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Maxwell - Blacksummers'night

Maxwell. What can you say? He brings it again for a short but truly talented album. My only complaint is that it was seven years and there are only nine songs....well ten if you count the Pretty Wings remix. But this is the first album of a trilogy of albums....so lets hope the others have more songs. This does seem to be a dark deep album so maybe thats why its only nine songs. Each song does say something...if you are listening. The fact that he used a real band definitely ups the quality and creativeness of the album. Mad props for doin that. Not too many people do that these days. You must watch the commentary that came with a limited amount of the CDs. That will give a lot of insight into what this cd is about and where Maxwell was coming from. I always like to hear that....I'm always curious as to what the artist are thinking about when they are creating.

When I first got the album I wasn't immediately blown away. I like it...just not blown away. But each time I listen to it I like it more and more. The commentary helped some but actually sitting down and listening to the words, music, arrangements, etc. did the trick. Let me start with the first single Pretty Wings. This song is one of the most perfectly arranged and complete songs I've ever heard. I really have to listen to that song more than once when I hear it. Then there's the new single Bad Habits....classic Maxwell. I think my favorite song is Love You. The drums, piano and organ help Maxwell make his plea to a woman to "let me love you now". To me this song's upbeat temp is like the key ingredient to this album. The placement of it right in the middle makes it like the glue holding the album together. But I don't mean to take anything away from the other songs at all. Songs like Fistful of Tears and whoa....Stop the World. Drawls should come off when you play this one fellas. Turn this song on and let Maxwell sing em right up out the drawls....ha.

This has quickly become one of my favorite albums of the year....and I'm ready for the rest of the trilogy.

Really?

I mean am I the only one not understanding how Ryan Leslie is not getting his props for the perfect album?  

Drake - So Far Gone Mixtape

Have yall heard this?  Apparently it came out in February.   I was turned on to it by a good friend of mine.   Damn thanks for that.  This is so refreshing to hear nowadays.   I mean this dude can rap and sing.  Rarely do you find that in artist....I mean really.  The tracks are nice too.  First listen will have you hooked.   He shows his skills on the first track Lust for Life where he is singing and rhymin.  Then he hits you over the head with Houstatlantavegas...."Throw yo ones up in there air for her...cause the ones you throw will get her outta Houstatlantavegas".  Ha.  This is a smooth song....with its drum track laiden with keyboards.  Now over to the next one....Successful.  "I just wanna be...I just wanna be successful".  He gets help from Trey Songz and Lil Wayne on this one.  They all come together with a sure hit...but for some reason I don't want radio to get a hold of this one.  This is a true gem.   On Ignant Sh*t Drake shows his azz with the lyrics...but then Lil Wayne comes right behind him and straight goes the f off.   This is true classic....and all over a Between the Sheets sample....come on now.  Say Whats Real is another classic.  Drake truly shows his way with words on this song....and all over Kanye's Say You Will.  I mean did he really pull that off?  Now you probably heard Best I Ever Had.  I think radio may have its hold on this one.  Another nice track with killa lyrics and catchy hook.  

Bottom line is this n word is the truth.  And he's right on time.  Music needed this.  Put it in rotation and enjoy. 

Solange - Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams

So its been a long time since I posted anything.  Sorry.  It gets pretty busy around here sometimes.  I have been listening to a cd that I never thought I would like.  I never thought I would like the artist.  Its Solange.  I remember sampling the cd when it came out and I remember thinking it sounded ok.  But recently I've been following her on Twitter and the chick seems pretty cool.  So I bought her cd and damn....this has to be the most slept on cd since Brandy's Afrodisiac.  I mean how did this girl really get so far away from her female mogul sister....as far as music is concerned?  She tells you at the beginning of the cd that she is not her sister.  She ain't lyin.  Although her sister's voice is better than hers, Solange does not disappoint with the quality of her music.  This album is in heavy rotation for me right now....right along with Ryan Leslie.  Would love to hear them two work together.  

Check her out....its a classic.  

Slim - Good Lovin (Single)

RLes does it again with Slim of 112 on Slim's solo album.  Check out Good Lovin'.  Its a classic Ryan Leslie track with head noddin drums, engaging keyboards, and other tantalizing sounds for the ears.  Put all that with a catchy hook and you have NextSelection.  Whats Next?

India Arie - Testimony Vol. 2 Love & Politics

Man its been a while since I've posted anything....blame the music business.  Ha just kiddin.  I actually wanted to talk about India Arie's new album.   She really has put out another nice one.  I think I like it the least out of all of her albums....but I do like it.  She really knows and makes good music.  And her lyrics are actually talking about something.  So many artist today just put anything in there lyrics.  You could actually read India's lyrics and they would make sense.  The album starts off with an interlude that repeats with different verses throughout the album.  I really wish this interlude was one nice long song.  Then she moves into the upbeat guitar laden Therapy.  Its actually the best song to start the album off with.  It grabs your attention no matter whether you are a production person or a lyric person. The guitar strums over a bass heavy beat covered by her smooth voice.  From here you get the feeling that ahh yes Ms. Arie has done it again.  Your feelings don't change as you get into the next song Ghetto.  Then it s on to the smooth, silky  song with Musiq Soulchild.  And yall know that boy can bring it.  They prove to be a good combination...good chemistry and vibe.  The album just keeps on going like that.  I won't go through each song.  I'll just say that its a complete album.  You won't be disappointed...if you appreciate good real music.  

