I haven't been excited about an album in a while. Usually if I am excited, once I hear the project, I toss it to the side or only listen to a few tracks. I think I tend to do this because a lot of music that is released now is so slow, drab and dull that I get bored easily.
On Monday, I saw a post from Centric TV that they were streaming SWV's new album, "I Missed Us." I thought at the time that the album would be another drab slow-jam project with a "neo-soul" feel. Well, THANKFULLY, it's not. Upon first listen, I thought it was a decent project. Well, I received my copy from Amazon yesterday when I got home and have listened to it constantly from the moment I got it.
This album is the much needed "breath of fresh air" that is needed in traditional r&b today. The songs remind you of the late 80s and early 90s (before hip-hop and trans-pop took over the airwaves). Do the songs sound dated? I would say no. The sound is definitely today, just with a 90s flair.
So far, my favorite tracks are "Co-Sign" (the lead single) and "Love Unconditionally." I like them because they are very reminiscent of a time gone by.
The only negative thing I can say about some of the album is that some of the lyrics tend to sound a tad juvenile for some damn-near 40 year olds to be singing. Though the songs don't have lyrics that sound like a child may be singing them, but some of them tend to be intended for 20 year olds vs 40 year olds.
That being said, I still think this is one of the best albums I've purchased so far this year. I hope this album performs well and encourages writers and producers to bring the tempo back to r&b radio.
Kelvin
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Friday, March 19, 2010
One's Authentic Cyber Self
Yesterday, a Facebook friend of mine posted some "political" humor that I found to be very inappropiate. It wasn't the fact that the post was political that bothered me, but it was wishing for another person's death. I'm not going to repost the comment, however, it did make me realize how social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. tend to bring out one's authentic self.
People post anything and everything on their social networking profiles. Their favorite songs, news stories, movies, etc. are all key ponents that make up most of our profiles in social-cyberspace. Social sites are really good if they are used for what they were originally designed for. I don't think the creator of Facebook ever meant for anyone to post about the wishing death on someone.
This particular person tends to take a stand on many issues and makes many political comments. I love getting into spirited debates with people over issues. This is something that I have loved for years. My problem lies when there is no equal balance. If there is no balance in anything, that's when things tend to get out of hand.
I guess people are definitely products of their environments? Growing up in East Texas, my view on life was very one-sided also. It wasn't until I got to college and met other people from different walks of life that I learned to accept people for who they were and not for what they have. You learn that things like welfare and socio-economics don't define a person. Some people just have a little bad luck and don't overcome the obstacles at the same time. Now, I'm not saying that is the case for ALL people, but for a lot of people that I've come in contact with it is.
When I started socializing on social networks like Facebook, one of the first things I learned was that people grow and mature in different ways. Connecting with people from the past is not always good. Some things/people are better left in your past life.
People post anything and everything on their social networking profiles. Their favorite songs, news stories, movies, etc. are all key ponents that make up most of our profiles in social-cyberspace. Social sites are really good if they are used for what they were originally designed for. I don't think the creator of Facebook ever meant for anyone to post about the wishing death on someone.
This particular person tends to take a stand on many issues and makes many political comments. I love getting into spirited debates with people over issues. This is something that I have loved for years. My problem lies when there is no equal balance. If there is no balance in anything, that's when things tend to get out of hand.
I guess people are definitely products of their environments? Growing up in East Texas, my view on life was very one-sided also. It wasn't until I got to college and met other people from different walks of life that I learned to accept people for who they were and not for what they have. You learn that things like welfare and socio-economics don't define a person. Some people just have a little bad luck and don't overcome the obstacles at the same time. Now, I'm not saying that is the case for ALL people, but for a lot of people that I've come in contact with it is.
When I started socializing on social networks like Facebook, one of the first things I learned was that people grow and mature in different ways. Connecting with people from the past is not always good. Some things/people are better left in your past life.
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Monday, February 1, 2010
Album of the week: Cameo - Knights of the Sound Table
Album Pick for this week:
Cameo
Knights of the Sound Table
1981 Chocolate City/Mercury Records
Tracklist:
1. Knights By Nights
2. Freaky Dancin'
3. I Never Knew
4. Use It Or Lose It
5. The Sound Table
6. Don't Be So Cool
7. I'll Always Stay
8. I Like It
This weekend, I took a quick roadtrip to Austin and decided to grab this album and revisit it. I've owned the cd for a while, but have only played it through a few times. I must admit that I have never been a big Cameo fan, but they have releasead some great work throughout their career. The first thing I noticed was that this album is very similar to "Cameosis" in style and sequencing. It seems that they stuck to a formula that was successful for them.
"Knights of the Sound Table" is Cameo's 7th album. It was released in 1981 and peaked at number 2 on the R&B/Soul album chart. It managed to go Gold, which was a great accomplishment in 1981 for an r&b group.
