Music Lovers, get your post on!

Ideal08 · #1 03-01-2002, 11:50 AM

Share your music tastes, information, and whatnot here in the 4th installment of the Tunes Thread!

Ideal08 · #2 03-02-2002, 06:31 PM

Yall, I JUST realized that this Lina CD has two bonus tracks on it! That GangStarr remix is tight!

That's all I wanted to say, lol... it was a pleasant surprise!

librasoul22 · #3 03-05-2002, 01:27 AM

Does ANYONE know the artist/title of a song that goes:

"No - no, no little brother/
I got a man, ain't trying to get another..."

Something to that effect...

I KNOW y'all can help me out on this!!

CrimsonTide4 · #4 03-17-2002, 04:01 PM

Glenn Lewis: the new Stevie?

Glenn Lewis:
World Outside My Window
By Mark Anthony Neal
SeeingBlack.com Music Critic

Glenn Lewis' debut CD World Outside My Window. "Don't You Forget It" begins with those opening bars—déjà vu Stevie circa 1972… "Superwoman"… Music on My Mind. And then the voice… Stevie? Naw that ain't Stevie. This ain't 1972. By now this popular single is as well known and ubiquitous as Carl Thomas's "I Wish" was two blue winters ago. The fabulously mellifluous voice belongs to Glenn Lewis, Toronto native, son of a reggae-singing Yardie, self-described shy boy, who is poised and primed as the next neo-soul poster boy. But to tag Lewis and his debut, World Outside My Window, with the "neo-soul" label, does not do justice to one of the best R&B artists and recordings in some time.

Glenn Lewis's sound brings the obvious comparisons to Maxwell, the aforementioned Thomas and Wonder, and even Donell Jones. But the laid back neo-70's moog groove of this album probably best recalls Love Stories (2000), the very fine and very ignored recording by Frank McCombs. While Sony seemed at a lost at how to plug McCombs into the mix (no dreads so he can't be neo-soul, and he ain't a thug lover like Jaheim so he can't go urban, so it must be smooove jazz), Epic seems hell bent on getting Lewis the wider audience he deserves.

Lewis' single first debuted on the mix CD Red Star Sounds. (Click to purchase.)
Audiences were first made aware of Glenn Lewis on the compilation recording Red Star Sounds. Though the recording included new music from Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, India.Arie, Erykah Badu and a remixed version of Jill Scott's "Long Walk," the recording was primarily a showcase for up and coming acts like Jack Herrera, Lathun and of course Lewis. Lewis's "Don't You Forget It" broke through and began receiving heavy radio and video airplay.

Not much of a song on first listen, the song literally lulls you into its introspection if only because of the sheer beauty of Lewis's voice. Like those pretty soul boys that came before him—Babyface and Keith Washington come immediately to mind—Lewis nixes the grits and gravy aesthetic, choosing instead a honey-brown delivery. Lewis also turned in vocals on De La's "Am I Worthy?" from their just released AOI: Bionix. But ultimately, it's the Stevie thing—Lewis sounds like he been listening to Stevie Wonder since he been in the womb. In promotional material, Lewis relates the story of singing Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love" at a high school talent show and having folks in the audience think that he was lip-synching the song.

The affinity to Wonder's vocal style is also particularly evident the wonderful "It's Not Fair," which is a loose interpolation of Wonder's classic "All in Love is Fair." The sermonic "It's Not Fair" is easily the disc's strongest track. The backing vocals, which at times function as a long, sensuous moan, also recall Wonder's brilliant "Love's In Need Of Love Today" from the career defining Songs in the Key of Life (1976). Drawn from real-time drama, the song details a salacious relationship between Lewis's girlfriend and his best friend.

While Lewis alternates verses to address each, it is on the song's bridge that Lewis draws blood and tears skin as he sings on the brink of tears and seeming total emotional collapse. "It's not fair/After all I sacrificed/For my seeds…to give life/With everything, I lived for you to be happy…The life and love you breathed into my heart/Slipping away—dying today." A subtle reminder perhaps, that Lewis wields soft words and his soft voice with a gangsta's ferocity. By the time Lewis is heard alternately moaning and hollering, it is all too easy to envision him as broken and shattered. It is the most brilliant moment of a project that is rife with many accomplished moments.

Lewis's innocence as an artist comes through on the aptly titled "Simple Things" as he speaks over the string—laden intro "Ai yo, are you recording?" A likely second single-could have been the lead single—"Simple Things" is one of those flutter-thumpers (SUV bumping midtempos) where Lewis's own vocals are layered and the song soars like a rush of caramel ecstasy. On the laid-back groove "This Love," the string arrangements recall the introduction of LTD's "Concentrate on You."

Produced by Touch of Jazz's Andre Harris and Vidal Davis (MJ's "Butterflies" and Jill Scott's Who Is Jill Scott?), throughout World Outside My Window, Lewis keeps the lyrics simple and accessible. On the gothic styled "Is It True" Lewis challenges his honey about her infidelity ("is it true…my man said he hit it too"). The quirky production of "Is It True" is also present on the infectious mid-tempo booty-shaker "Never Too Late." The song is built around an under-water thump (think the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds meets Maxwell's "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)." Another cut, "Take You High," recalls mid-temp grooves like Frankie Beverly and Maze's "Happy Feelings" and "Golden Time of the Day."

Other standout tracks include the pleading (not quite beggin' like Keith), "Lonely," the bouncy "One More Day" and "Sorry" which is the only time Lewis kind of gets "grits and gravy" Lewis also pays tribute to his young songs on the happy "Beautiful Eyes."

