Thursday 28 March 2013

Q PARKER - THE MANUAL

Q PARKER (of 112)
THE MANUAL
2012

Q doing a solo. You'd think there would've been some
kind of promotion or commotion happening right?
Or maybe I completely missed out, but when I saw
this album was released last November, i was totally
surprised...and excited! Still need to bump a few more
times, but there are some really nice cuts on here!
Full Review Coming Soon!

Friday 15 March 2013

BRIAN MCKNIGHT - MORE THAN WORDS

BRIAN MCKNIGHT
MORE THAN WORDS
2013

Mr McKnight has done it again! Despite the
album starting off real up-tempo and the 
one or two lesser tracks, this is classic RnB
from one of the greats! Bumped a few
times, and so far i'm impressed!

1. Don't Stop
Keepin it old school funky here which I'm
not sure i wanna hear all the time, but McKnight's
smooth vocals make it easy and you have to admit
the production is top notch. 3.5/5
2. LetSomebodyLuvU
A little more soulful with this uptempo track and
thanks to the great vocal production this is
a really great and recommended track. 5/5
3. 4th Of July
The 80's vibe over this one throws me off a little.
It comes off too cheezy with the chosen piano.
However, McKnight pulls off the vocals. 3.5/5
4. Sweeter
Solid track that doesn't really standout too much.
I think the melodies in the verses ar lacking.
The hook makes up for that a little
Edit: those melodies have grown on me big time,
and i absolutely love this now! 5/5
5. She Doesn't Know
Again a completely different vibe. Kinda playful
pop with a stevie wonder twist. It's pretty fly
thanks to Brian's melodies and lyrics. 3.5/5
6. More Than Words
Now we're getting somewhere. The title track is
one of my favourites and vintage McKnight. 5/5
7. Nothing But A Thang
Continuing on with more smoothness and perfect
vocals over a tightly produced track. Love it! 5/5
8. LiveWithoutYou
Another classic McKnight track that reminds me of
his best work from previous albums. The hook
could have hold a bigger oomph though. Still. 5/5
9. Made For Love
This is too much for me. McKnight pulls it off in a
big way and i know one of my all-time favourites,
Luther Vandross, had plenty of these 80's uptempo
tracks, but hey..it was the 80's. I'm not sure about today.
Still, it has something. Just not for me.
Edit: it has grown on me and as far as these tracks
go really, it is done perfectly i must say! 4.25/5
10. Get U 2 Stay
Now if we're talking about those kinda tracks, this is
the way to do it. This is so damn smooth for uptempo.
Close your eyes and get lost in the melody.
"i'm on fire - and i hope that you feel the same"
When he sings this line it puts the biggest smile on my face.
Simply fantastic and nostalgic! 5/5
11. Slow
Not a fan of the drums here or the choice of instruments.
Doesn't keep you engaged one bit. A shame, a better beat
would've done the melodies more justice. 2.5/5
12. Another
Again, wrong choice of drums entirely! Just wrong.
Make this a Joe/R.Kelly type bass and it would've
been great, but that kick is so annoying
But despite that it is growing on me. 4/5
13. Trying Not To Fall Asleep
Now this is how you do slow songs. Grand in every way! 5/5
14. IDidntMeanToTurnYouOut ft. Brian McKnight Jr.
Frickin awesome track! Always loved Brian incorporating
jazz into certain tracks, but this is ridiculous! Awesome!
And wow, Jr. got them pipes too! Favourite track. 5/5
15. The Front, The Back, The Side
Great way to end the album with smooth vocals. 
Drum-wise again, i have some issues, but really it
doesn't matter with this one. It's so smooth. 5/5

Whatever i thought about the album initially, forget it!

This album is growing on me big time and my initial 8.9/10
is not doing it justice! I'm lovin it man!
Overall Score: 9.5/10