The album opens with a fanfare of "Knights By Knights" then kicks into a very syncopated funky groove. This really got my head to bobbing, but I quickly got bored with it. I can't quite put my finger on it. Then I remembered that it segues into "Freaky Dancin'". "Freaky Dancin'" is one of my favorite Cameo tracks. The song takes soul of James Brown and turns it into an 80s dance classic. It still gets the party going almost 30 years later. Besides, who doesn't like a song that says Dallas/Fort Worth loves freaky dancin'?
The one thing I immediately loved about this album was that they had 2 SOLID ballads. "I Never Knew" and "I'll Always Stay" are along the same vain as "Why Have I Lost You" or "Sparkle". "I Never Knew" would make a great wedding song.
Another track that really caught my ear was "The Sound Table". This song is mostly an instrumental, but it has an Earth Wind and Fire mood about it. It really got me going. It's almost as if this song was written by EWF and rejected.
I also fell in love with "Don't Be So Cool". I love how the female (I think it's Nona Hendrix) says she wears the latest fashion and hangs with the hippest people in town. We all know someone like that. I love the bass line to this song and the harmonies in this son. It is typical in Cameo's style, but they had some great harmonies. Larry and Tommy's vocals together are magical.
The great thing I love about this album is that this is when Cameo was a BAND and not the trio they became in the mid-80s. I know that the band concept died in the 80s, but listening to this album, really made me long for a great funk band today. I can only think of one that is still around (Mint Condition and they weren't around in 1980).
In all, I would say that this album is really solid, just not "complete" sounding. With it only being 8 tracks and most of them were under 5 minutes, it made me want more. I highly recommend it if you are into early 80s funk. My rating is 3 out of 4 stars.
Cameo
Knights of the Sound Table
1981 Chocolate City/Mercury Records
Tracklist:
1. Knights By Nights
2. Freaky Dancin'
3. I Never Knew
4. Use It Or Lose It
5. The Sound Table
6. Don't Be So Cool
7. I'll Always Stay
8. I Like It
This weekend, I took a quick roadtrip to Austin and decided to grab this album and revisit it. I've owned the cd for a while, but have only played it through a few times. I must admit that I have never been a big Cameo fan, but they have releasead some great work throughout their career. The first thing I noticed was that this album is very similar to "Cameosis" in style and sequencing. It seems that they stuck to a formula that was successful for them.
"Knights of the Sound Table" is Cameo's 7th album. It was released in 1981 and peaked at number 2 on the R&B/Soul album chart. It managed to go Gold, which was a great accomplishment in 1981 for an r&b group.
The album opens with a fanfare of "Knights By Knights" then kicks into a very syncopated funky groove. This really got my head to bobbing, but I quickly got bored with it. I can't quite put my finger on it. Then I remembered that it segues into "Freaky Dancin'". "Freaky Dancin'" is one of my favorite Cameo tracks. The song takes soul of James Brown and turns it into an 80s dance classic. It still gets the party going almost 30 years later. Besides, who doesn't like a song that says Dallas/Fort Worth loves freaky dancin'?
The one thing I immediately loved about this album was that they had 2 SOLID ballads. "I Never Knew" and "I'll Always Stay" are along the same vain as "Why Have I Lost You" or "Sparkle". "I Never Knew" would make a great wedding song.
Another track that really caught my ear was "The Sound Table". This song is mostly an instrumental, but it has an Earth Wind and Fire mood about it. It really got me going. It's almost as if this song was written by EWF and rejected.
I also fell in love with "Don't Be So Cool". I love how the female (I think it's Nona Hendrix) says she wears the latest fashion and hangs with the hippest people in town. We all know someone like that. I love the bass line to this song and the harmonies in this son. It is typical in Cameo's style, but they had some great harmonies. Larry and Tommy's vocals together are magical.
The great thing I love about this album is that this is when Cameo was a BAND and not the trio they became in the mid-80s. I know that the band concept died in the 80s, but listening to this album, really made me long for a great funk band today. I can only think of one that is still around (Mint Condition and they weren't around in 1980).
In all, I would say that this album is really solid, just not "complete" sounding. With it only being 8 tracks and most of them were under 5 minutes, it made me want more. I highly recommend it if you are into early 80s funk. My rating is 3 out of 4 stars.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
According to Dr Funkenberry, Prince's new single "Dance 4 Me" (the Icon Remix) is available on iTunes. Please b sure 2 check it out.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
"Don't B Tardy 4 The Party"
OK, I cannot get enough of this trash. A Facebook friend of mine said she loses brain cells every time she watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta. I couldn't agree with her more.
As bad as this show is, it is strangely entertaining. I really like the addition of Kandi, but she's not a housewife and her fiance has left her. She is very talented, though. Before she came on the show, I knew she was a talented songwriter and decent singer, but I didn't know she was a miracle worker. If you can make Kim sound decent singing, you can work miracles.
I really like the song. She captured Kim's persona perfectly.
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