Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: Visioneers ||
Album Title: Dirty Old Hip Hop
Year: 2006

Excellent grooviness..

How I Got Into This Music
I’ve been enjoying 4hero and Marc Mac’s Chess Cadet All Stars for about a year now. This album’s another of Marc Mac’s projects and I just had to listen to it..

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com || || Discogs ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Replay ft. Voice
Mellowness taking the listener on a flashback trip through the history of quality rap musicians and producers like A Tribe Called Quest, Jazzy Jeff, Gangstarr and The Pharcyde. Love the smooth vocals by Voice.

Runnin’
Never thought people would be so smitten with the original version by The Pharcyde, but I ain’t complaining! I remember hearing the intro of this version with Hieronymus Fox and we were both jumping like happy kids; when we noticed it was an instrumental version, we stopped acting silly.. for about thirty seconds

The World Is Yours
Laidback bass and keyboards, catchy loops. Love the bass solo, but not that much else happening.

Funk Box ft. Capitol A
Familiar vocals by Capitol A, who also worked with Jazzanova. Basic quality, groove and funkiness.

It’s Simple
A very relaxed version of Simple Folk, a track from Marc Mac’s project from yesteryears, The Chess Cadet All Stars.
More jazzy influences, the flute working some nice magic in the background with the guitar, and that bass? Love it.

Dirty Old Bossa Nova
Damn, got me scanning all my CD’s from A Tribe Called Quest, grmbl.. Hold on.. Nope, I give up, can’t find it, argh!
Back to the track itself: lovely bossa groove!

Run For Cover
Yep, pure gold. Great way of using a central theme in the track, and then the sudden double tempo variant at the end? Great stuff!

55 Dollars
Oooooh.. Flashback to all those TV series from the seventies. Love the horns..

Paul’s Guitar Story
Hmmm, jazz guitar track, sounds nice, just a bit too bland for my taste.

Days Gone By (Egyptology)
Much better guitar work on this track. The track sounds a bit like Jill Scott’s Slowly Surely, I’m sure that’s intentional since they’ve worked with eachother in the past on Jill’s Experience album.

Conclusion
I think my love for previous work by Marc Mac and 4hero has kinda spoilt me a bit. Dirty Old Hip Hop is a great album and very tightly produced too. But… For me, there’s not a lot of new things happening. That’s why this album’s not one of my Favorites. Still very curious to hear the remix version called Dirty Old Remixes!

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General Description
Artist/Band: Plantlife
Album Title: The Return Of Jack Splash
Year: 2004

Swinging, up and down, still massively groovay..

How I Got Into This Music
Another one from last.fm that I just couldn’t ignore..

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com || || Discogs ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Jack’s Back
Kinda weird reviewing a 30 second intro but it’s worth it: a great way to start an album, a condensed version of what you can expect.
Promises, promises..

Appreciate
A bit lazy, a bit weak. Track’s very well produced, getting into a fine groove, but nothing spectacular.

Underwaterluvboogie (deep blue)
Well, they’ve been labeled as an electrotechnofunkrock band and they deliver as promised. But kinda so-so experience.

When She Smiles, She Lights The Sky
Ohwow.. Incredible build-up: the string loop, the soft falsettos, that bass/guitar in the background and then.. The Pay-off, sweet! Excellent track, yessirree!! Keeps your head bobbing with a great smile on your face..

Got2Get2Gether4Luv
Excellent funky nastiness, a Nile Rogers guitar, a plucking bass and a great chorus.

Two Beautiful Souls In A Crazy World
Here’s where the band keeps disappointing me (as if their existince is based on pleasing me, heh..). Just doesn’t work for me, yuck..

Beautiful Babies
Yeah, it’s been done a gazillion times, but they get this one right: just a sweet soulful kinda ballad, their style is right on the money for this track.

Stardancer
Hey, Jamiroquai got away with doing this kind of music for years and in this case, Plantlife nails it, even though I know I’d skip this track more times than I’d let it play on.

