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good soul music to buy, jazmine sullivan fearless review, jennifer hudson new album, joe new album review, john legend evolver review, list of album release dates, new albums, raphael saadiq new album, release dates for new r&b music, robin thicke something else review, upcoming soul album releases 2008
Since I won’t be able to write formal reviews for all of the albums on my most anticipated list, here are some thoughts on the ones I’ve listened to thus far.
September 9th
Eric Benet’s Love and Life: I may stand alone in this but this album just didn’t do it for me. Admittedly, I have only listened once. The only song that grabbed me is “You’re the Only One.” I feel that song like I felt his first two albums. Eventually, I’ll get around to taking another listen and maybe I’ll feel differently. For now, I have to give it a FAIL.
Kenny Lattimore’s Timeless: I wrote a full review for this one.
September 16
Raphael Saadiq’s The Way I See It: Love, love, love this album. Although there are one or two tracks that I skip, overall, it was everything I hoped it would be. I’m strongly considering seeing him on tour along with John Legend. Now that I’ve got the album in hand, it makes me want to see his stage show even more.
September 23
September 30
Jazmine Sullivan’s Fearless: Again, I may stand alone here but this album just didn’t live up to my expectations. I compare all the hype surrounding the release of Fearless to Chrisette Michele’s I Am last year. Chrissy delivered ten times over. Every track on her album was bananas. Jazmine…not so much. Her voice sounds phenomenal but I’m not thrilled with the material.Unlike everybody and their Momma’s Momma, I am not that enamored with “Bust Your Windows.” I expect more from her next time around. Her voice is too great to waste on bad music.
Too lazy to change the graphic. We know that Common’s Universal Mind Control will be released the day after never.
Joe, your tomfoolery does affect my purchase of your album. Hell, I couldn’t even be bothered to bootleg it. Harsh? My tolerance for grown ass men acting ignorant is at negative zero right now. Check with me later.
Ledisi’s It’s Christmas: I have the album but am waiting on the holiday season to give it a first spin. I have a closed door office at work so it will be on repeat loudly throughout December. I’m sure it will work as Scrooge-repellent.
Jennifer Hudson: I put her album on the back burner after hearing so many bad reviews. At this point, I can’t even listen because I couldn’t be objective. I don’t think I could say anything bad about it. I know, doesn’t make sense. Hey, no one ever said I was a real journalist or anything.
Robin Thicke’s Something Else: I loved this album. He didn’t depart much from his signature style but it worked for me. No skips at all.
October 18
Foreign Exchange’s Leave It All Behind: This album is a sure thing to make my list of top albums of 2008. Another album where every single track just blew me away. Often I put it on when I’m leaving work and want to literally leave it all behind. I already have my ticket in hand to see them when they come to DC in a few weeks. I’ll do a longer review then with videos, once I come down from my high that is.
October 21
Kindred’s The Arrival: It really hurts my heart to say this but after one listen, I wasn’t feeling the love. I attended a listening party where they appeared to promote the album a few weeks ago and you just gotta love them as a couple. I know that has nothing to do with the music. However, it’s not always easy for me to separate the two (post coming on that later). I’m hoping that a live performance will make the album grow on me.
October 28
I did a full review for this one too.
November 4
Q-Tip’s The Renaissance: Let’s just say there are many, many reasons November 4th can’t come fast enough!
The floor is open for comments.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 
I want Q-Tip and John Legend. I’ve not listened to Jennifer Hudson yet. I like this post….
Ugh. I have a problem with Jazmine Sullivan. I mean, I like the album and all, but it’s not exactly great. I feel like her label or whoever was like, “This is what we want you to sing about, this is how we want it to sound, so DO IT!” Her older material was 10x better.
Don’t tell me I got to get Bonnita Botrell (sp?) up in here! Can’t nobody say nothin’ bad about Eric Benet! How could you give that a FAIL?! Take me higher, Lord! That’s funny because I’d be inclined to give that review to Robin Thicke’s CD. It just didn’t grab my hair and make me its woman. I would love to immerse myself into it some more, but there’s so much else I’d rather listen to…Like that new Jon B. Don’t sleep on the O.G. white boy.
OK, enough of my ramblings for one comment. LOL
@Sabrina – Good choices 🙂 And glad you like.
@Black Maybe – Agreed! I wanted to fall in love with it but I just can’t. I don’t give it a FAIL but I’m underwhelmed. Then I hear that she is not bringing it live? I hope I have a different opinion.
@Butta – Is that your side eye in the avatar?! LOL! Do not sic those EB Fan ladies on me either! You’re one of the few people that could get me to rethink my position so after another listen, if I feel differently, I will come back and update. Right now, the flunk has to remain. Maybe the live vids will help too.
That’s alright. Me and Monnie will just spread the Thickness between us 🙂
I was underwhelmed by Sexy…or whatever his first single is. But I love me some Jon B so I am checking for him.
And you can ramble any time. Your presence is always welcome!
“Joe, your tomfoolery does affect my purchase of your album. Hell, I couldn’t even be bothered to bootleg it. Harsh? My tolerance for grown ass men acting ignorant is at negative zero right now. Check with me later.”
If I was gay and unmarried and you were gay and unattached I’d ask you to marry me for that statement. You know…IF we could be married. You know…legalities and whatnot. ROFL!
