Dearest Darlin’ (2009)
Daughter of folk-blues singer Maria Muldaur, Jenni Muldaur finds a comfortable place with jazzy torch songs and classic rhythm & blues on Dearest Darlin’. Most of the album’s offerings (largely covering what are obscure classics to the average listener) are refurbished with Muldaur’s sweet, innocent vocal approaches and an even more impressive, combustible band. The […]
Jeremih (2009)
If you think Pleasure P is the second-coming, are heart-broken by The-Dream’s recent retirement announcement, and you believe I gave Sterling Simms a raw deal on my dismissive review, Jeremih is just the urban pop album for you. "Birthday Sex" has inexplicably already become a #4 Hot 100 Billboard single for Jeremih; so there are […]
Lovin’ You Direct (2009)
Old school soul has always run through Richard Alexander Davis’s musical veins. Since he began his career in the eighties, the U. K.-based singer/songwriter’s affection for recording classic grooves has been consistently intact. It was shown on his work with Hysteria Records U. K. in the nineties and came through to an even greater degree on […]
Eros (2009)
I think that Thomas Hunter, the 80s throwback silky smooth balladeer is aiight. I think that Thomas Hunter, the growling, funky soul singer is great. On Hunter’s CD Eros, we get a lot of the former, but not enough of the latter, the best example of which is the excellent "Strong Love." The song has […]
Burnin’ (2009)
Like a funky Swiss watch, for the better part of this decade Paul Taylor has been a model of consistency, one of the most reliable sources of jazzy R&B instrumental music. As much at home on urban adult contemporary as Smooth Jazz radio, he has shown an incredible knack for melodic, mostly upbeat tracks that […]
Culture of Love (2009)
Merge together the gritty vocal precision of John Legend and the neo-soul musings of Musiq, and you have gospel artist Russell Léonce on his first record, Culture of Love. Those Northern comparisons may be hard to believe when describing a Trinidadian native singing urban gospel, but early into this debut, Léonce’s musical influences are evident. […]
Rhythm & Ghetto Soul (2009)
If there is such a thing as greasy, Southern fried soul, Slique’s debut certainly qualifies; but interestingly enough, that turns out to be a good thing. The aptly-titled album has plenty of rhythm and is plenty ghetto, but it’s also exceptionally well sung and produced in a neo-urban tradition that made steady fans of artists […]
The Introduction of Marcus Cooper (2009)
This album is a hot mess. I know the preceding statement insufficiently qualifies as an elegant critique, but then again this isn’t an elegant album. It’s not even a guilty pleasure. A proxy for all that has eroded the prominence of radio R&B music; the former Pretty Ricky member delivers a loud, crass bit of […]
The Transformation (2009)
I’m still trying to figure out what the big fuss is about James Fortune and his vocal ensemble, FIYA. Since his independent debut You Survived, he has been fortunate in landing the right power ballads on gospel radio beginning with the album’s title cut. On his latest project, The Transformation, FIYA excels moderately in their […]
Release (2009)
I’ve always liked Hilary the voice of Hil St. Soul, but I’ve not always felt I got a completely great album from her until now. Of course, it helps that Release is largely a best of collection of Hil St. Soul ( a few newbies debuting bows as well). The A&R guy who compiled this […]