8 out of 10

You got to check out Ryan Leslie's website....ryanleslie.com.  Definitely check out the studio sessions.  Then check out more of his studio sessions on youtube.  Dude is talented...I know I said it before but.....

Concert - Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson and Noel Gourdin

So I got the chance to see Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson and Noel Gourdin in concert this weekend.  All good artist...but in this show Rahsaan Patterson showed me that he is one few truly talented artist out there right now.  He stepped out on stage with no gimmicks...straight up.  He was in Levi jeans, sweater vest and a button down shirt.  The music started and just started singing...and singing effortlessly.  Hardly opening his eyes he stood flat footed and delivered a performance that had people in awe.  Dude has range....he was hittin low notes, high notes, in between notes...he was singing falsetto.  He did it all as if he was just talking to you.  If you get a chance to see him in person go see him!  He's worth the money.  

Ryan Leslie

If you haven't heard of him...check him out.  You've probably heard the singles Diamond Girl and the hypnotic Addiction with Cassie and Fabolous.  If you liked those two you will definitely feel this album.  Those two songs start your journey through hard beats, dancing synths and catchy melodies.  The first is You're Fly with its melodic keyboards, rollin baseline and bouncin beat.  On the first listen this is where you begin to think that this dude might have somethin to bring the music game.  Then with the help of Neptunes he hits you with Quicksand.  You know how The Neptunes do it...right.  They didn't take the track too far out there.  This one is like Smoop's Beautiful.  The bridge on it is real nice with the sea of synths and R Les singing over it....real nice.  OMG then there's Valentine.  This song will definitely make you hit repeat.  Its a slower track but is very hard.  This song is made for the brothas the sit back and have yo woman dance for you or model some thangs for you...ha.  Actually I think the ladies will want to dance for you off this one....all you gotta do is put it on and start watchin them.  Anyway, I digress...you'll love it.  You will then eventually get to How It Was Supposed To Be.  You have to enjoy the sounds and beats in the tracks on this album...this is one that you should most certainly sit back and enjoy.  First the song gives you the beat with a little synth over it.  Then it introduces the keyboards by making them dance over the beat.  Next comes the cymbols.  And each sound is presented over the beat by itself.  Later when they are all put together you really know that this artist and his producers have put together a hard azz album.   The album moves right on into the next song Irina.  Another creative mix of synths, percussion and a strong beat.  Once again you will enjoy the use of different sounds together.  Out Of The Blue is more of the same.  I mean each song has the same elements but they are each done differently and creatively.  It s right here on the first listen that you really start to appreciate the fact that some artist actually get it.  The album is totally refreshing to hear.  Oh yeah the guy is so talented he made a song called Gibberish where he ain't really sayin nothing....just speakin gibberish but it sounds good....ha.  I predict this album will be at the top of the charts for a while.  

9 out of 10 

Choklate

This is an old album but its a nice one to have in the collection.  I think the album came out in 2006....and still sounds good today.  Its hard for good music to get old.  The production is well put together.  She wrote all of the lyrics and arranged the vocals...true talent indeed.  Every song has its own distinct sound.  Nowadays you have artist with one sound but she mixes it up pretty well.  I don't think you will be disappointed in this project.  If you are looking for new artist to listen to check her out.  

I give her a 7 out of 10.  

Let me know what you think.

Do you ever just get stuck listening to a song all day?  I do all the time.  Sometimes it can be a song that I woke up thinking about or it can be a song that I hear during the day....but either way I just can't get it out of my head.  Today that song is White Turns to Gray by Bilal.  Check it out.  

Common - Universal Mind Control

Common has consistently brought his fans true hip hop.  This album only continues this.  I'll have to admit that at first listen I wasn't impressed with this one...but on the second and third times the album grabbed me.  Its kinda different hearing Common with the production of the Neptunes.  Its different and pleasant.  Common's lyrics and voice fits nicely over the "spacey", "futuristic" sounds of the Neptunes....and Mr. DJ for DungeonRatz.com (another producer featured on this album).  Neptunes have really mastered this sound and seem to get better and better every year with it.  The creativity of the tracks are surpassed by no one.  Really a person could get lost in an instrumental version of this album.  And I don't say that to take anything away from Common.  We all know the quality of his lyrics and subject matter.  

With the help of Cee-Lo, Kanye West, Pharrell and others Universal Mind Control does not disappoint.  Honestly there are only  3 songs that I could do without on this album....Sex 4 Suga, Gladiator and What a World.  The rest of them are strong and will get a lot of play. 

Songs that will get repeat action

All of them except the 3 mentioned above   

Anthony Hamilton - The Point of It All

Once again...this brutha brings us the essence of soul music.  I recently heard him described as the old school soul for the new school.  That couldn't be anymore accurate.  This album is just a continuation of his music that has captured the ears of everyone with a sense of good music.  The Point of It All has a much lighter feel than the previous albums though.  Which shows a different side of Anthony.  It makes no difference...its still good music.  From the first song to the last...your neck will get a good workout from yo head noddin to the soul capturing tracks and believable lyrics.  This is truly real music.  If you like real music....i'm talking about real talent...pick this one up.  I mean really there is nothing else to say....you know what you are getting with Anthony Hamilton.