soulsearching

SONY BMG - URBAN & HIP HOP

There may be a bit of a divergence from our main theme as we delve into the Urban and Hip Hop releases from Sony BMG.

So-Urban Click here for So-Urban's own site - So-Urban So Urban Home page

Scroll down for reviews of the following:-

sonybmg

Charlie Last Name Wilson

Babyface – Grown and Sexy

Soul Searching II

Limited Edition Vinyl Sampler Vol II

Kindred the Family Soul- In this Life Together

Mary Mary

Soul Searching I

http://www.soul-searching.co.uk/

Lyfe 268-192

Lina – the Inner Beauty Movement

Syleena Johnson – Chapter 3: The Flesh

Raheem DeVaughn – The Love Experience

Limited Edition Vinyl Sampler Vol II

Contains the best of the series II 5 album series, a great selection of the more upbeat cuts. Syleena Johnson’s excellent Makes Me Say, the killer cut from the album and streets ahead of the stepper which follows the Free soundalike Special Occasion. The final Syleena cut is the fine ballad with Anthony Hamilton, More.

The Charlie Wilson tracks are Floatin featuring Will I Am and Justin Timberlake and You got nerve with Snoop, both fine Rn’b tunes.

Side C is Anthony Hamilton Sista Big Bone, Can’t let go and Everybody. Sista is a mellow neo styled outing. Can’t let go is a stylish slow ballad, Everybody is pretty average reggae.

Side C contains two quality Kindred tracks Do You remember and the exceptional harmonic Where would I be. Mary Mary concludes with the funky (Want Ads) Heaven and the House track The Real Party.

Charlie Last Name Wilson

I like this album and its great to see an album from Charlie getting the plaudits it deserves. Merging quality old school vocals with new school attitudes. I reserve some judgement due to my attitude towards Steppers tunes (see Syleena review below)

Magic is a prety good dancer and Charlie Last Name Wilson is a warm introduction to the man. So Hot features Twista and is pretty formulaic as with much of these things. Let's Chill for me is much better, a teddy Riley and Keith Sweat song, strong vocals and a better song than the title would suggest.

Floatin' enlists the assistance of Justin Timberlake and Will.i.am, is punchy upbeat R’n’B, that and You Got Nerve with Snoop Dogg are both alright. But its tracks like Asking Questions that quality wise, maybe not commercial wise, are the best.

Thru It All is co written by friend of the site Eric Roberson and features backgrounds by Glenn lewis, and is a fine ballad. My Guarantee exemplifies the mixture of collaborations, writers and production teams this time Kay Gee and then a self production Cry No More. Cry no more is in fact the best song on the album. Here I Am is probably the best of the R Kelly tracks.

1. Magic
2. Charlie Last Name Wilson
3. So Hot - Wilson, Charlie & Twista
4. Let's Chill
5. No Words
6. Floatin' - Wilson, Charlie & Justin Timberlake/Will.i.am
7. You Got Nerve - Wilson, Charlie & Snoop Dogg
8. Asking Questions
9. What If I'm The One
10. Thru It All
11. My Guarantee
12. Cry No More
13. After Party
14. Here I Am

Kindred the Family Soul- In this Life Together

A stunning album and this is what it makes it all worthwhile, retaining an Independent edge and personal direction, and ‘feel’ for Soul, yet unadulterated by the power of the major label. Not often do such packages shine through all the (predominantly) marketing hype and control.

Powerfully and soulfully delivered , beats and rhymes, lyrical content, feeling, depth and (I’ll wager) longevity. I just hope it sells! Thru Love is a moody joining of souls. Several top tracksa and Where Would I Be (The Question) is one of them, a hypnotic jazzy love ballad and old skool monologue.

Woman First and Let It All Go are also first class cuts, superbly produced and different nuances on each track. Sneak A Freak, complete with punchy horns is more upbeat and funky. Message To Marvin is exactly that with props to the great one, but an updated social commentary –or is it updated or are the struggles still the same.

As Of Yet is the track that the UK dancefloors have fallen for, tailor made for that idiom. Struggle No More features India Arie. Who's Gonna Comfort You woth its anthemic qualities is a particular favourite.

My Time is a joyous vision of positivity, wonderful stuff.

A wonderful album that exudes togetherness.

1. It's Kindred
2. Thru Love
3. Turn It Up - Kindred The Family Soul & Archie Eversoul
4. Do You Remember
5. Where Would I Be (The Question)
6. Woman First
7. Let It All Go
8. Sneak A Freak
9. Message To Marvin - Kindred The Family Soul & Last Donna
10. Quote
11. As Of Yet
12. Aja's Mom
13. Struggle No More - Kindred The Family Soul & India Arie
14. Who's Gonna Comfort You
15. My Time
16. In This Life Together
17. Husband My Daddy
18. Bed Time Story

Mary Mary

A fine addition to this collection, the gospel driven Mary Mary, though overall the album is maybe not as strong as the others. Believer is the track, powerful and catchy on the boundaries of soul, gospel and R’n’B and some great vocals.

Biggest Greatest Thing is a pretty dreadful jazzy show tune. Heaven gets back on track, Honey Cone’s want Ads for those who follow the samples. Keep going from ridiculous to sublime and back again Real Party (Trevon's Birthday) is sort of latin Disco House but pretty substandard.

Yesterday is a schmaltzy jazz piano string laden ballad which I’m not too sure about but the vocals are excellent. Love You That Much is probably my personal favourite. And I features Kirk Franklin who I believe they are shortly to do a big tour with.
11. Speak To Me

Several good tracks but could have been a bit stronger I feel.

1. Believer
2. Biggest Greatest Thing
3. Heaven
4. Real Party (Trevon's Birthday)
5. Save Me - Mary Mary & Warryn 'Baby Dubb' Campbell
6. Yesterday
7. What Is This
8. Love You That Much
9. Stand Still
10. And I - Mary Mary & Kirk Franklin
11. Speak To Me

Syleena Johnson – Chapter 3: The Flesh

Great album because I love Syleena’s voice, the progress made and how she helps illustrate that there is still soul in this R’n’B world. I do find some of the Pied Piper R Kelly mixes and productions, particularly tiresome. For example Hypnotic is so formulaic it completely denigrates this art form. People who know me will know what I think of the dreadful stepping phenomenon but Special Occasion is as good as that ub genre gets, its more a case of a stepping vibe wrapped around a great vocal whereas most steppers are weak vocals and especially weak lyrics on top of a steppers rhythm – still contains a dreadful back forth side to side dip interlude………..please remix it out!

That said the soulful strains in the voice on tracks like He makes Me say is individual, penetrating Soul Music. More is a fine duet with Anthony Hamilton. Bull's Eye (Suddenly) is a much better collaboration into the realms of hip hop with Common, complete with the Blue Magic sample. Another old skool group sample on Classic Love Song in th eduet with Jermaine Dupri and that is the Manhatans.

Phone Sex is an orgasmic tale of just that, A run of ballads which for me Still open and leave me alone are the best. Apartment For Rent and Only aa woman are much better r’n’b tracks and far more worthy than the formulaic nonsense.

Whilst its great to see soulful product packaged recognised and sold in this way, and don’t get me wrong I do like this album, but I find there is less originality in Major driven products……..but then maybe I’m biased!

1. Flesh
2. Hypnotic - Johnson, Syleena & R. Kelly/Fabolous
3. He Makes Me Say
4. Special Occasion
5. More - Johnson, Syleena & Anthony Hamilton
6. Bull's Eye (Suddenly) - Johnson, Syleena & Common
7. Classic Love Song - Johnson, Syleena & Jermaine Dupri
8. Phone Sex - Johnson, Syleena & Twista
9. Slowly
10. Time
11. Still Open
12. Another Relationship
13. Leave Me Alone
14. Apartment For Rent
15. Only A Woman
16. Flesh

Soul Searching http://www.soul-searching.co.uk/

The Soul Searching Series will kick off with Vivian Green – Vivian, Lyfe Jennings – Lyfe 268-192, Raheem DeVaughn – The Love Experience, Babyface – Grown & Sexy, Line – The Inner Beauty Movement. I am truly excited that a major has at long last decided to put a push behind this kind of project as I am sure it is the direction to go. Lot of these tracks have been on my playlists for a while especially Lyfe Jennings which I have been playing since its US release, so great to see that particularly getting a long overdue release.

Tracks on the sampler are 3 from each artist plus 3 remixes.

All three Vivian tracks are quality Gotta go gotta leave, Sweet thing and sweet Memory. The Poker Face Remix of I like it though is only OK.

Lyfe’s laid back storytelling tones feature on Must be nice, Stick Up Kidd and Smile, and I just love this kind of R’n’B – the Tops in my view. The Remix of Must be Nice features Nas. Smile being the best track if asked to chose.

Raheem DeVaughn’s Love Experience, you and especially the wonderful until (with its Isleys sample prominent) are all fine tracks indeed. The best remix on here is Guess Who Loves U More.

So that is the best 3 artists on show, Babyface being just a touch behind but unfortunately I cannot get into Lina though I do accept that the album is getting there but I and apparently she can shake off that early career ‘voice’ which I really didn’t like to much.

Babyface tracks are She’s International, Sorry for the stupid things, Good to be in love, and Lina Leaving You, Around the World and Smooth.

Babyface – Grown and Sexy

Grown & Sexy', the brand new studio album out 3rd October 2005

Info - The Soul Searching series presents the brand new studio album 'Grown & Sexy' from one of the most important R&B singer songwriters of our time and 10 x Grammy winner - Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds. Released on 3rd October through J Records, this is the 9th studio album from Babyface who has sold over 15million records worldwide.

On 'Grown & Sexy' Babyface stretches his superior song command into areas he has rarely explored in the past. Those places, that counter the romantic serenity or sadness that mostly have characterized his previous work, are sometimes short of paradise.

With its contemporary flourishes, classic structures, and outstanding singing, Babyface with 'Grown & Sexy' offers a collection right in the tradition of greatness that he so appreciates. It is, truly, grown. It is never retro. "I don't want to go make a whole bunch of old records," Babyface says. "I want to be inspired and to create new things, new feelings."

As an acclaimed singer, producer and songwriter, Babyface was an inescapable presence in virtually every major facet of pop music during the '90's. You'd be hard pressed to name another hit maker with a track record more consistently successful and versatile. Babyface has written hits for Boyz II Men, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mary J Blige, Madonna, Mariah Carey and many more.

The Soul Searching series is a brand new quarterly campaign with the aim to bring attention to those 'word of mouth' records that are all frequently denied the exposure and credit they deserve. Marketed together across retail and media, the campaign draws on the very best from the various SONY BMG label groups of Epic, Jive, Arista, Columbia, J, and RCA.

On the album:

1.	Tonight It's Going Down
2.	Grown & Sexy
3.	Mad Sexy Cool
4.	Can't Stop Now
5.	Goin Outta Business
6.	Drama, Luv & 'Lationships
7.	Sorry For The Stupid Things
8.	Good 2 Be In Luv
9.	The Lonliness
10.	She
11.	God Must Love U
12.	The Gettin' To Know U
13.	She's International

BONUS TRACK:
14.	Red Dress

Review: - Sorry for the stupid things I a beautiful love ballad, a heartfelt plea for forgeviness against a simple backing. Grown and Sxey the title track is even better, slightly more upbeat and a real grower. Goin Outta Business has a different feel altogther, more R&B driven and a much more ‘modern’ sound. Drama Love and ‘lationships continues in that vibe, so the album is a mix of old school allads, the type you would associate with Face but also has a more street edge.

Lyfe 268-192

Info - From prison to The Apollo Theatre - The exceptional debut album 'Lyfe 268-192' released 3rd October 2005

The Soul Searching series presents the eagerly awaited debut album from singer, songwriter and producer Chester 'Lyfe' Jennings, 'Lyfe 268-192' released on Columbia Records on 3rd October .

It's been a longer road than most for Lyfe. He slipped into a life of crime early and spent 10 years behind bars for an arson-related charge. But on his debut album 'Lyfe 268-192' , you won't hear him boasting of his criminal exploits to boost sales. Instead, the former convict, now in his late 20s, is quick to speak of the tough lessons he's learned. In fact, the title of the album is the number assigned to him in prison.

Lyfe's original folk/R&B/hip-hop style and Sam Cook/Al Green reminiscent voice, profess an intellectual stream of elevated consciousness. Songs like, "She Got Kids", "26 Years, 17 Days" and "Stick Up Kid", broadcast street life for the world to absorb. Lyfe's romantic side emerges in love songs like, "Must Be Nice," and "I Can't". "I say the things that people think about but won't say," comments Lyfe. It's this level of honesty and originality that has already won him fans in both specialist and mainstream media circles.

Lyfe's musical career began as a young boy in a church choir in Toledo . Music was his soul's escape and soon led him to join The Dotsons, a young group that infused the talents of Lyfe's two cousins and older brother, Jay, then after heading in separate directions in the early 90's, Lyfe found his love for music again while serving time in prison. "Deeper situations tend to lead to deeper music and prison was one of those deeper situations. (Music) gave me an opportunity to express emotions in an unemotional environment." He began to play the guitar, sing, write and even started a music program in the Ohio institution. Upon his December 2002 release he began seriously pursuing his solo career. He spent his 2nd day of freedom recording a 4 song cd and the 3rd day performing at a club.

On the album:

1.	Intro
2.	Interlude
3.	Must Be Nice
4.	The Way I Feel About You
5.	She Got Kids
6.	I Can't
7.	Hypothetically
8.	Smile
9.	Greedy
10.	Stick Up Kid
11.	Cry
12.	26 Years, 17 Days
13.	Made Up My Mind
14.	My Life
15.	Let's Do This Right

BONUS TRACK:
16.	Must Be Nice (remix) ft. Nas

Review: - I’ve had this for nearly a year now since its US release, and I was doubting that it would come out over here, despite being promoed scheduled and dropped. But I love it and I have been playing tracks out consistently this year especially at my Ssoul longe gigs. I just love this kind of stuff whether its ‘top end’ stuff like Jaheim, or down the scale like Dirty Soul. Nearly everyone I meet stateside has been raving about this album, and also about Lyfe as an individual.

This is slow, melodic, conceptual, consistent and if this style floats with you you will simpley play it all the way through. No real standouts though Must be Nice, The way I feel about you are and stick Up kid are probably the top. The rest are good but more importantly fit around the concept of the whole.

Smile though with its Aint no woman sample is tops if one has to be selected.

Love it.

Lina – the Inner Beauty Movement

Info:-The Soul Searching series presents the stunning new album from Lina 'The Inner Beauty Movement' out 3rd October 2005

'The Inner Beauty Movement' is an amalgamation of several musical genres including jazz, pop, hip-hop, R&B and even swing. With Lina's melodically lilting soprano and phrasing, which calls to mind the sophisticated vocal prowess of musical icons Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, she is able to convey a variety of moods with sass, originality and passion, and in the process Lina creates an emotional landscape that invites the listener into her inner world. At turns, she is coy and playful, strong and compelling - all the while striving to connect to the listener, which Lina believes is the reason music exists after all.

All of the 18 tracks on 'The Inner Beauty Movement' were written by Lina with production from Jeeve (Carlos Santana, Eden Crush). The album also features the Anthony Hamilton duet 'Around The World'.

Lina is signed to Hidden Beach Recordings, part of the Epic label, which is the home to Jill Scott, Mike Phillips, Darius Rucker and Keite Young among others.

On the album:

1.	My Fix
2.	Walking (Interlude)
3.	Hope, Wish & Pray
4.	Leaving You
5.	Fly
6.	Music (Interlude)
7.	I Am
8.	Run To Me
9.	Around The World ft. Anthony Hamilton
10.	It Could Be
11.	Come To Mama
12.	This Time
13.	Never Forget (Interlude)
14.	Smooth
15.	Story Goes ft. Big Rube
16.	Let It Go
17.	Peace & Love
18.	I'll Be Waiting

BONUS TRACK:
19.	On My Own

Review: - I confess to having some difficulties with this. Some of the beats, the songs the direction and even the delivery is fine, but I find it tainted with the style of her past, her initial releases, which I didn’t like too much. Maybe I shouldn’t allow that to influence my decision but there is stil lsufficient of that old jazz style and more particularl vocal styling that I just can’t get.

Certainly it is a move in the right direction and it is a valid inclusion into the Soul Seraching series. The beats almost take it to where I would like it to go but not quite in entirety and even the Anthony Hamilton is far too schmaltzy.

Vocally Smooth is the best track for me, the vocal performance and overall style just about winning over.

Raheem DeVaughn – The Love Experience

Info: -'The Love Experience' released 3rd October 2005. A stunning debut from an extraordinary new artist...

The Soul Searching series presents the eagerly awaited debut album from Raheem DeVaughn - 'The Love Experience' released through Jive Records on 3rd October 2005. Son of noted Jazz musician Abdul Wadud, Raheem DeVaughn has been the buzz word since late 2004 and been dubbed by Vibe as the next Prince..

Influenced by everything from his famous father's record collection to the rich textures of Coldplay and Radiohead, discovered through his previous job at a Tower Records in D.C, Raheem has taken an eclectic approach to 'The Love Experience'. "This album is very guitar driven", says DeVaughn. "That was done on purpose, even though I don't play guitar. It's the sound that I wanted".

Raheem recreates a time in musical history before hip-hop became the standard sound of R&B and bridges the gap between an older generation of R&B masters and their all too few modern counterparts. He is obviously a student of the culture. He has thoroughly studied his forefathers and the resulting thesis is 'The Love Experience'. Raheem vacillates between love songs with urgency and socially conscious songs that show love for all people.

Depite the hype and accolades already thrown at him Raheem DeVaughn has indeed delivered - an album that is at once raucous, romantic, innovative, groundbreaking, complicated, obscure, simplistic and accessible. Welcome to the Love Experience, press play to continue.

The Soul Searching series is a brand new quarterly campaign with the aim to bring attention to those 'word of mouth' records that are all frequently denied the exposure and credit they deserve. Marketed together across retail and media, the campaign draws on the very best talent from the various SONY BMG label groups of Epic, Jive, Arista, Columbia, J, and RCA .

On the album:

1.	The Voice
2.	The Love Experience
3.	Guess Who Loves You More
4.	Who
5.	Where I Stand
6.	Breathe
7.	You
8.	Sweet Tooth
9.	Ask Yourself
10.	Believe
11.	Is It Possible
12.	Catch 22
13.	Until
14.	Cadillac
15.	Green Leaves
16.	Thank You

BONUS TRACKS: