She's back! And better than ever on the third studio outing (the unplugged album was recorded live). Ms. Keys returns with the aptly titled "As I Am." She has definitely grown as an artist vocally and lyrically-- you can tell by leaps and bounds on this offering. She opens with the piano blazed instrumental titled after the album. She follows with the urgent "Go Ahead" which guests one of my other favorite artists Marsha Ambrosious of Floetry on backing vocalistics. There are so many great songs on this album that you can listen the whole way through without fast forwarding. The lead single "No One" is just a taste of what you'll get here. This is Alicia simply singing, no lead-ins or other studio production wizadry, just the lyrics and the music. She does a real nice collabo with my future baby-daddy John Mayer titled "Lesson Learned." This one will definitely define the album. "Wreckless Love" and "Teenage Love Affair" are other 60's soul-wopped tunes about crazy love. Hey, we've all been there. "The Thing About Love" is another throwback era style love ballad reminiscent of times when music was really all about music. The Linda Perry aided "Superwoman" and second Prince-esque single "Like You'll Never See Me Again" further support the deliciousness of this album. Ms. Keys is in love and so am I with this album. Her boo will be proud!
Who is Jill Scott? We were all asking that question nearly eight years ago when she burst on the scene. We found out real quick the answer to that question and yet she's still revealing herself. It's no secret that Jill has been through an emotional year with the divorce from her love and the inspiration for one of my jams "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) from Words and Songs Vol. 1. She's also seen the highs with the critical acclaim of her performance in the Tyler Perry hit movie "Why Did I Get Married?" Well, she lets all of those emotions develop and envelope into the latest triumph "The Real Thing: Words and Songs Vol. 3" If you're a fan of Jill's already then you know to expect poetic, soulfelt songs that take you on an emotional and musical journey throughout. She opens with the title cut, "The Real Thing" that commands your attention. She then dares you to "hate on her" with the cut "Hate On Me" which is an answer to some ridiculous comments made my trifling "fans" on websites. "Come See Me" is a slow grooving invitation to her love. "My Love" is a reminder to her ex-betrothed of all the sweet niceties that she still possesses. She keeps it mature and sexy with the naughty "Crown Royal" which is wayyyy to short (trust me, you'll repeat this one a couple of times), and the seductive "All I." The real jewel of this album has to be "Whenever You're Around" with George Duke. It's breezy and Jill at her best allowing the shine on her vocals and storytelling abilities to really light it up. Who Is Jill Scott? Jill Scott is the "real thing" and so is this album.
I love it when "sangers" sing. Angie Stone can sanggggg. She's always been one of my favorite vocalists and she's back here with a new album on a new label. The album is all around a treat. This is not an album for people who think Ciara is a great vocalist. I mean I like Ciara and all but this is an album of mature R&B by a seasoned, honey-voiced professional. She starts out with the self evaluating "Take Everything In." The first release and number one banger on this album is sing along ready "Baby" featuring the Joss Stone svengali and legend Betty Wright. "Sometimes" is a great tune about relationships and the emotional ups and downs and mood swings. "My People" is a socially conscious song featuring James Ingram. It talks about the positive contributions of black folks all abroad. She even name drops Bill Clinton! "Pop Pop" is a lounge ready, Hennessy-and-coke-cigarette-in-the-other-hand ditty that has an eery sample like feel of "Funny How Time Flies" from Janet Jackson's "Control" CD. She completes the album with a duet with Denzel Washington's wife Pauletta on the feel good "Happy Being Me." This album is a treat and if you don't know a whole lot about Angie Stone, you should find out. She's probably one of the best female vocalists out there that isn't showing off ery'thing she got at birth and doing big things under the main stream radar.
3 comments:
My introduction to Ms. Angie Stone was in Den Haag, Netherlands @ the NorthSea Jazz Festival in the Summer of 1999. She was just coming out as a solo artist. The gurl raised the roof. I was so happy her venue was free, since she was an unknown we would not have paid to see her. I have loved her music ever since.
Angie is doing her thing. She is class where it lacks in the music industry
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