R&B
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Balance – Children of Zeus
More of the same from the Manchester duo in Travel Light’s follow-up – funky songs, great vocals, and overall an improvement on the last record. The first three song run is fantastic and sets the scene for a really pleasant listen. Favorite songs: Sunrise, No Love Song, I Know, Be Someone, I Need You, Nice Continue reading
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Red Moon in Venus – Kali Uchis
New Kali album had me very excited, after her last ‘Flight 22’ being a unique release in the R&B realm sonically – with a Bootsy Collins feature in After The Storm, a clearly Steve Lacy produced song in Just a Stranger, and some other great songs sparsed throughout. This one feels a little more generic Continue reading
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Too Late to Die Young, Into – Sonder
A two in one review here – albeit a brief one – as the first Sonder album here is 11 minutes long and a glorified EP. I really don’t have much to say – just that if you want to listen to Brent Faiyaz, the stuff under his stage name is much better than that Continue reading
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Masego – Masego
A surprise release from Unique R&B artist/saxophonist Masego, who, if you are a diligent reader of my blog (the >5 of you) or a Masego fan, you will have seen his session with FKJ where they improvise one of his most successful songs, Tadow. This album unfortunately epitomizes what Masego’s pitfall is when putting out Continue reading
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When It’s All Said and Done, Take Time – Giveon
I feel like this might be the first in the “For me, but probably not for you” tier. Giveon kinda sounds like there is a frog in his throat, or that he’s being pitched down, or that maybe he’s doing a horrible impression of a certain green character on Sesame Street. However, when it works, Continue reading
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Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack
Look, I’m sorry the good reviews aren’t as fun as the bad ones. A critique I’ve had for a while. This is a good album, Roberta Flack is a great singer and this has one of the better songs of all time on it. The high point is the opener though, which does make it Continue reading
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Dinner Party – Terrance Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder
How can this not be good! Some incredible jazz/r&b/soul instrumentalists collaborating to create some tracks with beautiful vocals from phoelix, or some incredible jazzy&smooth instrumental tracks. I’ve said it and I will continue to say it, put some saxophone on a song and I am most likely game unless it is some absolute dog shit. Continue reading
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Pieces of a Man – Gil Scott-Heron
Gil Scot-Heron’s 1971 album’s start took me off guard. I recognized this poem and message – the Revolution will not be televised. It will not be streamed live. After doing a bit more research, I was reminded that Gil Scott Heron’s poem is regarded as a critical moment in the foundation of Hip-Hop – maybe Continue reading
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H.E.R. – H.E.R.
The self-titled album from H.E.R. was the debut album, propelled into the mainstream by the commercial success of Best Part. There is no denying the quality of H.E.R.’s vocals, they are incredible throughout this record and live as well (do not take the Tiny Desk below as an indictment on this album – it’s just Continue reading
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Collapsed in Sunbeams- Arlo Parks
British singer Arlo Parks is a new discovery for me. When I found out she was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s, it certainly made a lot of sense A) Why she was nominated and B) Why this didn’t put her on my radar, because I haven’t watched a Grammy’s show since Nam. Continue reading
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