R&B/SOUL/URBAN MUSIC (Rating Scale 1-5)

Title:	"This Is Your Night"
Artist:	"AMBER"
Label:	Tommy Boy Music
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	Mary Ellen Gustafson
Rating:	3

Amber Cremers comes from a musical family-her father is an opera singer and her mother a piano teacher. The Dutch singer, whose music career as a dance artist took off while she resided in Germany for an extended period of time, now resides in the United States and is signed with Tommy Boy Records. Bio information on Amber is pretty scarce, but her album, "This Is Your Night," has been on the charts and a club favorite for several months now. Since I can't tell you much else about the artist, instead I'll tell you about the album.

The title track, "This Is Your Night," opens the album, and things move right along from there. This song definitely has a danceable beat, good vocals and nice use of keyboards. "Colour Of Love," the first single from the album, is available as "The Remixes" - Pop Mix and Radio Edit - and is a cut above the rest of the tracks on the album. Amber infuses more passion into her vocals on this number, and it's a good club song. Slowing down a bit on the love song "You Are The One," Amber's voice is what shines on this track, as it does on "One More Night."

A slightly Latin beat creeps in on "Push It To The Limit," another dance cut with unusual use of keyboards and synthesizers. "Hold My Body Tight" sounds very familiar, but I can't place if it's because I heard it on the radio, or if it's similar to a song by some other R&B artist. "Can You Feel The Love" is another track where passion breaks through into the vocals and isn't overwhelmed by the musc accompaniment, while "Losing Myself In Your Love" exhibits the range Amber has in her voice with some pretty impressive soprano effects opening the song. The last two tracks on the CD are House Mixes of "This Is Your Night" and "Colour Of Love."

Overall, this is a nice, predictable R&B/Dance album. Amber is a more than competent singer and her production is solid. I didn't find anything to get particularly excited about, but if you enjoy club music this one is pretty decent. I do think there are better dance mix albums out there, but "This Is Your Night" can hold it's own against the average, run-of-the-mill R&B/Dance albums available. However, you might want to give it a test listen before buying it.

Title:	"HIPNOSIS"
Artist:	"SHOOTYZ GROOVE"
Label:	Roadrunner Records
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	Mary Ellen Gustafson
Rating:	4

When hip-hop first arrived on the scene two decades ago from the parks and playgrounds of the Bronx, it was the MC's raw sense of honesty that shattered the fantasy of pop. No flash, no tricks, just undiluted msuic that came straight from the heart-ghetto style. "Shootyz Groove" tok their cue from the candid old school microphone marauders while dedication themselves to hip-hop with visceral guitars and funky rhythms. Their debut album, "Hipnosis," pays tribute to classic rap traditions while blazing new sonic ground.

The rise of "Shootyz Groove" happened completely by accident in the Belmont section of the Bronx in 1992. Returning from a stint in London with his parents, MC Sense hooked up with drummer Dose and guitarist Danny. Haning out and partying together at Sense's house eventually led them to start jamming, writing and experimenting with different styles. MC Season, from Manhattan, later joined them to add his rhyme technique to the mix. "We got together to jam, write a couple of songs and it was no big deal or nuthin'," says Sense. "We started doing music just to have some fun. The the next thing we knew we had some songs and before we knew it we decided to do a couple of gigs. We had to write more songs for our gigs and the next thing we knew we got a deal. It was bugged out how things started to happen and people started talking to us about making records."

The started off with an EP, "Respect," a no-holds-barred live recording taped in Queens. Using hip-hop as the bedrock of their sound, their interests in different musical styles gave them an edge and won them fans all over the world. Next came their full-length debut, "Jamming In Vicious Environments," and the held their own at gigs with everyone from "Boogie Down Productions" to "Slayer." (Now that's a RANGE!) After leaving their first label, "Shootyz Groove" maintained by touring constantly with like-minded bands. During this time they stuck to their creative guns and put togehter the songs that would eventually make up "Hipnosis."

"I'd say that "Hipnosis" is a really good representation of where we're at now as a band," says Sense. "It's more musical and much more mature. We're still raw, but as musicians we've learned how to use the studio more to our advantage. We don't preach to anyone and we're proud that we keep it like that. There's no tricks or gimmicks - it's just pure emotion with what we do. There's five individuals in this band. It all comes together naturally. We're just trying to spread good vibes around the world. We can play anywhere with anyone. We're ready to rock everyone's head." And on that note I'll move on to the album itself.

