Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: Jill Scott
Album Title: Beautifully Human, Words and Sounds Vol.2
Year: 2004

Neo-Soul, a category created because an artist can’t just make soulful music without getting some lame-ass label, but I digress.. This lady’s got a voice that puts a sunshine on any of my rainy days. Yes, if you really have to categorise her, she’s up there with the other Great Ladies of Real Soul and R&B of the Moment, like Angie Stone, Erykah Badu and Mary J. Blige.

How I Got Into This Music
Well.. Minding my business, the TV working as my radio in the background, I had to turn my attention to the screen, because a great song with incredible lyrics was being shown: “Getting in my way“. This lady had it all: attitude, intelligence, wit, grace and presence. I got her first album a couple of days later and fell in love. Great stuff. This is her third album, if you want to get a good idea of what she delivers, get the double album “Experience“, one album with great live tracks and the other with fresh new material.

Tracks that got my attention:

I’m Not Afraid
Laid-back beat and a perfect example of this lady’s vocal range

Golden
Current single. Over here, rainy Autumn is ruling the people’s moods, but this song makes you feel good about it all

The Fact Is (I Need You) 
Wow! Lyrics! Production! Vocals! Wow! Nuff said!!

Cross My Mind 
Lovely Soul 

Talk To Me 
Lady’s showing us how to groove with a changeup in style in the second half of the track 

Family Reunion 
I call this kind of music “Strolling Down The Park With Someone Special On A Lazy Summer Evening“
  
Whatever 
Great song, but this type or style being used a bit too much by quite a lot of artists 
   

Conclusion
Here’s my problem: this album is okay, the artist is great, but.. Her previous albums were way much better. I’m gonna see her live in November at Paradiso in Amsterdam and I’m counting the days! This lady is a fantastic singer/songwriter and I’m grateful for her music.

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General Description
Artist/Band: Ray Charles
Album Title: Genius Loves Company
Year: 2004

Mister Ray Charles died earlier this year and if you got some news coverage of the funeral, you’d realise that one of the greatest artists has left this mortal coil. You don’t necessarily have to enjoy all his work, but nobody can deny the quality of the body of work Mister Charles has produced. Many an artist has “borrowed“ from this man or has admitted his influence in their own work. As a kid I used to really, really flip my lid when I heard “What’d I Say“ - nobody, I mean, nobody can listen to that song and keep their body still. Even corpses would start twitching their body and snap their fingers. And that, my friends, is true Genius.

How I Got Into This Music
Well.. Ray Charles was always somewhere in the back of my mind. From his guest appearances in “The Blues Brothers“ and “Histroy Of The World, Part 1“, to the classic, now almost cheesy “Here We Go Again“ that you get to hear on Golden Oldies radio stations. I saw on TV that this duets album was being released, so I had to check it out.

Tracks that got my attention:

Here We Go Again
With Norah Jones: surprisingly uninspiring - no chemistry, no nothing, nada. Too bad

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
With Elton John: Again, I expected quite a lot from this duet, but there’s not enough ZingZapKapow in it

Fever
With Natalie Cole: Perfect (nuff said)

Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
With Bonnie Raitt: Didn’t like the tempo, but I kept getting goose bumps of the beautiful voices

It Was A Very Good Year
With Willie Nelson: A great all-time classic, finely orchestrated with a great string section. These old dudes show a lot of the younger generations what the frag it’s all about!

Sinner’s Prayer
With BB King and Lucille: now that’s what I call the Blues:“Lord, have Mercy if you please..” Wow!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
With Johnny Mathis: I gotta admit: my mom like Mathis a lot and it kinda rubbed off. This song keeps balancingbetween cheesy and brilliant orchestration.

Crazy Love
With Van Morrison: the meeting b’tween the Master and one of his Followers (maybe some fans of the Man’ll be insulted, too bad, coz that that’s the way the ball bounces in my courtyard) - great song, both Vocalists showing us some Crazy Love

Conclusion
This duets setup is a tricky game, like Sinatra’s Duets, you sometimes get the feeling that quite some opportunities have been squandered. Don’t get me wrong: Ray Charles was and still remains one of the greatest artists and entertainers. On this album he’s almost at the end of his life and sometimes you can hear it. I think this album shows us the Genius taking his final Bow. Any of those R&B wannebees thinking they can really make an audience feel real Rhythm and Blues, they better think again, bow down and get their butts back to the School of Life and follow some classes from Professor Charles

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General Description
Artist/Band: Stereolab
Album Title: Margerine Eclipse
Year: 2004

A crazy band, a band that makes crazy music, musicians who are a coupla fries short of a Happy Meal, etc.? The incredible Stereolab makes hauntingly beautiful music that can be something like an ultra-beat industrial lullaby with elektro German influences blended with Frenchy melodrama-poprock. Uhm.. This is me describing the band after a coupla Apfelkorns too many (or too few).
“Combining an inclination for melodic ’60s pop with an art-rock aesthetic borrowed from Krautrock bands like Faust and Neu!, Stereolab were one of the most influential alternative bands of the ’90s.” - VH1.com 