The Girl Said Give It To Me!
Excellent floorfiller. Plus a great MC Lyte sample at the end.

If I Wuz Ur Man
Hmm.. The title’s a dead giveaway - we’re invited to listen to a very Prince-inspired track. Kinda nice..

Conclusion
Here’s the thing, play some of these tracks on the dancefloor and the floor will go wild, but don’t you dare to play more than one song, it will become boring. And that’s the same thing with the whole album: some tracks are excellent, well-thought and deepdown Groovay. But most tracks just turn me off, there’s this laziness that just makes the songs a bit too cheezy to ignore. I love the fact that some classic styles are being recycled, but it’s not done well enough for me to enjoy. Probably getting way too many Outkast references from this record, but that’s my mindset being a bit too nasty.
The intro doesn’t deliver, but hey, we’re just talking about my expectations, I’m sure this album will work for other people..

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General Description
Artist/Band: Jill Scott ||
Album Title: The Real Thing (Words And Sounds Vol.3)
Year: 2007

Almost had me fooled..

How I Got Into This Music
One of my favorite musicians/songwriters of this decade. Love the lady’s talent, sharp mind, open hearted lyrics and wicked smile. Her previous album wasn’t that much of a joy to listen to, but I saw her perform live and that’s more than enough compensation, GO SEE THE WOMAN PERFORM LIVE!
Now that I’ve ruled out any chance of an objective review of this latest album, let’s get to business..

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Let It Be
Each opening track on her albums is an incredible introduction to this lady’s talents: a mix of dry drums, vocal changeups from soft whispers to bombast opera hall and clear declaration of her love for music.

Hate On Me
Much discussed first single release. The drum beats are great, the rest of the production is okay, nothing really exceptional. But the lyrics are what it’s all about, not clear to me if this is a simple venting of emotions concerning her recent marital breakup or a pure and simple declaration: you do not wanna cross a pissed-off Jilly..
I’m thinking both.

Crow Royal
I love it when Jill turns on the nasty lyrics, DAMNDAMNDAMN!
Your hands on my hips pull me right back to you
I catch that thrust, give it right back to you
You’re in so deep, I’m breathing for you,
You grab my braids, arch my back high for you
Your diesel engine, I’m squirting mad oil
On down on the floor til my speaker starts to boil
I flip shit, Quick slip
Hip dip and I’m twisted
In your hands and your lips
And your tongue tricks
And you’re so thick and you’re so thick
And you’re so..
Crown Royal on ice
Crown Royal on ice (On Ice)
There are parts of the song that a heterosexual man can’t sing out loud without getting weird looks from the people around him, heheh.. See if I could give a flying fork
Back to track, the brilliant simplicity: laidback keyboard effects, a very subdued bass line, a bit of percussion and Jilly on the double-dubbed vocals - my favorite track of the album (in case didn’t guess that yet)

Epiphany
Uhm.. Me Am Blushing.. Go Google the lyrics.. Best part of course is the final line. The track itself, it reminded me of.. of.. can’t put my finger on it. Another very simple setup, with the emphasis on the lyrics.

My Love
Nice track, a mix of Walk In The Park and Getting In The Way from her first album. The lyrics are compact and cut through diamonds. The bridge has a great lavish string arrangement on the background.
Cause ohh,
All I ever do is think about you baby
I hold you in my arms inside my dreams
And I know what I know and what I know is
That no matter where you go
You will always think of me

How It Make You Feel
If My Love was about not accepting the ex-lover moving on, this track’s more about strength: putting the black man in his place if he ever thought he could do without a black woman. For me, it’s a no-brainer, but maybe some guys still need this education

Only You
Waaaay too many flashbacks to the Songstress, Miss Anita Baker.

Wanna Be Loved
Yep, back on the quality train with this track. Vocals arranged smoothly, another laidback setup and incredibly honest lyrics.