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - THE 20-20 EXPERIENCE

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE
2013

Seven whole years we had to wait for JT's follow-up
(not counting Suite 806 of course), and finally the wait
is over, and lemme tell you: it was so damn worth it!
I've been bumping non-stop every chance i can get to take it 
all in, and every time another track catches my interest
(either all over again or for the first time) and that's saying 
it all. What JT and Timbaland have done here is musically
top notch and whether or not you're a fan (and i'm a big one),
you have to acknowledge the shear genius of these two.
Like with the previous album, the extended take on 
tracks and switcheroo in production and having
them push 7-8 minutes is simply brilliant.
Timbaland lost his touch years ago when he tried
to expand into different genres and really just went pop,
but this man is to music what Michelangelo is to painting.
Like R.Kelly tries to reinvent different types of music
within his own genre, so does Timbo, and this time
he succeeded big time. With the help of JT.
Like is said before, these two togehter is genius and
i believe they push each other to become even better.
I still prefer the old timbo of course (from RnB with Ginuwine,
to Dirty South with Petey Pablo & Bubba Sparxxx)
but listen closely and deeply to these productions here
and you can't help but admire the shit out of him!
And the Timbo touches are still there of course
(the indian sample on track 3, the drums on Mirrors
and his perfect feature on Dress On).
A perfect example showcasing his brilliance comes
halfway "Don't Hold The Wall" when things get switched
up a million times, with superb little instrumental
add-ons. Pretty much the whole album has things happening
that you really can't dismiss or judge this album with just
one or two listens. Just be amazed and take your time!
Now as far as Justin goes. Seriously dude can do no wrong
in my book and still has one of the coolest vocal styles.
Whatever Timbo did on the production, JT pulled it all off
equally on the vocal production. Again, brilliant.
Every single damn track! Whether uptempo tracks
(Let The Groove Get In) to complete mellowed out
(Blue Ocean Floor) to his distinct Pop/RnB groove
(Mirrors), it is all flawless and sounds superb.
The only track i wasn't feeling at first was
Let The Groove Get In, but like the title says,
you have to let it get in. Once you do, it's another
amazing track and add that other multiple discoveries
along the way (try and listen 10+ times) and you
have yourself a perfect and flawless album.
Though front to back it's one hell of a ride without 
skipping a beat, my personal favourites are:
"Strawberry Bubblegum", "Mirrors" & "Dress On".
Album of the year, hands down, any genre!
1. Pusher Lover Girl 5/5
2. Suit & Tie ft. Jay-Z 5/5
3. Don't Hold The Wall 5/5
4. Strawberry Bubblegum 5/5
5. Tunnel Vision 5/5
6. Spaceship Coupe 5/5
7. That Girl 5/5
8. Let The Groove Get In 5/5
9. Mirrors 5/5
10. Blue Ocean Floor 5/5
11. Dress On ft. Timbaland 5/5
12. Body Count 5/5
Overal Score: 10/10

TQ - LEGENDARY


TQ

LEGENDARY

2013

When TQ first came out with Westside, it was one of
those grand moments. His debut album was so damn
unique and, in my eyes, made TQ...well, legendary!
He followed up with the equally great album 
"The Second Coming". After that he went quiet a little
bit and released a few under the radar albs like
"Listen", "Gemini", "Paradise" & "Kind Of Blue".
Still great but nothing like his first two really due
to production that didn't allow TQ to shine properly.
This time around "Legendary" falls inbetween
with the first half being truly great, and the second half
suffering from less than stellar (and too much pop 
current radio type material) production. Still...
Those first couple tracks like "No Better Love",
the great collabo with the awesome Mystikal on
"Bad Man", "California Dreamin", "In My Eyes",
the very nice title track "Legendary", "I Wish"
(though heading in pop direction), & "The Pusher".
After track 7 it's getting a little synthy and the
melodies are starting to lack and don't hold much
punch, sans the few bright spots here and there.
"Star" for example is such a guilty pleasure! 
In the end it is great to see TQ come out with another
 album and especially kill it the first half. But it 
should've been more RnB and less pop towards the end. 
The Mystikal feature alone gets all the props though!
Overall Score: 7.5/10

AVANT - FACE THE MUSIC

AVANT 
FACE THE MUSIC
2013

Avant has always been on the down-low and not
many people would mention this guy when naming
the RnB greats, but seriously this dude has the voice.
Never disappoints and i'm glad to say that he
hasn't sold out like others (*cough Usher). Not everything
on this album is that great though (the rap on "80 in a 30"
is abysmal, as is the hook for "NO) but when Avant hits his stride 
on top notch productions (which half of the album is lacking) 
it's all you can ask for these days. A step in the right direction
though not there yet, and nowhere near the good old days
(or Charlie Wilson's latest), but it's nice for real.
Best track of the album: "More"
Overall Score: 8/10

CHARLIE WILSON - LOVE CHARLIE

CHARLIE WILSON
LOVE CHARLIE
2013

And then Charlie Wilson comes around again to
prove there is still hope for the new year.
This is classic Charlie and RnB like it is still 1998.
The collabo track with Keith Sweat is golden and the rest
of the album delivers on all fronts. 
Tracks like "Show You", "A Million Ways To Love You",
the excellent "My Love Is All I Have" are exactly what i'm talking 
about that's missing and want from all the other RnB cats!
But thank God for Mr. Wilson! (and dude is over 60!!)
Overall Score: 9.2/10