no one that Michael Jackson, in the midst of becoming musical supernova, also revolutionized what was once treated as a casual marketing tool by most record labels and recording artists: the musical video. Ever-conscious of the power of image, The King of Pop applied the same exacting standards to the visual […]