How I Got Into This Music
Well.. As described earlier, over here in Holland they showed a documentary about the boys of Neptunes/N.E.R.D. and in that show, Pharrell was totally hyped about this band Stereolab. He told the interviewer that it was the perfect music for him to have sex on/with/to/whatever. Now, this didn’t impress me until he played something by Stereolab. After that I started listening to the band and have yet to test Pharrell’s theory (nuff said)

Tracks that got my attention:

Vonal Declosion     
A great starter, miss Laetitia Sadier’s voice sets the tone for what’s to be expected: beautiful landscape views

Need to Be     
Slow and lovely intro, soundtrack feeling, moody as hell.. After about 1 minute the main track takes you to a purple-yellow fuzzy world without any cute little animals

…Sudden Stars     
Lullaby intro resurrected after Radiohead’s “No Surprises“, followed by a great beat many a dance producer would give their index finger for

Cosmic Country Noir     
This track’s got the most typical Stereolab feeling. If you just sample this track, you’ll know for sure if this would be your cup of tea or vinegar

Margerine Rock     
Wow, Blondie’s back!

Margerine Melodie     
Reggae (or dub) shouldn’t be done by non-Jamaicans.. Another axioma that’s been proven null and void
  
Feel and Triple 
I like it when your average tech-band uses a guitar that way in the intro
   
Bop Scotch     
Great mixing of the vocals and tempo changes, from mellow relaxed to punky rocky thingies

Conclusion
Stereolab’s a strange breath of fresh air. Everytime you think you got their number, they change up a little. This band really has to work for you, coz the first impression can throw you off a bit. Don’t get thrown off! They’re great and Margerine Eclipse is a great album.

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General Description
Artist/Band: Molly Johnson
Album Title: Another Day
Year: 2004

This Lady is an unbelievably talented songstress. Her voice reminds you of Billie Holiday in a good way, not a cheap attempt at  pitiful imitation. Her style’s very diverse but nearly always staying in the incredible range of jazz vocals: upbeat, swing, moody, ragtime, classic diva, she does them all.
“One of Toronto’s best-kept jazz secrets…she is a proud Canadian who looks for original songs, vehicles for adult emotions…it’s the individual timbre of her voice that elevates them.” - Evening Standard, London UK

How I Got Into This Music
Well.. A very dear friend of mine, who has a better taste in music than me, sometimes gives me an album to listen to. Usually he just says something like: “I think you’ll like it, it’s nice“, subtly broadening my musical scope. The first time I heard the album I was hooked by the second track.

Tracks that got my attention:

Summertime
Great rendition of an all-time classic

Melody
Great moody  track 

Miss Celie’s Blues
A great cover of the “Colour Purple“ track

Sleep In Late
Totally groovy, ragtime feeling

Another Day
Title track, showing us the diversity of her style

Ooh Child/Redemption Song
Two of my favority songs that shouldn’t have been put together like this. The only track that’s really bad.

Conclusion
Molly Johnson is truely a gifted jazz singer, no.. hold on.. a truely fantastic singer, and not limited to the jazz repertoire. This album’s great! A nice stroll along the beach enjoying a nice sunset and feeling alright. It’s not a revelation, nor a revolution, it’s the hardest thing to do: simple and simply beautiful music.

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This week I’m having a kinda relaxed week. I have some time off, before I start my new job! Downside is that I promised myself to clean up my house and take care of all the other boring chores I’ve been putting off since someone wanted prove the theory that the atom really can be split. So that’s why I’m typing this stuff in stead of cleaning my kitchen, just so you know..

What else? Well… My favorite football (yes, soccer for those who live on the other side of the Atlantic) team, Feyenoord took a serious beating yesterday. They lost a home game with 0-3. Being a fan of this club is similar to some forms of masochism: you gotta love the pain and the dissapointments. In the US, the Europeans held on to the Ryder Cup, beating the Americans on their home ground. In case you’re wondering, I’m talking about golf..

What else? Well.. Still no real progress on the cleaning up front, no surprise there, I guess.. Had a great time with a great friend this Wednesday, my main man Noldus! This guy’s blessed me with some interesting music like David Holmes and Molly Johnson.

What else? Well.. Yesterday, the country’s budget was presented to parliament and nobody really liked what was said. In Holland the whole thing’s read out by the Queen which makes it a very important national matter. Outside the parliament building protesters gathered to watch the whole thing on a big-ass video wall. Typically Dutch: in stead of loudly booing at the statements made, a soft and civilized boo was issued because although you don’t agree with what is said, you still don’t boo at the Queen.

What else? Well.. Here’s a pic from that great band Hasjee Royaal’s farewell concert last Thursday!

What else? Well.. This Thursday the whole country mourns the loss of Andre Hazes. Who? This isn’t an easy thing to explain but lets use the term popular as in “of the people“ and the term folk singer as in “voice of the common man“. I don’t necessarily like all his music, but I respect the man’s effect on millions of people. A hard drinker and smoker but foremost a man with a big heart, telling his audience his life experiences. It’s strange to see how this guy affected a national conscience.

This week’s album reviews:
Ray Charles - “Genius Loves Company“
Molly Johnson - “Another Day”
N.E.R.D. - “Fly Or Die”
Stereolab - “Margerine Eclipse”

Check my album reviews here

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