Passion, Pain, and Pleasure
Now being groomed as the R. Kelly of the now generation, Trey Songz-with his popular insurgence into sexy love ballads and well-groomed transformation from urban teen idol to young R&B hunk-is showing no signs of pausing. On his latest effort Passion, Pain & Pleasure, released just one year after Ready, Songz runs into a world […]
Better Days
Many highly prolific contemporary praise and worship leaders have been driven by strong supporting vocal ensembles through the years: Israel Houghton & New Breed, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and James Fortune & F.I.Y.A., to name a few. Jonathan Nelson first hit the gospel music radar in 2003 with Live in Baltimore: Everything You Are, recorded […]
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I’ve always found it tough to listen to, much less review, a Christmas album in October. In Detroit, we generally spend that month in post-Summer denial, convinced that if we stay positive, the days will not get shorter and the snow will never come. But my natural October aversion aside, it was impossible to avoid […]
Lady
I really made an effort to learn more about Billie Holiday when I turned 24 years old. Before then, I knew little about who she was. I had seen "Lady Sings the Blues," heard a few of her songs and knew the story of her tragic demise. However, I had never listened to Lady Day until […]
In the Name of Luv (2010)
Go down the names in the credits of In the Name of Luv, the latest album by Tom Glide and the Luv All Stars and you will notice a couple of familiar names – especially if you’re an Earth, Wind & Fire fan (as I am). Rahmlee Michael Davis gets credit for the horn arrangements, […]
Up Close and Personal
The Journey Vol. 2
Like a modern day version of The Family, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist John Payne has woven in elements of Prince, Lil’ John, Groove Theory, and Tony! Toni! Toné! into a fantastic sophomore album. Straight out of the Bay area, Payne has worked with the likes of Larry Graham, The Coup, and even the Purple […]
The Urban Soul Connection Vol 1.
Hot on the heels of Contemporary Soul Songbook, Soul Unsigned Records release what will hopefully be the first in a new series entitled The Urban Soul Connection. 14 tracks which label owner Phil Driver describes as "…straight-up soul tracks that just happen to have a rap in the middle". But what exactly is urban these […]
Beyond the Universe
Some have likened him to the Prince of independent soul and dance music, a multi-instrumental child prodigy who played several instruments by age ten, Peven Everett has always been the underground’s genius. Indie Soul God Eric Roberson may get all the glory, but Erro would be the first to tell you it was Everett’s liberation […]
At My Spheres (EP)
Always a left of center artist, Sandra St. Victor returns with a brief, eclectic brew produced by the broken-beat king, Mark De Clive-Lowe (Sy Smith, Vanessa Freeman). A patron saint for many indie purists, St. Victor has been hit or miss with the masses since her reign with The Family Stand on their most seminal […]