Breathe
This could be called a Real Jill Scott song: great soul vibe, brainy lyrics and Lady Scott ruling the mic!

Conclusion
Here’s Jill’s own comments on her album (no, I’m not that lazy, my own comments follow after)
“I’m feeling gutsier, I’m feeling much more bold, free. In many ways, it’s closer to my first album. My original concept was to show different women – you know, like the housekeeper, the stripper, the congresswoman - but as I started writing and recording, I started taking on all these characters. I put myself in each woman’s place…and found that it became more about me, all of it, with the envy, the anger, the frustration, the loneliness, the joy, the passion and the rapture.
And that’s what makes it juicy…”

Well, that explains quite a lot. For me, the first coupla times listening to this album was a bit boring, seemed that she was keeping things nice and simple, not really attached. But when I started listening and reading the lyrics, shit changed dramatically. I still think that a lot of tracks are way too lazily produced and performed (yes, I know, I will burn in Hell or White Heaven for that remark). But the tracks that stand out like Crown Royal, How It Make You Feel and others, really, really do stand out for their high quality of Soul and True Pen(wo)manship and, sadly, because the other tracks are below average.
So, I still prefer her first album and the live record better than this one, and, yes, The Real Thing still is a great album. Not just a Favorite of mine, ohwell..
And come November 23rd, I’ll be jumping, dancing, grooving, moving, singing, shouting, smiling and even crying of joy when I see this Lady Of Soul perform her stuff live again. GO SEE HER SHIT LIVE!!

Rating: (Did I already mention you should go and see her live on stage?)

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General Description
Artist/Band: Me’shell Ndegeocello ||
Album Title: Plantation Lullabies
Year: 1993

Funky, moody Soul with many, many Messages

How I Got Into This Music
Me’shell’s one of my favorite artists, finally got into her music back in 1998, a bit late, but such a sweet discovery!! I think this was one of the first albums I listened to.

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com || Answers.com || ||

Tracks that got my attention:
I’m Diggin’ You (Like An Old Soul Record)
Momma. please help me, I’m having so much fun, it just hurts! Me’shell’s wicked vocals, rhymes and wicked bass playing just gets me all jazzed up. I even enjoy the weird guitar solo, especially the final bit where the chorus comes back.

If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)
Heheh, evil lyrics!! You do not ever want someone to tell you your partner’s unfaithful in the way Me’shell does on this track, ouch!
That nasty bass theme, makes me very happy. Ooooh, that part of the song, at the bridge, yum-yum!
Now late at night he calls me on the telephone
That’s why when you call
All you get is the busy busy tone

Shoot’n Up And Gett’n High
Tragedy, enduring a never ending form of misery and pain.

Dred Loc
Lusty love song with a great tropical feel to it - love the bridge, the sax and other horns recreate a typical 90’s groove and feel.

Untitled
Beautiful lyrics, a poem recital.
..Her beauty cannot be measured with standards of a colonized mind
Darker than blue darker than her blackness
Unblemished her features broad and striking
She cradles his body with her large hands
Her fingers stretch endlessly into his world of pain..

Step Into The Projects
Bass line is incredible all through the track, damn! Subject matter is obvious, but still to-the-point.

Soul On Ice
Another very poignant rant about the (self)image of black people and their culture; the attack on black men going for white females was one of the biggest racial topics in the 90s and it kinda still is, now the sistahs too are switching colours. There’s a lot of resentment about racial inequalities or better put: why’s whitey better than my black ass?!? Funny, I grew thinking up that although we may not be considered as equal, somehow still, nobody’s better than another. Living in a white country doesn’t change it for me.
But back to the song - this lady’s ripping up the bass like it’s nobody’s business!!

Call Me
One of my all-time favorite love songs or songs of any kind!!! The funny and loving lyrics, flowing in the typica Me’shell singing rap flux. The bass play in the background is just smooth, warm, funky and bloody brilliant. Got a lot of memories with song, sitting in front of a hotel in Guetemala, early sunrise on a small island near the Belize coast, just me and my walkman with Me’shell playing her lil’ ass off.. Ah, them be good memos!

