Wale – Attention Deficit

Wale

Wale releases a strong album entitled Attention Deficit. Released on Interscope Records November 10th 2009 this is one of this years highlights in hip-hop/rap music. It features soul singers and rappers a like. Starting with Bun B on Mirrors.

Then Gucci Mane and Weensey of Backyard Band on the up beat Pretty Girls. Wale has some good lyrics on this album, and his collaborations with this strong songstresses compliment the rap. Starting with Jazmine Sullivan on World Tour. Pharrell is featured on Let It Loose. 90210 is a  good song. Then there is Chrisette Michele featured on Shades.

Lady GaGa on Chillin and K’naan on TV In The Radio. Contemplate leads the album to the soulful Floetry half Marsha Ambrosius on Diary. Beautiful Bliss features the beautiful voice of Melanie Fiona and J.Cole. The production is top notch. Wale does a great job for Attention Deficit.

The album finishes with Prescription with tight lyrics and then My Sweetie a bonus track with an eclectic beat and then Center of Attention being a bonus track.

www.myspace.com/wale

www.walemusic.com

Somi – If The Rain Comes First

Somi

Somi releases her third studio album If The Rain Comes First on Germany based independent label Obliq Sound.

The album features a variety of talented singers and musicians one being Hugh Masekela on song entitled Enganjyani. Here he plays trumpet. And also sings backing vocals for songs Wallflower Blues, Jewel Of His Soul and Maybe Then.

Somi has a talented group of musicians contributing to If The Rain Comes First. This defines the jazz aspect and her voice defines the soul aspect. Michael Olatuja plays on most of the songs playing acoustic bass.

Then there is Toru Dodo on fender rhodes, Madou Kone on percussion, Nathaniel Townsley on drums, Michele Locatelli on acoustic and electric guitar. Laberty Ellman on acoustic guitar, David Gilmore on acoustic guitar, Julien Machet on percussion, David Hunter on background vocals and Alicia Olatuja on background vocals (Michael Olatuja’s sister).

www.somimusic.com

www.myspace.com/somimusic

N’Dambi – Pink Elephant

N’Dambi

N’Dambi releases her best works to date. Since Little Lost Girls Blues, Tunin’ Up & CoSignin to A Weird Kind of Wonderful, this album entitled Pink Elephant is her strongest album. With eleven songs and the first leading single called Can’t Hardly Wait. A funky soul number singing “I don’t know why I keep f*ckin’ witchu”

The album starts off with L.I.E. Just to clear the air, all N’Dambi songs on Pink Elephant have instant funk. The song is fresh and inspiring. What It Takes is the lead up to a story telling song Nobody Jones. Possibly Nobody Jones is one of N’Dambi’s best stories told in form of song to date. Ooo Baby is the poorest song out of Pink Elephant.

Mind Blowing is a realistic song about her love and passion for good music. Its simple but to the point. N’Dambi chose the album title Pink Elephant because she wants her albums to be like books. Insightful and interesting.

The One is also insightful and interesting. Take It Out and Daisy Chain both offer solid grooves with N’Dambi’s soulful singing and catchy choruses. Number nine is Can’t Hardly Wait. Pink Elephants leading first single. An instant soul classic.

The World Is A Beat and Imitator are Soul Discoveries firm favourites off Pink Elephant. You have to really go and buy the album yourself to find out just how good N’Dambi’s latest album is.

Track list: L.I.E, What It Takes, Nobody Jones, Ooo Baby, Mind Blowin’. The One, Take It Out, Daisy Chain, Can’t Hardly Wait, The World Is A Beat and Imitator.

www.ndambionline.com

www.myspace.com/ndambi

Joss Stone – Colour Me Free!

Joss Stone

Joss Stone releases her hugely anticipated newest album entitled Colour Me Free! It features collaborations with many stars. The album starts with her first debut album single Free Me. A funky up lifting song with great grooves and soul vocals. Could Have Been You is a piano led groove with strong lyrics and melody. Parallel Lines features Jeff Beck and Sheila E. Lady and 4 and 20 are much more funkier songs than the usual soulful Joss Stone track.

Big ‘Ol Game features soul star Raphael Saadiq, a bass driven track with guitar and melodies with compliments. The next song is one of Joss Stone’s biggest soul hip-hop driven songs she’s created to date. Featuring non other than the legendary Nas on politically inspired song Governmentalist.

Incredible is live and raw. You Got the Love is a Stax original covered by Joss and her band. I Believe It to my Soul features David Sanborn and is a Donny Hathaway timeless soul cover. Another song on Colour Me Free! showing off Joss soul voice. Stalemate featuring Jamie Hartman is the most pop rock song off Colour Me Free!

Another piano led track on Colour Me Free! is Girlfriend On Demand “If you can’t hold my hand than how can I call you my man?”. Over all this is one of Joss Stone’s latest and greatest albums to date released on Virgin Records 2nd November 2009.

Track list: Free Me, Incredible, Could Have Been You, Parallel Lines feat. Jeff Beck & Sheila E., Big Ol’ Game, Lady, 4 and 20, Governmentalist feat. Nas, You Got The Love, I Believe It to my Soul feat. David Sanborn, Girlfriend On Demand and Stalemate feat. Jamie Hartman.

www.jossstone.com

Dionne Bromfield – Introducing…

Dionne Bromfield

Dionne Bromfield is Amy Winehouse’ god daughter and at age thirteen she releases her debut album. Entitled Introducing Dionne Bromfield. She releases it on Amy’s label Lioness Records via Universal-Island Records Ltd on 12th October 2009.

Amy gave instant fame to Dionne via youtube a few years ago. Now, Dionne is introduced to the world with this debut album of Motown soul classic covers.

Dionne Bromfields leading single for Introducing is Mama Said. Amy’s band produce the music with Amy, Ade and Zalon doing bv’s.

Catchy songs such as Foolish Little Girl and My Boy Lollipop are good covers for her age she sounds very mature. More earthy soul covers show off Dionne’s raw talent on songs such as Beachwood 45789, With a Child’s Heart, the piano string led Until You Come Back To Me and Oh Henry.

For some reason Introducing only has two songs over three minutes and the rest are just over two minutes.

But thats how soul music was made in the Motown days. Short yet very powerful and meaningful.

Track list: Tell Him, Mama Said, Foolish Little Girl, Beachwood 45789, Two Can Have a Party, He’s So Fine, With a Child’s Heart, Until You Come Back To Me, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Am I the Same Girl, and Oh Henry.

www.myspace.com/dionnebromfieldmusic

Yolanda Johnson – Breathing

Yolanda Johnson

Yolanda Johnson produces her first full length debut album entitled Breathing. With the leading single as Strut! it starts off with a soulful blend of new soul with hip-hop influence production. Breathing begins with Music & Faith and then the highly addictive I Need You (one of Soul Discoveries favorites).

Living is a catchy soul song “Living my life” over a fast rhythm and groove. When I See You has hip-hop style production over soul drenched melodies and piano. Walk Away is an authentic inspired song using Indian instruments over a strong beat.

Yolanda Johnson sounds more mature vocally than Violet Flower especially on the next song and single Strut! After Strut! is the much amplified song Intervention feat. T3. Over You features a great sample from The O’Jays.

Can’t Fight The Feeling, is great and then the classic Love Is A Game kills it. Lose Control, On The Inside are both up beat style songs with Yolanda singing well. Can’t Get You Out Of My Head is a long title but here she sounds sophisticated and soulful.

Track list: Inhale-ude, Music & Faith, I Need You, Living, When I See You, Walk Away, Strut!, Intervention, Exhaleude, Over You, Can’t Fight The Feeling, Love Is A Game, Lose Control, On The Inside, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, and Breathing.

www.myspace.com/yolandajohnson

Independent 2 Soul Divas – Tokyo Rush

Independent 2 Soul Divas

Lola Waxx Records presents Independent 2 Soul Divas – Tokyo Rush. Compared to its Vol. 1, its more soulful and R&B/Jazz inspired.

Highlights on Tokyo Rush are Keli Sae – You’re All I Need, Sy Smith – The Art of You, Melissa Young – Just A Girl, Tracy Cruz – Your Dreamins and finally Kendra Ross – Real Deal.

The best track would have to be Lina – Get It Right (Extended Mix).

Other soul survivors to be impressed with are LeNora Jaye, Rena Scott, Rachel Brown, and Aura Jackson.

Track list: Kelli Sae – You’re All I Need, LeNora Jaye – Times Are Hard, Lea Lorien – Wautubg, Adina Howard – What Do I Do, Rena Scott – You Keep Trippin, Maya Neiada – Rehab, Sy Smith – The Art Of You, Razzberry – Can’t Call, Rachel Brown – Weekend, Melissa Young – Just A Girl, Lina – Get It Right, Aural Jackson – Walk After U, Lori Jenaire – Better, Tracy Cruz – Your Dreams, Cheri – Like I Do, and Kendra Ross – Real Deal.

www.lolawaxx.com

Robert Glasper – Double Booked

Robert Glasper

Robert Glasper plays jazz piano and is signed to EMI. A jazz warrior at heart, Glasper releases his latest album entitled Double Booked through Blue Note.

With twelve new jazz inspired songs at ear offer, Robert Glasper is one to listen too. Robert has worked as musical director for Bilal and Mos Def.

To working with more inspiring hip-hop and soul artists like Erykah Badu, and Meshell Ndegeocello.

Double Booked is one of many Robert Glasper records; he has been on the jazz circuit for some time but Double Booked sounds fresh and very professional.

There are no vocal collaborations on this album yet Robert’s piano playing fills this space well.

Track list: Intro, No Worries, Yes I’m Country (And Thats OK), Downtime, 59 South, Think Of One, 4eva feat. Mos Def, Butterfly, Festival, For You, All Matters feat. Bilal, and Open Mind feat. Bilal.

www.robertglasper.com

Michael Olatuja – Speak

Michael Olatuja

Michael Olatuja releaes his latest album entitled Speak. Featuring only the best in UK soul such as Lynden David Hall, Eska Mtugwazi, Andrew Roachford, Terri Walker, Onaje Jefferson, Alicia Olatuja, TY, Jason Rebello, and Jean Toussaint.

Speak is serious jazz, this shows on Eska Mtungwazi songs Altar Call and Yi Yipada. Michael Olatuja is a native Nigerian musician who follows in the same footsteps as Femi Temowo who also contributes to Speak.

Also talent such as Troy Miller and Rasiyah hit the right chords on Speak. The names you may not be familiar with but after listening to Speak you’ll know. Other UK vocalists who take part on Michael’s album are Sewuese Abwa and Heidi Vogel.

There is a lot of sweet vocal arrangements complimented by Michael’s bass and rhythm sections, all under the influence of traditional African music.

Track list: Ma Foya feat. Lynden David Hall, Altar Call feat. Eska Mtungwazi, Hold On feat. Lynden David Hall & Andrew Roachford, Little Sister feat. Terri Walker, Le Jardin feat. Onaje Jefferson, Yi Yipada feat. Eska Mtungwazi, Unconditional feat. Alicia Olatuja, Speak feat. TY, Walk With Me feat. Alicia Olatuja and Mama Ola feat. Jason Robello & Jean Toussaint.

www.obliqsound.com

Maxwell – Blacksummers Night

Maxwell

When real music is in lacking from our lives Maxwell releases this album Blacksummers Night. Its got real instruments, soul vocals, sensitive lyrics and the hit single Pretty Wings is something to be played on repeat.

Like his previous album releases Maxwell creates music from using instruments and words. His voice is able to capture the toughest emotion easily.

Maxwell is back. If your looking for a new drug in your life. Without going to the pharmacy Maxwell Blacksummers Night is top choice.

Track list: Bad Habits, Cold. Pretty Wings, Help Somebody, Stop The World, Love You, Fistful Of Tears, Playing Possum, and Phoenix Rising.

www.musze.com