Tag Archives: Funk / Soul

Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Electro-pop, bit of instrumentation, light soul funk

Moods

Mainstream panda bear

Thoughts

I like his brand of pop, he's got this lazy delivery that feels very much his own. It's got a reverb effect which is really the extent of the panda bear comparison. Just the right amount of house friendly electronics and chilled out pop band.

Confident with a clear vision in mind, the end result speaks for itself with good and varied pop songs; I can honestly say I like every track here with a few standouts early in the album:

'Swinging party' is a nice little sing along, he can cut a good pop-friendly house beat too,

Album opener 'SEOD' sets the mood appropriately.

Good fun vibes on 'anyone can fall in love'.  

Recommend for male alt-pop fans who like acts like twin shadow and how to dress well.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kindness-World-You-Need-A-Change-Of-Mind/release/3488609

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdeR3Mw1fhE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZxPsLjinP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jddGsBE_eIs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI73NFINsyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROAjl5JkunI

Spotify


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Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind

Description: Album Review of Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Blood Orange – Negro Swan

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Modern day emo synth pop with flourishes of hip hop

Moods

Comfortable with who you really are

Thoughts

Dev hynes feels fully exposed on negro swan and I'm not sure I like it. I love his songwriting (see my other reviews of his records) but the quiet style he portrays here lacks his great pop songwriting I've come to expect. I feel like a jerk writing this, he's getting more personal and yet I like it less? The production is great. His basic synth thing has just the right amount of modern dark hip hop production to it. I like the overall message (be yourself) and his inclusion of the recurring narrator works well. Just won't be the album of his that I come back to

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Negro-Swan/release/12647360

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVH_wxk9ZtE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSgsvJC9Nw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5uvKrDbmQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIlauccaH88

Spotify


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Blood Orange – Negro Swan

Description: Album Review of Blood Orange – Negro Swan


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

scorching sax driven r&b

Moods

Motown at its most explosive

Thoughts

All hits on this LP of raw sax driven r&b. Walker's scorching solos screech out the sax, as if he can barely contain his sax playing. The result is an explosive swinging energy on every track. The recording has an appealing grit that likely results from the studio. It sounds it's age but doesn't feel dated.

Songwriting is kind of monotone but with energy this good it's hard to imagine the history of popular music without Jr. Walker.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jr-Walker-And-The-All-Stars-Shotgun/release/6837125

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV27DtGUhnc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGHXD3WQ-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrDVZVBekcg

Spotify


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Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

Description: Album Review of Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Louis Cole – Time

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Quick bedroom synth jazz funk pop

Moods

the white thundercat of synths

Thoughts

He's got a distinct sound of synth poppy synth funk. It's quick like those little soulful flourishes a keys player might lay in but all the time. It's jazzy and technical, good, but songwriting can get tiring. I like the lyrical themes, digital insecurities around sex and relationships; timeless but modern.

I have fond memories of knower shows and wish Louis the best luck as a proficient backbone of brainfeeder.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Louis-Cole-Time/release/12543607

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Sjam1hnrA

Spotify


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Louis Cole – Time

Description: Album Review of Louis Cole – Time


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Modern pop rap

Moods

Gospel rap

Thoughts

I like tracks and parts but overall too churchy for me. Production is good and Chance has a good verse on one track but not enough.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/BJ-The-Chicago-Kid-In-My-Mind/release/8813748

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEh7dnVxV84

Spotify


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BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind

Description: Album Review of BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Snarky Puppy – Bring Us The Bright

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern fusion big band

Moods

Compositional perfection

Thoughts

They are almost like modern day big band featuring a big ensemble playing music in an orchestrated fashion. It's fusion in the sense that they draw from so many influences (rock, funk, jam bands, classical) while still staying true to jazz. My only fault is also the biggest compliment: their compositions are fantastic but can have the rehearsed stuffiness at times; missing the loose rawness of jazz I'm typically drawn to. They are so tight but I prefer their live studio albums as it adds that looseness.

As for individual tracks:

'Celebrity' is a great track, love the albums Dre g-funk from the keys line to the wompy bass effects.

Has a nice flow, 'strawman's' mellow beginning is a good example of this, drawing from jambands with quick guitar work and Herbie funky keys.

