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Clink those stinky green
bottles together if you, like me, would dig the opportunity to
hear some unreleased Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, Jill Scott and
Erykah Badu tracks. This urban-oriented comp is underwritten by
the Heineken Foundation, featuring the best of nu-soul among the
handful of rising stars. Truth is, even tho’ I dig the organic
energy of Badu’s “Today (Earth Song),” the shifting
Brazilia sonics of Furtado’s “Legend,” and the soulful
shuffle of Gray’s “We’ve Got Enough,” I’m more
intrigued by the youngsters here, who seem to be retrieving the
creative apogee of late ‘70s, ghetto-blastin’ Stevie Wonder,
Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson.
Most striking is the utopian, flowering
funk of Glenn Lewis’ “Don’t You Forget It” that sounds
distinctly like a “Talking Book” outtake, complete with
serpentine synths and Wonderous multi-dubbed voices. Dogging at
close second is Don Scribbs’ suave “When Your Ups Are Downs”
that applies Gaye’s fist-pumpin’ exasperation at
a true love departed.
And though Jack Herrera’s “High Off You” draws more from
R. Kelly’s ouvre, it’s not hard to find a bit of Smokey’s
bittersweet resolve by tune’s end. A fine way to get the
evening off to a mellow move.
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| Artist |
Various |
| Title |
Red Star Sounds Vol.
1 |
| Label |
Epic |
| Reviewer |
Richard Proplesch |
| Rating |
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| win stuff |
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