THE THICKNESS IS WHAT IT IS WHAT IT IS WHAT IT IS!
Going to iTunes RIGHT NOW to check out Foreign Exchange!
Hi,
Great post. There are a couple of these I may have to cop. I just listened through Kindred’s album last night and it seems pretty solid. This assumes you don’t compare every album to the first one, which is what I try not to do. Do give it another chance. 🙂
I agree 100% with your opinion of the FE album, I love it that much it’s preventing me from listening to a major music backlog I have at the moment! Raphael Saadiq is also in heavy rotation.
Im actually likin Jazmine’s album alot, especially Call Me Guilty and My Foolish Heart. RT is a different matter, I just cant seem to connect with his music!
Ledisi’s Xmas album is great (only had 1 listen) as is Rahsaan Pattersons’ Ultimate Gift … roll on December so I don’t look such a fool blastin it out my car stereo lol.
First of all I have to say I LOVE-LOVE your site. Keeps me updated on the good stuff. I have to agree with all of your reviews except Jennifer Hudson, I heard a lot of bad reviews about it but when I listened to it at the hair salon *like 3 times in a row matter of fact* it’s grown on me and it’s a solid album. Eric Benet’s cd was kinda blah…other than the hit “You’re the only one I want”, it was just okay. I too was so hurt about the new Kindred cd, it just wasn’t strong enough, I mean they have wonderful voices but I think the production and quality of music was substandard. That Foreign Exchange CD is the BIZNESS!!! PURE HEAVEN…I listen to it a least twice a day. I think that should be a staple in all soul lovers library.
@CreoleinDC Bwahaha! I figured you would concur re: Joe’s foolishness. And even if he did subsequently register, he had to be shamed into it? Like someone else said, well since you assume that O has it in the bag and doesn’t need your vote, I’ll assume that other people will buy your album. Ugh! I hope you enjoy that FE album. It seems to be pretty much unanimous amongst the cool kids that it’s a winner.
@roddykat Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I will definitely give Kindred another listen because I want to love it. I do admit that at the listening party I was feeling the songs a bit – which would have been my 2nd listen that day. So we’ll see. I won’t give it a FAIL just yet.
@souluk I should make it clear to everyone that I don’t hate Jazmine’s album. There are actually quite a few cuts that are nice. Foolish Heart and Fear being two I think of immediately. However, I was just expecting it to blow me away with all the hype surrounding it. I guess I bought into it. And I suppose I shouldn’t expect to feel the same way I felt about CM’s album. But the hype is just so similar. Ah well.
I may end up breaking down and starting to listen to RP and Led’s album’s next month. For one that says he doesn’t really get down with Christmas music, you are really feeling it!
@Ikandi – Awww I really appreciate that. Thanks so much for commenting. I just have to point out that I have no opinion on JHud’s album because I haven’t listened. All the “cool kids” have hated it though. I will reserve opinion for the moment. I wonder though were you “programmed” after hearing it three times in a row? LOL!
I’m glad someone is feeling me on EB and Kindred’s albums. I want to love them but they just didn’t capture me on first listen. But I shall return to them.
Foreign Exchange….sigh….it should be a staple. Connected too. Zo and Tigallo Love the 80s too.
Hi Vivrant! I come to you by way of Soulbounce. I love your blog. Thanks for introducing so much good music!
Out of all of these records I’ve only purchased Jazmine Sullivan. The hype surrounding “Need You Bad” and “Bust Your Windows” I agree was TOO MUCH. However, with that said, I absolutely love ‘Bust Your Windows’ and find that I want to skip over “Need You Bad” simply because for me it’s been so overplayed by radio. I think her album is overall impressive and this is coming from someone who is fain to purchase new ‘soul’ music, but who’d rather dig back in the crates and keep with the old. I ever seldom buy music at all…but this one is an absolute gem. 🙂 LOL I know we just have a difference of a opinion and I really respect your opinion; maybe it’s just ‘coz you knew of her longer? knew her music better than I, a first time listener? I think the debut covers a lot of good subject matter and on some songs, I can agree that they could be ‘more’ in terms of lyrics, etc. Her voice, amazing…and dare I say she reminds me of a Phyllis Hyman? Is that too extreme a comparison? LOL
JHud’s album is another I want to ‘own’, but don’t want to purchase. I have a friend who might be getting me a copy of it soon 🙂
John Legend…YES, YES, YES.
Robin Thicke…YES, YES, YES.
I have to purchase their music as they are….heck, they’re collector’s items for me LOL
Ledisi I have yet to jump on her boat, but trust and believe she’s on the list. 🙂 I feel just so wrong as a fan of soul/r&b for not owning her stuff along with countless other songsters who are laying waste to the genre.
Chrisette Michele…I totally missed the boat, but I heard “I Love You” on the radio and nearly crashed my car, so yes, this sista is most definitely ‘high’ on the list. As soon as I get some extra ends, I will be purchasing. And no, LOL, I don’t have ITunes…not really big into downloading; I’m more of a collector, more of a ‘must-have-original-in-my-hand” kind of girl.
I’ve read lots about Foreign Exchange so yeah, they’re on the list too. My list is pretty f*cking long….*sigh*…maybe for Christmas I can cut it down some 😉 Thanks again!
These are all some hot albums. They will be in my collection.
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