'34 klezma' begins with a yiddish rhythm and rich strings and piano, it's decadent in a classical sense.

Can't go wrong with a snarky puppy release

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Snarky-Puppy-Bring-Us-The-Bright/release/6447917

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGMYxIGIzmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pZdwTTZuOc

Spotify


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Snarky Puppy – Bring Us The Bright

Description: Album Review of Snarky Puppy – Bring Us The Bright


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

iZem – Hafa

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Danceable global chilled out pop

Moods

A refreshing sun shower

Thoughts

Evidently this is the project of an electro producer though it doesn't feel like an electro record. The lead-off track is a jazzy pop thing I enjoy, not sure what language she's singing but it fits with the basic sax to set the exotic tone. 'Quiver' works with a detached feeling like Drake's music or certain portishead. The spacey 'kulala' is another standout, a swelling keys line and ping pong balls swirl around a peaceful vocal line.

This sits right on the border of the worldly music craze that's taken over pop production but iZem is on the interesting side, exploring the sound with organic instrumentation. It's as if this is an afro focused record that's been influenced by Drake, not vice versa. Vocalists aren't very distinct but I enjoy them, at least the language is varied. He's at his best with vocalists, not always an easy thing to do as a producer.

Meditative, transporting, fresh and enjoyable; recommended.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/iZem-Hafa-/release/9230946

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZrmeKnof44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5v41wqHZYc

Spotify


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iZem – Hafa

Description: Album Review of iZem – Hafa


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Aretha Franklin – Spirit In The Dark

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

soul / r&b

Moods

Queen of soul sings southern gold

Thoughts

Aretha is such a focused and powerful singer that I've had trouble finding albums of hers I can sit and enjoy; recognizing her ability but not wanting to listen to a full LP of gospel or soul. Here she feels at her most personal, leaning heavily into R&B with a southern flair from the strong muscle shoals backing band. The result is wonderful and presents her in a very accessible format for rock fans. While she still sings with gospel flair at times (pullin ends with a particularly feverous higher calling) it's done so in a way that integrates smoothly with the r&b sound.

There's a few weaker tracks towards the end but the overall sound of this record, pairing the queen of soul with an almost raw blues band, makes this one not to miss.

For further reading around her personal history and troubles going into this are documented well in the Pitchfork review (https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/aretha-franklin-spirit-in-the-dark/).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Spirit-In-The-Dark/release/3020902

Listen!

Spotify


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Aretha Franklin – Spirit In The Dark

Description: Album Review of Aretha Franklin – Spirit In The Dark


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

synth pop with a fragility

Moods

Kissing the screen

Thoughts

I'm not sure why I decided to revisit this after a few years (twin peaks and a track appearing on playlist maybe reignited an interest?). I like it more and find it's aging well. Songwriting is generally straightforward but memorable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Nite-Jewel-Liquid-Cool/release/8642522

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uISk3sXmSeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGlPrQ7FwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6iyzO0nxE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXLGNsc6PUE

Spotify


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Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

Description: Album Review of Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

His emotional croon with dark production borrowing from industrial techno at times, ethereal at others.

Moods

A pained story explored through heavy electronic textures.

Thoughts

If you're not familiar with his style he takes his time, drawing things out in a dramatic fashion. It's effective here but on other releases I haven't had the patience to make it through a whole album. Apparently on the Anteroom he's returned to his earlier roots so maybe I need to go back further in his catalog.

The production is fantastic and totally my style with a range of influences that can be hard and dissonant. His songwriting builds towards enjoyable climaxes that fold into other builds. The whole thing flows together, telling some bizarre confessional love story. It feels like he's low in the overall mix providing an obscured feeling where his voice isn't the focal point as in most r&b.

Tracks are highly accessible with some great singles in body fat and non killing. I love the dark suicidal stream of consciousness on July 13th, which is laid out over postal service dntel like production. Follows in direct contrast to the standout nonkilling just before it.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/How-To-Dress-Well-The-Anteroom/release/12732184

Listen!

Spotify


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How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

Description: Album Review of How To Dress Well – The Anteroom


Rating: 3 out of 5