Lewis is not the post-modern Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye (always invoked because of a general lack of musical literacy among neo-soul performers), or Donny Hathaway (quiz: name one Hathaway song that wasn't recorded with Roberta Flack or recorded for the X-mas season). Rather, Glenn Lewis is a fine singer/songwriter whose debut recording is a fitting addition to the modern soul tradition.

**article C & P'ed from http://www.seeingblack.com

Related Sites:

http://www.glennlewismusic.com
http://www.redstarsounds.com
-- March 14, 2002

thesweetestone · #5 03-17-2002, 07:01 PM

When I first heard "Don't You Forget " I thought that it was Stevie too. Glen sounds a whole lot like Mr. Wonder. I was thinking that Stevie had a new song out.

CrimsonTide4 · #6 03-18-2002, 07:23 PM

I am LOVING KIRK's new CD. I am a huge fan of Kirk and I am on a mission to see him in concert one of these old days.

My faves: Caught Up with Shirley Caesar, Looking Out for Me, Brighter Day, and Don't Cry.

CkretCrush8 · #7 03-18-2002, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
I am LOVING KIRK's new CD. I am a huge fan of Kirk and I am on a mission to see him in concert one of these old days.

My faves: Caught Up with Shirley Caesar, Looking Out for Me, Brighter Day, and Don't Cry.

Girl I am with you! If you are a gospel music lover, you should also get the new Virtue CD. It is good. But back to your post, Kirk Franklin's new cd is tight as well. I love My Life, My love, My All, Don't Cry, He Reigns, as well as Brighter Day.

AKA2D '91 · #8 03-18-2002, 10:37 PM

Am I the only one who kind of feels C-Lo's "Closet Freak"?

That video trips me the freak out!

LMAO!

shhhhhhhhhhh!

HyperBeauty · #9 03-19-2002, 02:54 PM

you know, you were wrong asking people to post their favorite musicians.

i might never finish!

anyways, i'm gonna write a very very short list ;-) ya'll please don't laugh at me

alanis morrisette: i want her new album!

lauryn hill: will she ever have a second album? it's getting a little old

seal: no, kiss from a rose was NOT the only song he ever did!

sade: i've liked her music ever since i was 8 years old. is that a bad sign considering i'm 20 now? lol

moby: okay, fine, he does need some fried chicken in his scrawny body, but when i'm p****d off, i can put the cd and feel a little better! :-D

okay, i'm going to go now...

novella000 · #10 03-19-2002, 09:34 PM

i went out and got Glen today... I likes, I likes!!!!! I liked the entire thing!!
I also purchased Remy Shand... his is tight too.... he has about 6 songs that I really like, and a few that are OK.

SweetestDiva · #11 04-10-2002, 01:35 PM

Y'all... why does Tweet's CD go so hard???? I mean, when this girl made an album, SHE DID THAT. I liked "Oops, Oh My" and everything, but the album really surprised me. I'm feeling pretty much every song on it, especially "Smoking Cigarettes" and "My Place." Oh, and "Motel" and "Beautiful" and "Always Will".... okay, so pretty much every song. I'm even considering going to buy the LEGIT copy - that says something.

SeriousAKA · #12 04-10-2002, 01:42 PM

My sources on the street said that Musiq's new cd is set tobe releases in June I think. I can't wait cuz ya'll know I love me some Musiq Soulchild!

Ideal08 · #13 04-10-2002, 01:51 PM

Ok, yall, I heard that Ashanti's album was the best one out right now, better than Faith's and Mary's. To that, I say, BOO!! I listened to it last night, and it has some good cuts on it, but overall, it's just not all that. And has the nerve to call herself the Princess of Hip-Hop AND R&B. COME ON NOW!!! First, too many previously used hooks. I mean, one of the songs has the hook from Love Me In A Special Way (I think, if not, another DeBarge song). Anyway, I wasn't feeling it all like that. Maybe I need to listen again.

I gotta get that Tweet!!!

Musiq is str8 trippin, just like Bilal. Why they be doin' me like that?

CrimsonTide4 · #14 04-10-2002, 02:11 PM

I read Musiq's release date in REPLAY MAG yestiddy. Mayish

Next weekend is Triple Replay Points.

fine by design · #15 04-10-2002, 02:37 PM

I'm a little late, but...

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA2D '91

Am I the only one who kind of feels C-Lo's "Closet Freak"?

That video trips me the freak out!

LMAO!

shhhhhhhhhhh!

that video straight up SCARES me... it's a lil too weird for my taste, but he IS kickin those lyrics. i can appreciate that!

Lately i have been in an "old school" mood. The CD's in my car are Keith Sweat (self titled), Anita Baker (rapture), Janet Jackson (Control), Guy (The Future), and New Edition (Greatest Hits). As for what current music i'm feeling right now:

Mary J. Blige's (not so new) joint: I saw her in concert about a month ago and i was thoroughly pleased, and i just got around to buying the CD. "Testimony" and "In the Meantime" are very well done (as is the entire album).

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory: I have not taken that CD out of my car since I got it. Papercut, Crawling, and pretty much the entire CD are like that!

I can't wait for Michelle Williams' (Destiny's Child) gospel CD to come out next Tuesday. I heard a radio interview this afternoon and she was so excited that I was excited for the girl. She really has talent and she's hooked up with Shirley Caesar and other gospel greats on her debut solo project.