Posts

Digging In The Crates: Zo!’s 2006 …Just Visiting EP

Website/Myspace

You know I love finding rare EP and mixtapes.  Yes, there are rare ones out there.  Once I paid $75 for a rare copy of Ledisi’s album “Feeling Orange, But Sometimes Blue”.  Anyway, with the recent release of Zo!’s…Just Visiting Too” EP, it makes one wonder was there a Just Visiting One?  Well… there was a first one.  It’s awesome just like the 2nd one.  It has covers of Anita Baker’s “Caught Up In The Rapture”, Janet Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies”, and four other songs.  If you put this EP with the new EP, you have thirteen tracks of goodness.  Also, don’t forget that in the next few months, Zo! will be releasing his album “SunStorm” through Foreign Exchange Music.

To download this digital goodness, click the album cover or here.

Review: N’Dambi’s Pink Elephant

N'Dambi Pink Elephant

Website/MySpace/FaceBook/Twitter/YouTube

Today is a great day for Soul music lovers.  We have albums from Meshell Ndegeocello and N’Dambi, and singles from new aspiring artists.  After almost four years since her release of “A Weird Kinda Girl” in Japan on CoCo Red Music, N’Dambi has released a twelve track album “Pink Elephant”.  This album is released by Stax Records, who also is home to Teena Marie, the late Isaac Hayes, and Will Downing, among others.

Now you may ask, what’s the deal?  Is it worth picking up? I can answer that confidently with a YES for fans, and a maybe with new listeners.  Let me explain.  I’m an uber fan of Soul music, and digest large amounts of Soul music on a weekly basis. I compare, search for rare, and contemplate Soul music. When I first listened to this album, I was confused.  The first song “L.I.E.”, was an anomaly, since it didn’t have the feel of a first track of an album.  For example, Ledisi’s “Lost & Found” first song “Been Here” is a perfect example of a great “lead in” to the album. I thought that “L.I.E.” didn’t “lead in” to the album and establish the environment for the rest of the songs.  I was a bit confused and wrong, since I didn’t know what expect from the rest of the album.  After listening to the whole album, do I understand and appreciate the style and concept of it.

To best describe this album, is that it’s a book of different stories, by different writers, but with the same voice. Each song tells a story, but it tells it in a form of Soul that compliments that story.  For example the relaxed tempo of “L.I.E.” lends itself to the story of a man with two lives that are connected via the Long Island Expressway.  One of my favorites of the album is “Nobody Jones”.  It’s more of upbeat, than “L.I.E.”, and tells of a woman that dreams of a more exciting life.  This is the track that I think really showcases N’Dambi’s voice and what she has to separate her from other singers. Oh, that cow bell is kicking in this song.

The next song is “Ooo Baby”, and is a prime example of her Soul style changing from song to song.  If you close your eyes, you can see Levert from about twenty years ago, behind her in white suits,  snapping their fingers, and grooving to the rhythm.  This song will get the mood right, if it isn’t there already.

The first single from the album is”Can’t Hardly Wait” (clean version video below).  There are two versions of this song.  I prefer the NSFW version (Not Safe For Work) myself.  In the clean version, “Fussing” has replaced “F*!king”. Besides that small change, the song is one of the best of the album.  I really can’t place the influence for this song, but I can appreciate the bass guitar in it.

Overall, I like the album.  I don’t regret buying, but again I’m a uber fan.  If this your first time hearing N’Dambi, I would suggest picking up “Lost Little Girl Blues” from 1999.  Then move up from there.  Then you can realize what’s being done in “Pink Elephant”. Now if you are a fan, it’s no question.  What are you waiting for?  It’s available all over at iTunes and Amazon.  Enjoy.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAPPVoJcVwk

Ledisi Releases video for “Going Thru Changes”

Ledisi

Website Myspace FaceBook Twitter Youtube

Ledisi has returned, to bring us a video of her latest single “Going Thru Changes”.  Which is from her latest album “Turn Me Loose“.

