The Number One Champion Sound

The proceeds from the success of Amy Winehouse along with those of Dreamgirls have financed a way back machine that has been used for more evil than good. Fake jazzy torch songs, big band swing, and Supremes like girl group pop. You know, as far as musical trends go, it's not that bad really. But like any trend, when you get down to the C, D, E level practitioners you get some heavy duty suck.

 

Let me draw your attention to two A levelers who, in quite different ways, take the way back machine for a spin. First is Grammy nominee (I think?) Estelle. The album, Shine, features some Jazz-ish vocals and some throw back 60's soul singing but it is backed by killer song writing and by Estelle who has the voice to pull it off without sounding like a desperate  wanna be (I'm looking at you Duffy). She mixes it up,quite nicely, as well with a good dose of hip-hop, with Kanye, and dance hall, with Kardinal Offshall. The album also contains too excellent duets, one with John Legend (whose golden voice combines with her golden voice to produce what I call super-double-gold) and one with Cee Lo (of Gnarls Barkely fame). If you need to add some solid r&b to your collection; here it is.

The next is Raphael Saadiq. You of course know him from Tony Toni Tone and, the excellent but underrated, Lucy Pearl. When I first heard about his newest album, The Way I See It, I must admit I winced a little. How many people praise Motown, talk about how they grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, list all the greats, only to unleash on the world the most viscous, chunky, deep brown shit? Well, why is this not some of that? First, Saadiq has hands down the best voice in r&b. At his best, when he sings a little high, he sounds a lot like my other favorite, Clarence Burke Jr. (Five Stairsteps). Second, Saadiq has the song writing chops to write a throw back song that doesn't simply ape, and pale next to, the original hits, as well as the musical chops, and sense, to pull it off in just the right way. It never sounds like someone reaching just a little too far, beyond what he can grasp. Third, it sounds friggin' great! I heard him say in an interview that he found an old Ludwig drum set that he thought sounded perfect for this kind of album. He bought it and then built a studio around it. Then he wrote and recorded the songs around what he had. And THAT my friend is how you make a record! When you listen, you can hear how everything is built around the fabulous drum sound and every instrument is tweaked right to the perfect sound without ever sounding fussed over. Production perfection. If you love music, buy this.