Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: Q-Tip || ||
Album Title: The Renaissance
Year: 2008

Don’t call it a comeback?

How I Got Into This Music
I’m still a total fan of A Tribe Called Quest. Haven’t paid any attention to any of his previous albums, but with this release I thought I’d just give it a try.

Reviews: || || ||
Videos: ||
Have a listen on:

Tracks that got my attention:
Johnny Is Dead
But what good’s an ear if a q-tip isn’t in it?
Heheh, nice one.. Guitar intro and the chorus are kinda not happening, love the keyboards and bass line.

Won’t Trade
Kinda catchy, enjoyed it the first coupla times, but now it’s almost a bit bland. Weird.

Gettin’ Up
Video:
Great track, so mellow. The keyboard intro/loop is very sweet and the bass just reeks of nostalgia It’s an incredibly simple setup, production-wise, but it’s very effective and catchy. The late great J Dilla in the producer’s seat.
This one of those Walk In The Park tracks, love it!

Official
Very strong scratchwork and samples. Makes me wish D’Angelo was doing the backing vocals. Damn it, the whole song triggers D’Angelo vibes. Like it very much.

You
Think this one’s my favorite track. Now let’s see if I can explain why.
The staccato rap flow. The simple and subtle yet funky bassline. The lyrics trigger some old memories. The very tight setup.

We Fight For Love feat. Raphael Saadiq
Meh.. Just the great bassline, but not really working for me.

Manwomanboogie feat. Amanda Diva
Triggering memories of his Breathe And Stuff period, which is a bit dubious to me. Don’t get me wrong: I liked the track, but like Vivrant Thing it was too much of the Hype Williams videos that turned me off.
Again a very nasty bass..

Move
Video:
Maybe later on I’ll learn to understand and/or like this track. But for now: me no likey.

Dance On Glass
The intro of this track: 1 full minute a capella of pure excellence. And the flow when the music joins in is blissfully well produced.

Life Is Better feat. Norah Jones
Wow! Guaranteed hit, release the track as a single as soon as friggin’ possible!
But.. what I don’t get, is the way the track’s produced: you got the excellent vocals by Miss Jones and somehow the choice was made to use a (very well performed) dedication rap as main theme. It doesn’t work for me; I’d prefer a simple love theme or whatever, but this?
Still, hope they release it soon!

Believe feat. D’Angelo
Heheh.. When will D’Angelo finally represent his shit like he used to a while back? I was lucky enough to see him perform live at the North Sea Jazz in the 90s, but we need to see him in action again!
Ehm.. Back to the track: this is how Life Is Better should’ve been produced. Sweet, laidback and sexy.

Conclusion
Like blkbetty said: this album’s a creeper. It really grows on you. I wasn’t really impressed the first coupla times I listened to it, but then I found myself playing the album over and over, getting a better understanding and feeling of the vibes and stuff..
Wonder if I’ll still be listening to it in three months. Not sure, but for now, it’s a very sweet album to listen to.

Rating:

Share This

General Description
Artist/Band: N*E*R*D || ||
Album Title: Seeing Sounds
Year: 2008

Comeback kids?

How I Got Into This Music
This band has always been on my radar since I discovered the Neptunes products. I thought they wouldn’t release anything after the Fly Or Die album and the lackluster solo CD of band member Pharrell. But to my surprise, here’s Seeing Sounds..

Reviews: || ||
Videos: ||
Have a listen on:

Tracks that got my attention:
Time For Some Action
Funny TV theme music combined with some Pharrell wackiness introes the first track, nice. The track itself? Hmmm.. Not so good, it’s a tip of the hat to different genres and to the Purple One, but that’s not enough. I like the heavy and cheesy 80s keyboards used in the bridge, but.. meh..

Everybody Nose
Heheh.. Mixing up quite some great styles, creating an unforgettable instant anthem! There’s some Miami Bass feeling from the Too Live Crew brewing combined with a smidgen of drum&bass. Again, the break/bridge: a sweet work of art! Followed by a great singalong ending.
It took me some time to get used to it, but this is one of the best tracks!

Windows
Pop rock, punk-pop, some bits reminding me of Heroin Is So Passe by the Dandy Warhols.