Outside Your Door
She has this Billie Holliday sadness in her voice, not the technical similarity, but the emotional thing that just cuts through your soul.

Picture Show
A great ‘celebrating our love’ track with a nice walking and skipping and hopping and cartwheeling bass groove. And that nasty closing bit? Soooooo right!
I’m just a hopeless romantic, hopelessly in love with you

Sweet Love
Reggae ballad kinda vibe going on here, not really working for me, but this girl’s vocals still get to me.

Two Lonely Hearts (On The Subway)
I like the different styles and themes on ths track - yes, there’s this sense of motion, but also the great funky break and that beautiful closing part - just love it..

Conclusion
I was doubting if I could call this a Favorite, but after two or three tracks I quickly understood that I was being a bit silly. The angry parts in her lyrics are sometimes a bit disconcerting and sometimes also a bit too preachy: yes, there is inequality and racial prejudice, but it’s a fine line you’re walking when your protest also sounds as you want to return the favor in kind (by being aggressively unkind).
The fuck do I know about what was going through her life and her head when she wrote this stuff? Not easy to review something that personal when you haven’t had quite the same experiences.
On the musical side of things: this is an incredible album, thightly grouped musicians with excellent material to work with. The love songs are joyful taking me on a walk on top of the clouds and the sad songs take me to an abyss of lost love that can trigger less fonder memories. And that’s just the thing about this album: you have to be dead and buried not to feel anything while listening to this album, good or bad, it makes a strong impression.
Me’shell has made a great album, nuff said..

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General Description
Artist/Band: Pete Philly & Perquisite ||
Album Title: Mystery Repeats
Year: 2007

Ambition, energy and quality.

How I Got Into This Music
Saw these guys on MTV (remember that?) and I didn’t realise they were Dutch. The strong presence of Pete Philly stuck with me and when Hieronymus Fox and me went to see them play live a while back, I saw a band that was entertaining, professional and ambitious. Their mix-up of rap and music styles works for me. Just read that this new album’s topping the Dutch charts, so I head to get me a listen.

Google Search for reviews of this album || Band details at Answers.com || More on the adlbum at ||

Tracks that got my attention:
Clap Kick Flow
Excellent intro track, the vocal setup is a pleasant surprise.

Womb To Womb
A genuine Floor-Filler, catchy hook, nice raps and subtle production.

Fish To Fry
This one’s a very intelligently produced track - almost single material, not sure if it’d work, hey, I like it a lot!

Q & A
A catchy chorus isn’t enough in this case..

Believer
Wow, old-school scat crooning (mind out of the gutter please..). A very catchy song, skillful performance, showing the diverse range of rapper and band.

Awake
There’s a Galliano and Jamiroquai vibe going on, not sure if it works for me. I can imagine many a teenager chanting this one.

Last Love Song
Another Jamiroquai thing and remember, Jamiroquai wasn’t the originator of that style either.. But this track’s also one you have to see live.

Freestyle
Intro’s just a bit too much Outkast for my taste. The rest is quite okay.

Empire
A very mature track, great airplay potential.

High Tide
Taking risks, nice! Less safe, more interesting..

Mystery Repeats
Smart song, great energy, nice string arrangement in the background and in the chorus.

Time Flies
Love this song, melancholy yet feel good. Catchy, great vocals.

Conclusion
Hmm.. Yet another impressively professional music production from the Lowlands. I love the energy these guys have especially live. There is nothing wrong with this album, it deserves the attention and success it’s having, because these guys work friggin’ hard to deliver the goods.
My review is a mix of pros and cons: not totally my taste, sometimes sounding a bit too much like other current artists, but.. They’re more than okay, I’m very curious how these guys evolve and there’s no friggin’ reason for this band not to become successful internationally.
In the meantime, go see this band perform live, their energy is worth it!!

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