The ArchAndroid - Janelle Monáe

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe (2010)

took me a while to really appreciate this album: it's really long (at 18 tracks) so there's a lot to digest. She's pretty involved - makes sense that Big Boi would work with her, he's used to dealing with really unusual but hugely talented characters!

Favorites: "Tightrope" ft. Big Boi, "Locked Inside" "Mushrooms & Roses" "Wondaland"

First caught glimpse of her in the video for "Tightrope" - embedding has been disabled but you can peep for yourself some of her charisma & style to see why I liked her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc"here

Least Favorite: "Come Alive (The War Of The Roses)"

The Lady Killer - Cee-Lo Green

The Lady Killer by Cee-Lo Green (2010)


Highly anticipated 3rd solo album by this Atlanta native.  Unfortunately, it's kind of hit or miss, tho some of the songs have grown on me over repeat listens.

Favorites: "Bright Lights, Bigger City"



"F*ck You" "Love Gun" ft. Lauren Bennett

Most people have already seen & talked about his video for "F*ck You" but if you were under a rock somewhere for the past few months, here it is.

Shine Through - Aloe Blacc

Shine Through by Aloe Blacc (2006)

When this album came out, I assumed it was just a solo from the emcee from the LA underground hip hop group Emanon.  Imagine my surprise when I put it on only to encounter Aloe singing (some of it in Spanish), multi-cultural polyphonic rhythms & practically NO rapping. The one song he does rhyme on, "Caged Birdsong," features a girl singing on the hook & is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

Vocally, he reminds me of Anthony Hamilton, tho his voice is not as strong.  Lyrically, he's not as well developed and his phrasing isn't as nice.  

He covers John Legend's "Ordinary People" in Spanish.  He also covers Sam Cooks "Long Time Coming" but with a hip-hop inflected, bass-heavy beat and a dreamlike string loop.  Not my favorite version of an amazing song.

I'm a fan of Aloe's rapping on previous efforts (like with his group, Emanon) much more than his singing, but this album has some nice selections for the summer.

Favorite: "Patria Mia" "Busking"

Least Favorite: "Want Me"

Soldier Of Love - Sade

Soldier Of Love - Sade (2010)

I had the unique opportunity to work on a music video for the song "Babyfather", the 2nd single from this album, about 2 weeks ago. For those of you familiar with production & the headaches accompanying it, you know music videos are the WORST and I try to avoid them at all costs. (The last one I did before this was "I'm On A Boat" over a year ago!) But this one was actually ok. Even though the hours were long and the budget was surprisingly low, at least the song is charming and didn't grate on my nerves, even after innumerable takes with playback. Now that's the sign of a quality song!

Really, the whole album is solid. it's hard to choose a favorite, so instead, I'm linking to a remix of "Soldier of Love" with Raheem Devaughn.

The Element of Freedom - Alicia Keys

The Element of Freedom by Alicia Keys (2009)

 

Some of the tracks are a little cloying, uninspired, sappy typical R&B love songs.  But there are a couple that are worth listening to. And of course the requisite positive & uplifting song: "How It Feels To Fly", complete with a choir. not bad, just expected.

 

Favorite: "Like The Sea" "Love Is My Disease"

1958-1959 - Ike Turner

A new year - more good music for everyone.  I lost my momentum there for the past few weeks.  But I went up to visit my brother for Christmas and came home with a big box of our dad's old CDs.  So the next several reviews will all be pulled from there.  Pretty much all jazz and old rhythm & blues style rock. And to simplify things for myself, I won't be posting streaming versions of the songs. I prefer them, but the hosting service I have been using only allows so many at a time and it was becoming tedious to delete older ones to make room for new reviews.

1958-1959 by Ike Turner (1993)

Being a rock & roll guitar pioneer is not what Ike Turner is most well known for.  But this CD shows just some of the greatness he could do.

Favorite: "Matchbox (Version A)"