08 July 2010
By Lyov
In Lounge
Illegal Cargo
A near perfect combination of funk, R&B, trip-hop and jazz, Slow Train Soul meshes the smooth, chocolaty vocals of singer Lady Z. with multi-instrumentalist Morten Varano’s remarkably varied sounds. Somewhat like Morcheeba but with a greater emphasis on the bluesy, cool voice of Lady Z., the duo has hit a home run with their debut. Too upbeat to be chillout but not frantic enough for the club crowd, they find the middle ground between the two. Yet the album works because the songs — all co-written by both members — are immediately accessible. This isn’t just background music for Sunday mornings. ...
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Chillout, downtempo, Electronic, Illegal Cargo, Lounge, Slow Train Soul, Soul
04 July 2010
By Lyov
In R&B, Soul
Shine
Award-winning British artist Estelle never got her just desserts for her 2004 debut album The 18th Day. Though the record was a critical success, it failed to make the mainstream splash many had hoped for. Her sophomore project, Shine, seems hell bent on avoiding the same fate. Backed up by a coterie of high profile US starlets–Wyclef Jean, will.i.am, Mark Ronson and Kanye West–Shine has surefire commercial success written all over it; though that’s not to say Estelle has sold out. Despite the high-impact American-style production, Shine remains reassuringly British. Estelle’s West London twang is as sharp as ever, and even Kanye drops rhymes about “WAGS” and “London Boys” (see single “American Boy”). ...
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british, Estelle, female vocalists, Hip-Hop, In The Rain, rnb, shine, Soul
30 June 2010
By Lyov
In Soul
Why We Sing
As soulful as she is sophisticated in her distinctive vocal stylings, five-time GRAMMY®-winning superstar Dionne Warwick is a globally beloved music icon and humanitarian. Warwick first climbed the charts in 1962 with her debut hit single, “Don’t Make Me Over,” penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David-she emerged as the foremost interpreter of their compositions, and remains so. Over the course of an illustrious, hit-filled career that’s endured more than 45 years and spans five decades, Warwick has also become a true contemporary music legend. With the inspirational WHY WE SING, she builds on her legacy with a new studio album, following up a duets collection and her first-ever holiday music release. It will, no doubt, also remind us why we love Dionne Warwick. ...
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60s, Dionne Warwick, female vocalists, oldies, Pop, Soul, Why We Sing
29 June 2010
By Lyov
In Jazz
Unforgettable: A Tribute To Dinah Washington
The myth that Columbia Records producers kept Aretha from finding her soul on disc has largely been discredited, and albums such as the 1964 Unforgettable are a big reason why. Working with a small, surprisingly tough rhythm section, Franklin delivers highly personalized renditions of 10 songs associated with the great Dinah Washington, who’d passed just months before. The material ranges from pop standards to Hank Williams and Bessie Smith numbers, paralleling Aretha’s own eclecticism. This CD edition also includes “Lee Cross,” a hip, joyous single cut at the sessions....
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Aretha Franklin, Blues, female vocalists, Jazz, rhythm and blues, Soul, Unforgettable: A Tribute To Dinah Washington
28 June 2010
By Lyov
In R&B, Soul
Trouble
Trouble is sleek, sexy, dynamic and effective with R&B undertones with catchy Pop tunes. With tunes like Pause, Trouble and Mizery packed with dramatic beats and bright, fresh production ideas, criss-crossing rock guitar licks and polyrhythmic harmonies. Trouble is as slick, effective and emotionally engaging that will keep the listener ear captivated....
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Female Vocal, Jenna Milan, R&B, Soul, Trouble
26 June 2010
By Lyov
In R&B, Soul
The Sellout
Over a year in the making, Macy Gray’s fifth studio album, The Sellout, features flashes of glam and new wave, as well as a duet with Bobby Brown and appearances from former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum. Produced with the assistance of Rodney Jerkins and Kaz James, among others, it’s Gray’s first album for the Concord label....
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female vocalists, Funk, Macy Gray, Pop, rnb, Soul, The Sellout
25 June 2010
By Lyov
In Pop
Bad
Jackson’s domination of the world record market continued following Thriller, although by comparison it was an almighty flop with only 12 million sales. As Pink Floyd and Dire Straits have proved, one album can go completely sales haywire without necessarily being any better. The title track and the gorgeous “Man In The Mirror” were substantial hits, but quality material such as “Dirty Diana” and “Liberian Girl” bolster a strong album. Jackson also seemed to have found the romance he seeks in “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Regardless of his press, history clearly shows that he has made a lot of people very, very happy....
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80s, Bad, dance, Funk, King pop, Michael Jackson, Pop, Soul
24 June 2010
By Lyov
In Rap & Hip-Hop
Things Fall Apart
Very few hip-hop groups make it to their fourth full-length recording, and perhaps only the Roots have made it to that level while still ascending. Although lyrical and musical vision is sorely lacking from most hip-hop (as Puff and Master P have proved, vision isn’t necessary to bum-rush the mainstream goldmine), such qualities are cornerstones of the Roots’ music. Their second recording, 1995′s Do You Want More?!!!??!, and its follow-up, 1996′s Illadelph Halflife, intelligently linked hip-hop to its musical forebears funk and jazz, and their lyrics provided unique, postnationalist hip-hop critiques....
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alternative rap, Hip-Hop, rap, Soul, The Roots, Things Fall Apart
