January Music Reviews

January Music Reviews
Pride News Magazine
(January 18, 2006)

Goapele
Change It All
SonyBMG

It’s hard to knock an artist such as the talented and lovely Goapele (pronounced Gwa-pele). Hailing from the San Francisco Bay area, Goapele (the child of a Jewish mother and a South African father) is part of a new wave of neo-soul artists producing original music that is firmly distanced from the mainstream’s notion of what R&B should be. This is her second album (a follow up to 2004’s Even Closer), and it shows, in the improved production and vocal ability. “‘Change it all’, the concept, can be a little intimidating sometimes,” Goapele says on her website, “but we’re really just thinking about how to make steps, even if it’s little things, in our personal lives, or in our communities, that are, at some point, going to affect change for the positive.” Indeed the title track speaks to poverty, injustice and social crisis. Despite that inspiring sentiment — alas — this album isn’t perfect. Despite the fact she wrote/co-wrote most of the tracks, Goapele often comes across as too mellow and earnest for her own good. She’s at her best with funky numbers like, “Love Me Right”, “Find A Way”, and the snazzy duet, “You”, featuring fellow neo-soul star Dwele.

Anthony Hamilton
Ain’t Nobody Worrying
SonyBMG

Every time I’m ready to give up on today’s R&B/soul music and dust off some Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, along comes someone like Anthony Hamilton to fully reaffirm my faith in the genre. Hamilton could’ve gone the easy route and created some bubblegum soul, complete with guest appearances from the rappers du jour. To his credit, Hamilton doesn’t. What he does do, however, is create a solid soul (sans the “neo” tag) that wouldn’t look the least bit out of place next to Marvin Gaye or Bobby Womack. Drawing heavily from southern soul and gospel influences, Hamilton’s unique and easygoing drawl takes us back to a time where old school soul reached the mainstream consciousness. The title track, “Ain’t Nobody Worrying”, a “What’s Going On”-type joint, perfectly details the ills of today’s society. Lead single, “Can’t Let Go”, is hot-buttered soul, “Change Your World” is classic Motown, and “Pass Me Over” is contemporary gospel. He even skillfully throws in some reggae vibes, with “Everybody”. Even though this album was released late December, this could be an early candidate for best of 2006.

The Notorious B.I.G.
Duets: The Final Chapter
Bad Boy/Warner

Try as I might, it is difficult to see this posthumous project, by the legendary hip hop star, as anything more than a blatant cash grab. Despite using “long lost” material from the Brooklyn-born rapper Biggie Smalls, with new beats and rhymes by Slim Thug, Obie Trice, Nas and Mary J. Blige, Duets: The Final Chapter is perhaps a project that didn’t need to be done. Considering the sub-par production, the uninspired verses and the (obviously) dated and stale rhymes, by Smalls himself, I don’t see any merit in this album. Bad Boy’s Puff Daddy (or Diddy, or whatever he calls himself these days) even goes so far as to tactlessly downplay Biggie’s success, saying: “I took him from coal to diamond/I molded his mind into the most phenomenal artist of any and all time”. But knowing Diddy’s marketing sense, Biggie’s unyielding popularity, and pop culture’s love of deceased icons, I suspect this Final Chapter will likely be anything but.

Hustle & Flow (DVD)
Paramount Home Video

There was a lot of hype when Hustle & Flow opened in theatres last year. The thing is, the film actually lived up to it. It is more than a “hood” movie. Backed by a brilliant script, excellent cinematography and a superlative performance by one Terrence Dashon Howard, the gritty film is easily one of the best of 2005. Howard gives a complex and nuanced performance as DJay, a Memphis hustler/pimp not satisfied with his current lot in life and dreams of something more. Learning that hometown-rapper-turned-big-time-star Skinny Black (played by Ludacris) is coming back to Memphis for a visit, DJay sees the opportunity to make something of his life by putting together a demo tape and presenting it to Skinny. The widescreen DVD version of the film is an excellent transfer (especially considering the low budget film’s intentional gritty look), and boasts over two hours of bonus materials, including promo trailers, commentary by up-and-coming writer/director Craig Brewer, and the ubiquitous “making of” feature. With excellent performances by Anthony Anderson, Taraji P. Henson and Elise Neal, Hustle & Flow is definitely an interesting glimpse of human struggle, amidst economic uncertainty.

John Legend
Live at the House of Blues (DVD)
Sony

Uber-talented neo-soul singer/songwriter John Legend burst on the scene with last year’s underrated solo debut, Get Lifted. But prior to hooking up with producer Kanye West, and blowing up, he was a mainstay of the concert circuit, playing in small venues and jazz clubs, slowly building up his reputation for old-school soul. This DVD shows Legend in concert at Hollywood’s legendary House of Blues this past August. It catches the accomplished pianist at the peak of his game, featuring live versions of “Let’s Get Lifted”, Ordinary People” and “She Don’t Have To Know” – along with guest spots by Snoop Dogg and the aforementioned West. The DVD successfully captures Legend’s amazing stage energy and presence, and showcases why he’s someone to watch for in 2006.