Not being too familiar with the hip-hop genre, I'm advancing into unknown territory even daring to review this album. The first track on the album, "Regardless," is the band's "battle cry about being labeless and keeping it alive at a difficult time when people at labels didn't know what the Groove was about." Sense-MC, Season-MC, Donny-guitar, Paul Freaklove-bass and Dose-drums, tell the story of how they got started and kept going even when they weren't making any money. In this writer's opinion, the rhyming technique is excellent, you can understand the words (which you can't say about a lot of Rap) and the clever use of instruments at critical points in the cut make this one powerful number. The next track "Manhole" alternates singing and rap very effectively, along with the backup instrumentals. The chorus, "People, my people, fell into a deep hole, and I don't know what's gonna happen anymore, but I work hard to go." really works with the rap and instrumental solos in the song.

"Interzone" also has the rhyming workin' it. There's just the right beat, instrumentals and backup rhyme to make you take notice of this cut. "Fantasy #5" (band comment: "This is a personal little fantasy that is kinda funny . . .") talks about various Fantasies and how they really wouldn't work out. "Groovyland" sounds like a 60's psychedelic number with the "sitar sound" in the background, although it certainly doesn't have the lyrics to match. There are a lot of interesting instrumentals in this song, but I couldn't catch enough of the lyrics to put them here. "Diamond Mind'' sounds like a hard rock number but it deals with spiritual issues, while "8,000,000 Times" is "a song about your mind tripping out on you." The background instrumentals are just eerie enough to give that impression, and the chorus talks about "8,000,000 times I'm dying in my mind."

Since this album is a far cry from the kind of music I usually listen to, and I'm not a fan of rap music, I was surprised to find I really enjoyed this album. "Shootyz Groove" has indeed come up with a style that combines rhyming, rap, instrumentals and intelligent lyrics that make this a well put together package. Although I probably wouldn't buy this for myself, if you're into hip-hop at all, I highly recommend this first album from "Shootyz Groove" since they signed with Roadrunner Records.

Title:	"makin' moves . . . everyday"
Artist:	Tha Truth
Label:	Priority Records
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	Mary Ellen Gustafson
Rating:	5

"Tha Truth," a super-talented, but as yet unknown vocal trio from Houston (Teresa, Cindy and Jamie) are the first R&B act ever produced by Erick Sermon & T-Smoov. Erick, since the breakup of EPMD has been establishing himself as one of the country's hottest producers and talent scouts. So why is Erick Sermon, rap legend, working with "Tha Truth?" Sermon says "Because they can sing their asses off, they're real, and they're pure hip-hop. I give them the same tracks I would give a rapper." On his point that they can "sing their asses off," I'm in complete agreement with Mr. Sermon.

This trio began to come together several years ago when Cindy and Teresa met as teammates on the Texas Southern University girls basketball team, and they polished their act by entertaining their teammates on the road. They met Jamie, a communications major at Prairieview A&M who moonlighted as a cheerleader for the Houston Oilers, at an audition to replace members of a local singing group. The three of them hit it off immediately, wrote a song together the same night, and decided that "that was it." The three of them were plenty team enough.

After two years in Houston working day jobs and trying to get their singing career off the ground, they decided to take a shot and moved to L.A. in July of 1995. A month later they met the "Def Squad's" T-Smoov in an L.A. studio and suddenly things began to happen. When Tony (T-Smoov) met "Tha Truth" at that L.A. studio, he took them for a drive and asked if they could improvise a melody to a rhythm track he'd composed. Delighted when they came up with something on the spot, Tony thought, "This is what we've been lookin' for! We don't have any girl groups." Mr. Sermon was another story. "I wasn't looking for no girl groups," he says.

Despite Sermon's skepticism, T moved the girls into his home, bought studio equipment, recruited Faith Evans to write songs with the girls and help coordinate their vocals, and started churning out demos. All this activity had the desired effect on the boss, who checked out what T was doing and decided, "Oh, shit, he's really serious!" With T-Smoov as executive producer, "Tha Truth" benefits from tracks produced by Erick, raps by Redman and Keith Murray, and songs co-written by Faith, whose rank as a composer equates her to "The female Babyface." This has obviously been one hell of a collaboration, because this debut album from "The Truth" knocked my socks off!

As I've mentioned, I'm not really familiar with the R&B/Rap/Hip-Hop genre, but I know what I like, and I do like this album - a lot! As a general statement, the mixture of Rap with the "girl group" vocals, and the trade offs back and forth, make each song an interesting experience. These girls have got great voices, harmonies to die for, and boy are they smooth. The typical Hip-Hop beat runs throughout the album as well, but each song uses all these elements in a slightly different way to create the mood and effect to match the lyrics to each song.

The first track, "Makin' Moves," (featuring Keith Murray's rap) is a down and funky tune with great harmonies, voice effects, and trade offs with Keith in perfect timing. A great way to start an album. "Gotta Find . . .(A New Love)" has much more of an R&B feel to it, but with some interesting little effects added that catch your attention. This song is all "Tha Truth," with their powerful voices in all their glory. "I Wanna Know" has a different beat, more catchy background techniques, and is the kind of song you can't help movin' to.

The love song (done in duet with Kenny Greene) "What U Do 2 Me," is a sensual, slow number with an acoustic guitar bridge and sexy lyrics that again showcases the talent of these ladies. "Don't Rush" is another sexy number, this time using a harp sound and a male voice in the background for effect. This is one well put together and produced album. The professionalism is evident, even though this is a debut. My personal favorite from the whole album is "How We Roll," an up tempo number with a melody line that's unusual and grabs you at the same time. You can't sit still listening to this song.

The last two tracks on the album are "Red Lights/Bustin' Out (On Funk) featuring Erick Sermon, and "Everyday" a T-Smoov Remix. Again "Tha Truth" is back to trading smooth, harmonic, vocals with Rap in perfect time. While "Red Lights. . ." is more of a mellow song, "Everyday" picks up the pace for the last song. And one last note - no extra track after two minutes of silence like practically every CD that comes down the pike has these days (A personal pet peeve - either play the damn song or end the album. Dead air does not make me happy or anticipatory!)

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this album, and I recommend it for all the great little touches that have been added to what is already a really awesome "girl group." Coming from the Heavy Metal/Hard Rock/Punk/Indstrial/Indie fan and reviewer, this is saying a lot. Go buy "Tha Truth - Makin' Moves . . .Everyday."

Artist:	"ETTA JAMES"
Title:	"Love's Been Rough On Me"
Label:	Private Music/Windham Hill
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	Donn Jehs
Rating:	5

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Grammy winner and best selling R&B artist for over four decades, Etta has nothing to prove to the music world. Thank goodness for us, she feels the need to sing.

In this latest release Etta returns to Nashville to put her own personal imprint on some country blues classics. She is one of a handful of artists who can take a song and make it her own and this album is full of such songs. From the first to last cut this album is filled with well-crafted and heartfelt blues. The second cut "Cry Like a Rainy Day" showcases her ability to impart a soulful touch to a blues staple - the regret song. It is immediately followed by the title track, "Love's Been Tough On Me," which burns with the pain and suffering of a woman in the throes of a broken heart.

"Love It Or Leave It Alone" is a rocking tell it like it is demand for her man to do the 'right thing' and do it well, with some sly double-entendre lyrics put across with just the right sense of arrogance and suggestiveness. The same message is repeated in "Don't Touch Me" with a little more tenderness and soul.

In sharp contrast to her sexy demanding mien in the two cuts above she just as convincingly takes the John Berry classic ''If I Had Any Pride Left At All" and shows us a woman in the pain of a love so strong she can't give it up even if it means sacrificing her pride. Etta's own contribution to this album, "Done In The Dark," is a fitting conclusion to her album, as she writes and sings her own version of the I've been done wrong song . Even though she uses some worn cliches like "what goes around" and "reap what you sow" it is more than made up for by her excellent turn of phrase "what's done in the dark will come to the light" with it's double meaning.

The only question about this album is where it will chart the highest, R&B or Country. Country fans may not be as familiar with the name but I'm sure they will recognize the music and the wonderful talent expressing it. For James' fans, this will be a wonderful excursion into the world of country blues with Etta's personal cachet placed on each song.


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