My computer is mad slow..so I hope to get through this okay without having issues. I am going to do a live blog next week. Have been to three concerts in the last week that are worth one blog...anyway...check this music out. Got a little hip-hop, dance, and just a jumbo of style. Hope you dig and find something new that you will enjoy...
Album: Finding Forever, Common, Genre: Rap
I love this man. Well, not really. I just love how cute he is, but all that aside - I hate the cover of this album, but not the content that is inside. My first hearing it fully was on the way to Canada last weekend. I found myself calling out like four different songs as my favorite, but I decided on "Break My Heart". It has an infectious groove and the chorus is catchy, romantic and all that jazz. It is easily a song that most women would love. I also love how they twisted the Nina Simone song, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" on the song appropriately titled, "Misunderstood". D'Angelo turns up also. Another song to note is "Black Maybe". The Kayne guest collaboration on "Southside" is surprisingly nice. I can't stand his voice usually. I just dig the message. Common isn't the strongest lyricist out there, it is just that with everything combined, it sounds so damn good. Check out tracks here:
http://www.giantstep.net/releases/1522/_________________________________________________________
Artist: W. Ellington Felton, Genre: Ummm – let’s say hip-hopBut truthfully, it’s a little bit of everything. I know everyone says that when describing music, but in this case, it is true. I was introduced to this artist about 2 – 3 years ago, when his song “Beautifully Absurd” showed up on a Prince Paul album I was reviewing. I fell in love with the song, but didn’t hear much about the singer. Fast forward to this past weekend where this skinny, light skinned man came on stage to open for Fertile Ground …I still didn’t put 2 and 2 together until I got home and realized after looking online that it was the same dude. Entertaining, he is..and a bit different. He is very honest in his lyrics and his band is pretty tight. I suggest heading over and checking him out. Try the Kayne song, which is a bit of a call out on Mr.West’s hypocrisy. I thought it was dope. FYI - that picture is from the concert on Saturday:
www.myspace.com/wellingtonfelton _______________________________________________________
Song: O.Y.S. (Nite Train Mix) by Atlantic Conveyer, Genre: DowntempoThis is a song acquired through the GS trading group. I think it is just amazing, relaxing and calming, which I need right now. It is basically an instrumental with vocals thrown in here and there. The singing vocals are nice, the talking vocals I can do without, but I can overlook that because the song is so nice. It has a break in the middle with trumpet solo and when the beat comes back in, it’s chilling…and the groove never stops. The soundbites are a nice addition and I just overall dig it. I haven’t heard anything else by this group, so who knows how their other stuff is, maybe I’ll check it out. You can hear the song on their myspace..it’s the last one:
www.myspace.com/atlanticconveyer__________________________________________________________
Album: Introducing Tortured Soul by Tortured Soul, Genre: Dance
I can’t imagine how I’ve been doing this for a few weeks and haven’t mentioned this group. Maybe I have and don’t remember. I love this group. They are made up of 3 men, and I saw them open up for Los Amigos Invisibles and have been hooked ever since. What is mesmerizing about them is that they play all of their instruments, which is rare in dance music because usually the beats are generated via computer. The drummer is also the lead vocalist, and he is intense. I mean…it was frightening. I went up to a guy at the concert and asked him about TS and he said, “You will be hooked. I am”. I didn’t pay any attention and 8 months later, I agree. It is a bit soulful and although the beats can get redundant, the entire package is wrapped so nicely. They just came out with a remix with DJ Spinna called “Why”, but I suggest you checking out “Epic” (tempo changes are crazy), “How’s Your Life”, and my personal favorite, “I might do something wrong”. The high pitch voice might get to you at first, but give it a chance.
www.myspace.com/torturedsoulxo
