365 – New Music Daily

We take it way back on two of these, and a mid 90’s legend comes back from a 14 year hiatus.

Only feel like reading about music you think you might like? I get it. Use these links to jump to reviews on albums from Jimi Hendrix (Rock), Otis Redding (Soul) and D’Angelo (Neo-Soul).

Electric Ladyland – Jimi Hendrix (Rock)

A re-listen here, Electric Ladyland is the third album of Jimi’s unbelievable three album run in the late 60’s – Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland. You will be hard pressed to find a three album run that defeats this in all of music, let alone in rock.

Jimi is in top form here – coming up with mind blowing riffs that would take the average guitar playing dude months and months to even learn off of a YouTube tutorial (that’s me, by the way). The fact that he comes up with these fucking ridiculous guitar melodies like they are absolutely nothing (while singing incredibly well!) is hard to comprehend and appreciate. I hate to sound like a “now that I can play 5 songs on guitar music is just different, man” type of guy, but once you struggle to learn Boulevard of Broken Dreams for 2 weeks and you hear Voodoo Chile, you hear it fucking differently. Jimi is a god.

Last but not least, let’s not forget how important this man is to psych rock! It’s all over his stuff and he doesn’t seem to get that credit.

Favorite songs: Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland), Crosstown Traffic, Voodoo Chile, Long Hot Summer Night, Come On (Let The Good Times Roll), 1983… (A Merman I Should Be – editor’s note in this track-listed parenthesis, Jimi is really off his rocker lyrically on some of this), All Along The Watchtower, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

Pain in My Heart – Otis Redding (Soul)

I mean seriously, what the fuck new do you want me to say for this? It’s Otis. He’s a soul icon that had his life tragically cut short. Some absolutely incredible songs on this – title track, the iconic Stand by Me, These Arms of Mine, come on. If you’re into soul music this is the album for you. If you’re going on a run, which I did, it’s not, but I still think it’s great. It’s Otis, like what do you want me to say? RIP to a legend.

Favorite songs: Pain in My Heart, Stand by Me, These Arms of Mine, Something is Worrying Me

Black Messiah – D’Angelo (Neo-Soul)

D’Angelo’s 2014 release came after a 14 year period where he literally released one single. First of all, people get all pissy at Frank Ocean or whoever for not releasing for 5 years. This motherfucker not only didn’t release for 14 years, but also released one single in 2008 and then nothing for 6 years after. Imagine getting all excited about the single “Damn, he’s back!” only for that to be absolutely nothing. Hilarious.

As many of you know, D’Angelo has one of my favorite albums of all time in Voodoo, which is literally a perfect Neo-Soul record and showcases his incredible music ability. And I don’t just mean his singing – which is fantastic, perhaps an acquired taste for some with a bit of an odd falsetto default, but it’s really amazing, anyways no – I mean his musical ability. Voodoo is entirely played by him sans the drums, which are performed by Questlove. Amazing! If you have not listened to Voodoo, you are lucky to experience it for the first time, go now. See you in an hour 18. Bye!

Obviously, as we do, I compare this to Voodoo and it pales. No shit, that’s a masterpiece to me and I can’t expect him to replicate. However, Black Messiah is a fantastic album with those same intoxicating grooves and riffs from the mecca of this genre. And the vocal layering and harmonies!!!!!!!!! Insane. It’s still great, and I love D’Angelo.

Favorite songs: Ain’t That Easy, The Charade, Sugar Daddy, Really Love, Back to the Future (Part I), Prayer, Betray My Heart, Back to the Future (Part II)