P.S. People in Memphis, don’t forget she will be here in December with Mint Condition and Eric Benet.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFIrCtGYZz4

Frankie Beverly & Maze Tribute Album Released

Frankie Beverly & Maze

Website/Wiki/MySpace

Morning people.  Don’t know if you knew a tribute album was being made for Frankie Beverly and Maze.  The great R&B/Soul group that has released 12 albums, and has 30 chart hits.  Silky Soul Music released the album which contains a great list of artists.  They are Mary J. Blige, Musiq Soulchild, Ledisi, Kem, Mint Condition, Joe, Raheem DeVaughn, Kevon Edmonds, Avant and the Clark Sisters with J. Moss and Kierra Sheard.  My favorite song so far is “Golden Time Of Day” sung by Kem.  That’s my joint right there. :)  Anyway, you can get the album from iTunes.  They have a website dedicated for the tribute album, and also to foster community support..  Fans are already asking for a second volume for some of the hits that were left out of this release.  Here’s to hoping. Below is the track listing.

1. Silky Soul (Musiq Soul Child)  5:21

2. Golden Time of Day (KEM)  5:35

3. We Are One Raheem (DeVaughn)  5:06

4. Before I Let Go (Mary J. Blige)  4:37

5. Can’t Get Over You (Joe)  5:15

6. Happy Feelings (Ledisi)  5:08

7. Back In Stride (Mint Condition)  4:51

8. Never Let You Down (Kevon Edmonds) 4:54

9. Joy and Pain (Avant) 7:04

10. I Wanna Thank You (Clark Sisters, Kiki Sheard, J. Moss)  4:38

NPR Interview With Ledisi

Ledisi

Website/Myspace/FaceBook/Twitter/Youtube

As you may have heard, that Ledisi has released her new album “Turn Me Loose“. Here’s my mini review. IT’S HOT. :) Doing her rounds to promote her album, she did an insightful interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition. Check it out.

Ledisi’s Album Cover for Upcoming “Turn Me Loose”

Ledisi

Website Myspace FaceBook Twitter Youtube

Good afternoon. Earlier in Twitterland, Ledisi posted a photo of her album cover, for her upcoming album “Turn Me Loose”.  It is set to be released August 18th, 2009.  You can preorder it from Amazon.  This will be her fifth album.  You can go to her site to check out some of the songs from the album.  Sounds like another great album.  You can check out her previous albums here.

New contests for new albums

Blacksummers' Night

Good afternoon.  Just a friendly reminder of two great albums coming our this summer, which is turning out to be pretty good for releases.  I just wish they would spread them out through the year, and the winter and spring won’t be so dry.  Anyway, we have Maxwell’s long awaited Blacksummers’ Night album arriving July 7th.  I’ve pre-ordered my copy of the Deluxe CD/DVD, and you can do so here @ Amazon.

Ledisi

Also we have Ledisi dropping her album “Turn Me Loose” on August 18th.  It will be her 5th album.  I can’t wait to hear this one.  I even picked up her Christmas album to get my fix.  It was great of course. When she came to Memphis last year, it was an unreal show. To me her show was one of the best Soul concerts I’ve ever seen.  The other great was Jill Scott, and 3rd is Frankie Beverly and Maze.  Last year was a great year for concerts in Memphis. Focus Eric. Here is a sample of her song Alone from the new album.

Alone

Now about the contest.  Since people enjoyed the last three contests, I’m doing once for each of these albums.  It’s very easy.

Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:

1.  Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.

2. To enter leave a comment telling us how you’ll enjoy and chill to either album. (only one album entry per comment) (You can enter for each contests)

3. The comment must be left before Monday, July 6th, 05:00 PM Central Daylight Time for Maxwell’s album

4. The comment must be left before Monday, August 17th, 05:00 PM Central Daylight Time for Ledisi’s album

5. You may enter only for each album once.

6. One winner will be selected for each album in a random drawing.

7. Prize: 1 CD album of the corresponding album contest shipped to your address.

8. Click Here for complete Official Rules.