Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

 Sounds like?

Aretha in a slightly subdued vibe. Modern, gospel roots but doing r&b.

Moods

It's as if Aretha took a tiny hit off a joint and recorded a soul album

Thoughts

Great album part of Arethas awesome period in the early 70's. So many of my favorites are on this, I'm not sure why I've never listened to it end to end. On tracks like 'day dreaming' the harmonies just emerge out of the background like true spiritual gospel. Groovers like 'rock steady' provide a nice fun change of pace.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Young-Gifted-And-Black/release/1884391

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFidgjq9rIo

Spotify


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Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black

Description: Album Review of Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

 Sounds like?

Aretha in a slightly subdued vibe. Modern, gospel roots but doing r&b.

Moods

It's as if Aretha took a tiny hit off a joint and recorded a soul album

Thoughts

Great album part of Arethas awesome period in the early 70's. So many of my favorites are on this, I'm not sure why I've never listened to it end to end. On tracks like 'day dreaming' the harmonies just emerge out of the background like true spiritual gospel. Groovers like 'rock steady' provide a nice fun change of pace.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Young-Gifted-And-Black/release/1884391

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFidgjq9rIo

Spotify


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Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black

Description: Album Review of Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted And Black


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

robotic g-funk techno

Moods

daft punk lost in deep space

Thoughts

Looking past the cheesy voice and narrative stuff is a set of great electro productions. Maintains a g-funk flavor and techno thing at times.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Space-Dimension-Controller-Welcome-To-Mikrosector-50/release/4343221

Listen!

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Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

Description: Album Review of Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

groovy jazz funk rock (fusion?)

Moods

Crack open a can of that smooth 70s groove

Thoughts

polished and slick fusion that's pretty straightforward rock at times. Lots of brass and 70s funk licks. A little too slick and jazzy at times for me to call it a record I love (that might be one of my problems with fusion is that it sits in the middle) but I can dig this groove, that drummer is so in the pocket it's ridiculous.

Love some parts – keys solo on Georgia cottonfield. The chilled out funk on so far away, an album highlight.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Crusaders-1/release/2447492

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J84IiZ6WfGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OahE2GGaGq4

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXsPUB-Qf0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSp5gcFf9w

Spotify


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The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

Description: Album Review of The Crusaders – Crusaders 1


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Gorillaz – The Now Now

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?
Damon albarn’s brand of fun and funky synth pop

Thoughts
I’ll always like returning to this cartoon dream of the gorillaz but I feel the songwriting just hasn’t been on the same level it was on the earlier albums. There’s a few good tracks, snoop continues to work well as a Gorillaz guest, but not sure I’ll revisit this one much.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Gorillaz-The-Now-Now/release/12216605

Listen!

Youtube





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Gorillaz – The Now Now

Description: Album Review of Gorillaz – The Now Now


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Uptown Funk Empire – The Empire Strikes Back

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?

A modern update on classic funk, afrobeat with a disco vibe. Kinda like jamiroquai.

Thoughts
A little too polished and not raw enough, sounds good and like the modern touches but think it lacked something.

More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Uptown-Funk-Empire-The-Empire-Strikes-Back/release/1868589

Listen!
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Uptown Funk Empire – The Empire Strikes Back

Description: Album Review of Uptown Funk Empire – The Empire Strikes Back


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

The Motet – Totem

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?
Tight funky jam band

Thoughts
Good album overall but the second half opens up. The hooks get a little more memorable on jams like so high and danger. The singer is a great, super soulful.

Can totally hear krasnows production here, fans of soullive should check this out.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Motet-Totem/release/10589795

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Youtube

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The Motet – Totem

Description: Album Review of The Motet – Totem


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Sky Tony – Berri

⭐⭐

What’s it sound like?
Instrumental sunny LA funk-lite

Thoughts
On paper I should like this a lot: LA funk-lite revivalists playing sunny music (seriously sunny, I don’t know if you could even think like this living in NYC). The album never grabbed me though, just seemed unimaginative and generic with not a lot to get into.

I think they’d do really well with a singer and could see this being a hit with the right lyrics.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sky-Tony-Berri/release/10055021

Listen!

Youtube





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More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Sky-Tony-Berri/release/10055021

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube: