Archive for the 'Soul' Category

15 Apr

Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

GRADE: B+
As the “pop” world reaches out its arms to Cee Lo Green and Danger Mouse, they instinctively pull back. If St. Elsewhere was their Frankenstein’s monster, then The Odd Couple is it’s terrifying killing spree.
St. Elsewhere was an album of twisted paranoia and doom disguised in the Trojan horse of an experimental party album. […]

25 Mar

Day26 - Self Titled

GRADE: B+
In case you have been living under a rock for the last 2 years, Day26 is the latest product of Sean “Diddy” Comb’s reality TV phenom, Making The Band. They are an R&B quintet made up of Michael “Big Mike” McCluney, Robert “Bitchassness” Curry, William “Shirtless Willie” Taylor, Qwanell “Dawn’s Boyfriend” Mosley and Brian […]

15 Jan

Raheem DeVaughn - Love Behind the Melody

GRADE: A
Lets be honest, to the casual listener, “Neo-Soul” artists like Cody ChesneTT, Van Hunt, Raphael Saadiq and Raheem DeVaughn all sound pretty much the same. They release similar sounding albums and tend to get similar responses from fans. With Love Behind the Melody, Raheem DeVaughn strives to elevate his sound without leaving his fans […]

18 Dec

Mary J. Blige - Growing Pains

GRADE: A–
The Queen of Hip Hop Soul is top form. In a time where new, generic, cookie cutter R&B artists are appearing (then quickly disappearing) every other week, it’s refreshing to see urban music’s favorite underdog finally getting the pop props she deserves.
Both vocally and lyrically, Mary J. impresses on Growing Pains. Though not […]

13 Nov

Alicia Keys - As I Am

GRADE: B
Alicia Keys deserves to (one day) be mentioned in the same breath as soul icons like Roberta Flack, Minnie Riperton and Aretha Franklin. Not only for having a stellar and unique voice, but also for creating music with the kind of passion that sends chills through every inch of a listener’s body. […]