Anti Matter
B O O M ! !
A great female vocal sample, reminding me of the Real Roxanne. Real drum&bass mixed with some rough guitars. And again, the changeup’s a doozy! Closing bits are perfect singalong (or, shoutalong) material.
I don’t know where these guys get them big brass balls, but they do wear them with pride..

Spaz
Didn’t like this one, really didn’t like it at all. There’s nothing here that stands out, doesn’t work for me. Way too sloppy work on the whole track.
And then, Hieronymous Fox and me are chanting the chorus during our first day at the North Sea Festival.. Every friggin’ forty minutes.. Heheh, nuff said!

Yeah You
Best track on the album. A lot of style similarities with the Frontin’ track they produced with Jay Z. It’s got that same weird laidback feeling to it. I got some weird internal references with the chorus; its bass line keeps taking me to A Rollerskating Jam Called Saturday by De La Soul , even if it actually doesn’t really match.
And the vocals and lyrics on that chorus keep reminding me of Al Green’s version of Light My Fire, yeah, I know, weird..

Sooner Or Later
No, not again.. Crap, I do get tired of these ballads: much too formulaic, leave the Beatle references alone, please?
Then again, I caught myself humming this song a few times, scary.

Love Bomb
Never hummed this one and I’m sure I never will..

Conclusion
Well.. The great tracks on this album are very, very great. But they have to carry the mediocre and crappy songs and that’s quite a heavy load to bear. I know I’ll play this record more than their previous album, but it’s getting dangerously close to Predictable Stuff.
N*E*R*D still is a great band of musicians and producers; they need Pharrell’s ego to front the whole thing, but their collective effort is what stands out.
Still wanna see them perform live some time.

Rating:

Share This

General Description
Artist/Band: Duffy || ||
Album Title: Rockferry
Year: 2008

Mixed bag, lacking substance yet committed

How I Got Into This Music
Not really, just curious about the vibe and hype after seeing the clip of the Mercy track on television.

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at || ||
Video clips at ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Rockferry
Hmm.. Trouble brewing, right off the bat.
Listen, this girl’s voice is incredible, so that’s not something to disrespect. But the catch is in how she uses the retro vibe on this track. Reminds me of other stuff I’d rather go listen, like Gerry & the Pacemakers, or something.
And, of course, Dusty Springfield.

Warwick Avenue
Ouch, don’t use the My Girl intro and guitars so blatantly obvious, please?

Stepping Stone
For me, the right kind of Retro: giving me a sense of Things from the Past without Looking Back - this song and its performance stand on their own two feet (or, so to speak: messy metaphores make my mind meander mysteriously.. )

Syrup & Honey
Lulu anyone? And all the bluesrock dames of yesteryears too.

Mercy
Ah, the current hit single. Snappy video, nice work, nice track. Of course there’s a “But”..
But, can we start give credit where credit’s due? Go back in time, say around 1984 and look up songs from the excellent Carmel.
The song’s been nicely modernised, and it’s catchy and everything, have fun. I’ll be going back to the record shop to get me some The Drum Is Everything from Carmel, okay? Right..

Delayed Devotion
Man, this makes me run to some Al Green.

Conclusion
First things first: Duffy is a great singer, no doubt, end of discussion.
Using Retro is a tricky endeavour: an obvious copy shows too much lack of imagination, even if you call it a tribute. A subtle reference, a tip of the hat with some personal touches helps to keep it interesting.
Duffy’s work is a bit of both in the worst way: you get Retro that reminds you of other stuff, easily ignoring her own tracks.
She’s the John Legend of whatever her pop genre is: her music will sell, she will be successful, but it’s empty of any added sentiment. That wackjob Winehouse somehow does the job a bit better (the lyrics for example), making it much more interesting to listen and remember.
So, Duffy will sell and become a Big Star and old farts like me will go listen to the artists she reminds us of. Sounds like a good deal.

Rating:

Share This

General Description
Artist/Band: Erykah Badu || ||
Album Title: New Amerykah
Year: 2008

Strong individual

How I Got Into This Music
Fell in love with this dame way back in the beginning. Not with the studio album but with the live recording: Baduizm Live.
This lady is an intelligent and socially committed musician in the first place; the Eyes come second . Saw here in Paradiso last year, didn’t review it, but believe me: she’s incredible!
Now the new album’s dropped, so.. Let’s have a review, shall we?

