Hands Of Time: Steady, steady groove on this one. It really is all about being in the pocket, and these cats definitely got it right. The opening vocal harmonies on this are so phat, I really do not understand why that sequence isn't sung again. Regardless, the vocal harmonies are great throughout, and it's nice to hear more complex, interesting harmonies in modern music. Groove breakdown/deconstruction section is cool - interesting to hear it so bare. Dig it.
Hollywood: This is my first somewhat questionable tune on the album, but I think that it's just going to take a few listens to get used to. I definitely dig the synth, out-there beat that's going on (a nice switch up from previous tunes), and the harmonies are kind of insane, but I think their insanity is part of the problem. The harmonies are so full and out there, but the beat is already so strange that together, it's tiny bit too strange. I actually dig it a lot, it's just all a little difficult to jump into - you gotta ease.
White Turns To Gray: Damn, is this one sexy song. My first note just says "ugh." Yes, precisely that. That is much thanks to the bass holding it the fuck down. The first vocal line gives me a stank face. Scratch that, this whole song is giving me stank face. I almost don't want to give anything away. Listen to it.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Songs of The Day
Make Me Over: This is one solid groove. Dig pretty much everything about it. And Bilal's vocals are just so smooth on top of everything - so suave. Love the minimal number of harmonies, but I love how crazy they are - so great. The short chords on the piano are super sweet. There's just a great weight to all the instrumentation, and I dig it hard. Great build to the end. Guitar riff/drum solo ending is awesome. Yup.
Get Out Of My Hair: The intro to this is interesting...pretty funny actually. I won't ruin it for you. This is another heavy groove, and I definitely dig it. Love that the guitar riff is the melody in the chorus - when they meet, it gives a great fullness to the melody. I love the layers in the vocals, they're very cool and add a cool dimension to the groove. The hook lyric "just get out my fro" - so funky. This is pretty stanky.
Lord Don't Let It: I think the A section to this tune is so beautiful. I love all of the instrumentation, and the vocal harmonies are on point. I do like the B section, but not with the A section. I like it by itself, but then when it returns to the A section, I remember that I liked that section so much more. On the fence about this one. The freak out section at the end of this is the shit though.
All For Love: This is a pretty solid soul groove. I dig the super up feel it's got - it's a nice swing. That's probably much thanks to the heaviness of the piano. Great vocals, but no surprise there. Just an overall solid tune that doesn't need much explanation.
Get Out Of My Hair: The intro to this is interesting...pretty funny actually. I won't ruin it for you. This is another heavy groove, and I definitely dig it. Love that the guitar riff is the melody in the chorus - when they meet, it gives a great fullness to the melody. I love the layers in the vocals, they're very cool and add a cool dimension to the groove. The hook lyric "just get out my fro" - so funky. This is pretty stanky.
Lord Don't Let It: I think the A section to this tune is so beautiful. I love all of the instrumentation, and the vocal harmonies are on point. I do like the B section, but not with the A section. I like it by itself, but then when it returns to the A section, I remember that I liked that section so much more. On the fence about this one. The freak out section at the end of this is the shit though.
All For Love: This is a pretty solid soul groove. I dig the super up feel it's got - it's a nice swing. That's probably much thanks to the heaviness of the piano. Great vocals, but no surprise there. Just an overall solid tune that doesn't need much explanation.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Songs of The Day
Something To Hold On To: This is a pretty solid tune to open up with. I'm sure there's better tracks on the album, but if this is the standard Bilal is trying to uphold, I'm down with it. The groove is cool, nice n solid. Dig the short horn parts, they add a nice little punch of something. I don't really like the strings, but I'm sure I would if they were real. You can hear that they're fake, and it bugs me. Bilal is definitely holding down the vocals. Love the harmonies going on in the hook and throughout the tune. Nice fade to the end. Like I said, solid track to start off on.
You're All I Need (Feels Like Heaven): I really dig this beat. It's very interesting and definitely not something that I feel like I've heard before, which is always refreshing this day in age. Love the echo and delays going on with the beat and in Bilal's voice. He's got a great distance in his voice that really works with the groove. I didn't initially like the piano that comes in, but I really dig it now. It gives the beat a nice happy feel to it with its short and simple chords. Love, love all of the vocal layering going on in the hook - very cool - they add a great fullness to it. Dig the piano foolery at the end. Very, very cool tune.
Gotsta Be Cool: The fact that the word "gotsta" is in the title made me love this tune before I even listened to it. I really dig the chopped blues rock feel this groove has got goin on. Very heavy, definitely holds it down. Love how minimal the guitar part is - the groove is all about the back beat. Ethereal feel in the bridge is pretty cool, and I dig the way the A section weaves into the end of it so seamlessly. Very cool groove, but it definitely trails on too long at the end - a solid 45-60 seconds could be cut off the end.
You're All I Need (Feels Like Heaven): I really dig this beat. It's very interesting and definitely not something that I feel like I've heard before, which is always refreshing this day in age. Love the echo and delays going on with the beat and in Bilal's voice. He's got a great distance in his voice that really works with the groove. I didn't initially like the piano that comes in, but I really dig it now. It gives the beat a nice happy feel to it with its short and simple chords. Love, love all of the vocal layering going on in the hook - very cool - they add a great fullness to it. Dig the piano foolery at the end. Very, very cool tune.
Gotsta Be Cool: The fact that the word "gotsta" is in the title made me love this tune before I even listened to it. I really dig the chopped blues rock feel this groove has got goin on. Very heavy, definitely holds it down. Love how minimal the guitar part is - the groove is all about the back beat. Ethereal feel in the bridge is pretty cool, and I dig the way the A section weaves into the end of it so seamlessly. Very cool groove, but it definitely trails on too long at the end - a solid 45-60 seconds could be cut off the end.
Album Factoids
Love for Sale
Released: 2006 bootleg (was leaked online after being deemed "unmarketable" by Interscope)
Genre: Soul
Label: Interscope/Universal
Producers: Bilal, Nottz
mmmmm :)
Released: 2006 bootleg (was leaked online after being deemed "unmarketable" by Interscope)
Genre: Soul
Label: Interscope/Universal
Producers: Bilal, Nottz
mmmmm :)
Week 55: Bilal
Man, am I excited to get into this weeks album. Tuesday night, I went to go see my brother play, along with José James and Robert Glasper (talk about a killin bill) and during Glasper's set, he had special guest Bilal come and sing two tunes. Fucking killed it. I've heard Bilal's stuff here and there, but I've never taken a listen to one of his albums. After seeing him, and since I will be seeing him again at Berklee next week, I figure there is no better time than now. My brother recommended that I review this album, which was never released by the studio. Underground shit, I'm down with that.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Final Grade: A
I don't think I can find anything fundamentally wrong with this album. All of the grooves are on point, and there is a mixture of a lot of different feels. I wish that Roy had featured himself on the vibes a little more, but regardless, the grooves sound great and I'm feeling good the whole time. Such a great blend of different feels, I love that there was some synth incorporated to give a little futuristic vibe to a couple tracks. "Memory" may be my favorite, but it's hard to stay. Great album, highly recommend.
Songs of The Day
Vibrations: This is probably the most low key tune on the whole album, and I can get down with that. It's nice to finally hear the vibes in the forefront, given that that is Roy's main game. I like that the vibes and horns are paralleling one another, it gives the melody a nice weight. Diggin the female that comes in just for some "good vibration" vocal lines - sounds like she's just doin her own thing and havin a good time with it. Sweet vibes solo. Nothing crazy about this tune, but it's still a solid mellow groove, so I dig it.
Moving, Grooving: It would have been funny if this were a mellow tune, but obviously with this title it wasn't going to be. I'm all about this super up tempo groove. Yes, Roy, I would like to move and groove. Definitely some funky stuff goin on here. Horns are super tight on this, which is always a plus for groovin tunes. Percussion is great. Dig the male/female vocal lines. It sounds like everyone's jammin and having a good time, and I am right there with them. I think it fades out too fast, but that's about it for the criticism. To quote the tune, "I just feel like groovin!"
Baby You Give Me a Feeling: Mmmm, I can get down with this. Love the simplicity and space in this groove - so cool. I like that hits are slightly behind the beat - that's always a funky touch. Dig that the synth and bass are paralleled - it really holds the groove down. Are those strings or just a synth? I can't really tell. Whatever, they are a great minimal aspect that help a lot with the beat. There is no reason this groove should be as short as it is - I WANT MORE! Groovin way to end the album.
Moving, Grooving: It would have been funny if this were a mellow tune, but obviously with this title it wasn't going to be. I'm all about this super up tempo groove. Yes, Roy, I would like to move and groove. Definitely some funky stuff goin on here. Horns are super tight on this, which is always a plus for groovin tunes. Percussion is great. Dig the male/female vocal lines. It sounds like everyone's jammin and having a good time, and I am right there with them. I think it fades out too fast, but that's about it for the criticism. To quote the tune, "I just feel like groovin!"
Baby You Give Me a Feeling: Mmmm, I can get down with this. Love the simplicity and space in this groove - so cool. I like that hits are slightly behind the beat - that's always a funky touch. Dig that the synth and bass are paralleled - it really holds the groove down. Are those strings or just a synth? I can't really tell. Whatever, they are a great minimal aspect that help a lot with the beat. There is no reason this groove should be as short as it is - I WANT MORE! Groovin way to end the album.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)