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at || ||
Video clips at ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Amerykahn Promise
Hey, starting the first track with some blaxploitation movie score really helps setting the mood for this album. The song’s a great tribute to those 70’s grooves, but it doesn’t really work for me.

The Healer
Great song and tribute to the Real Hip-Hop, not the sell-out, cola-light endorsing, MTV Cribs type of rappers (though I did enjoy RedMan’s first appearance in that show, heheh..).

Me
The best song on the album, even though I don’t like who she’s saluting at the end of the track.
Great lyrics:
This year I turned 36
damn it seems it came so quick
My ass and legs have gotten thick yea
Its all me

Soldier
Excellent lyrics and solid production value.

The Cell
Social commentary at its best.
And a very funky bass indeed!

Twinkle
Love me them Old School beats.

Master Teacher
A very poignant question. This line keeps haunting my mind on a daily basis, well written indeed!
And the tempo slowdown halfway the track is pure brilliance. Powerful song.
What if it were no niggas
Only master teachers?

Telephone
Oooooooh.. Sweetness.. And sorrow..
Just fly away to heaven, brother
Make a place for me, brother
Fly away to heaven, brother
Save a place for me, brother
Fly away to heaven, brother
Put in a word for me..

Honey
Hmm, best track on the album to launch as a single. It’s catchy, it’s comfortable and easily recognizable. Should’ve launched it as a Summer track.
And it rocks!

Conclusion
Still prefer the previous album: Worldwide Underground. That one took me a bit to really enjoy, but it grew on me. Not sure if this album’s gonna have the same effect.
This artist is on top her game when she takes risks and she does that with every album. Only this time, it didn’t impress me as much as I expected and that, of course, is my own little fault
If she’s not making her music to please the charts and just to express herself in whatever manner she wants, great, than this album’s very successful.

Rating: (those eyes…)

Share This

General Description
Artist/Band: José James || ||
Album Title: The Dreamer
Year: 2007

Hard work, just rewards

How I Got Into This Music
The evil man, Hieronymus Fox, all his fault
He took me to see the guy perform in Paradiso about a month ago. And I was seriously impressed!
So when his album was released I had to have a listen.

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at ||
Video clips at ||

Tracks that got my attention:
The Dreamer
Title track, takes you directly to the essence: jazzy trumpet, omnipresent piano and a lazy but sweet bass on the background. What? The vocals? Ooooooow, so sweet! It’s got this dreamy, lullaby softness mixed with booming vocal peaks, damn!
This song’s a classic Walk Along The Beach theme.

Velvet
The song’s strongest point is (how Zen) also its Achilles heel: the slow, repetative and grinding build up to this.. climax, I guess. And that climax isn’t that satisfactory.

blackeyedsusan
Damn, this track’s close to perfection. James’ smokey and brittle voice is great. Nice piano solo.

Park Bench People
Sample from A Tribe Called Quest’s Sucka Niggahs. Now I got to find me the original, heheh..
Interesting social commentary, soft and sharp edges at the same time.

Nola
Hauntingly beautiful song. Melancholy in a kind way.

Red
Another excellent track. Puts him in the true Jazz Vocalist category, forget Collum and those crooner types.

Winter Wind
This one’s a Walk In The Park On A Sunny Winter Day kind of track.

Desire
A bit too heavy on the drama.

Love
Nice up-tempo track; a pleasant change of style.

Conclusion
Go see this guy perform live.
This album’s a great product of hard work, devotion and soul. It’s just a bit too repetitive for my taste. It’s not James’ vocals, that’s diverse enough to take you to heaven and back. But the tracks all have the same setup, his vocals and the piano/keyboards are the main instruments. The other musicians are purely there for support, only the trumpet gets some minutes in front, that’s it.
Same thing occurred to me when I saw the band at Paradiso: how hard is it to let the drummer and the bassist join in? Again, it’s the one-sideness that caught my attention, everything else is bloody top notch.
It’s probably gonna be the same thing as with The Roots: I’m not very impressed with the albums but I’m 100 per cent sure that I’ll be seeing them play live again, the first chance that I get. I’m seriously hoping José James and band will perform during North Sea Jazz this year.
And as I said before, this guy is not of the J Collum class of easy listening crooner babies. Do not confuse crooning with jazz vocals: different disciplines and José James is of a greater quality.
Go see this guy perform live.

Rating:

Share This