AltWeeklies Wire
The Jacksons' 'Destiny' Reissues Foreshadows the Rise and Fall of Michaelnew
After an awkward stretch which saw them leave Motown, split with brother Jermaine, and languish in bad-song hell, Destiny found them taking over the production reins, writing their own material, and re-establishing themselves as the first family of bubblegum soul.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
07-23-2008 |
Reviews
Steve Winwood Keeps the Faithnew
Former Traffic frontman looks back on Blind Faith and reunites with Eric Clapton.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Jamie Lidell Lightly Touches His Soulnew
Betraying his roots in U.K. dance music, Lidell applies a slick veneer to his love songs, which can make their seemingly natural swing feel a tinge antiseptic. But that's assuming any objective bystander won’t be too busy tapping his foot to notice such an insignificant detail.
San Antonio Current |
Tim Grierson |
07-09-2008 |
Reviews
Usher's Maturity Makes You Long for His Childish Waysnew
He even reprints Corinthians 13:11 ("when I became a man, I put away childish things") in the liner notes, just to beat you over the head with the point.
Baltimore City Paper |
Al Shipley |
07-08-2008 |
Reviews
Where Hip-hop Wentnew
Gold: New Jack Swing, a genre overview, and and What Does It All Mean?, the collected works of cut-up pioneer Steinski, tell the story of rap going beyond itself.
Baltimore City Paper |
Michaelangelo Matos |
06-24-2008 |
Reviews
Your R. Kelly's-been-acquitted Mixtapenew
It's become reasonable to suspect that if you're rich enough or famous enough, there's little you can be put in prison for. Combine the two, and you couldn't be convicted if you wanted to -- even if you committed your crime on videotape.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Brian McManus |
06-23-2008 |
Music
Erykah Badu Makes Statements, Not Singlesnew
"Artists work so hard to create these projects," she says. "They're not meant to be 99 cents per track. They're meant to be listened to back to back. That's how I create them."
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
06-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Lay It Down' is Easily the Right Rev.'s Best in Five Yearsnew
Green and Co. (a crew that prominently includes ?uestlove) make tangible the sound of long-ago church-pew Sunday mornings spent making up for all those sinful Saturday nights.
Dallas Observer |
Robert Wilonsky |
06-03-2008 |
Reviews
Roots Drummer ?uestlove Takes Al Green Back to His Classic Soundnew
After two pairings with Willie Mitchell back at his old Royal Studio stomping grounds, Green heads north here, recording with Amir "?uestlove" Thompson and keyboardist James Poyser producing and contemporary neo-soul stars Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Corinne Bailey Rae providing occasional support.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
05-30-2008 |
Reviews
Leona Lewis is Like Whitney Houston for 2008new
On the plus side, she seems like a nice, self-effacing person who hasn't yet learned to browbeat her associates for handing her a lukewarm Red Bull. Her exotic features play well on VH1, but as a singer, she's strictly a cut-rate generic brand.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
05-07-2008 |
Reviews
Estelle Shows Us How to Shinenew
Not familiar with Estelle? Atlantic Records is betting you will be any minute now, as her album Shine lands in stores this week. It's full of a rare blend of purposely jarring hip-hop, soul, and pop tunes that, at times, seem too transatlantic for their own good, but overall are refreshing.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Jonathan Cunningham |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Backstage Passnew
With almost three decades of experience producing the annual spectacle, Ken Ehrlich provides a collection of stories sure to please any avid viewer of award shows in his book “At the Grammys: Behind the Scenes at Music’s Biggest Night.”
Metro Spirit |
Jason Sumerau |
04-27-2008 |
Nonfiction
Kanye, Jay-Z, Mary J., and Rihanna Clamor for Diva Statusnew
As Ye-Day approaches, one question looms large: Can any arena contain Kanye West's massive ego?
Tags: Jay-Z, hip-hop, R&B, Kanye West, pop, rap, Lupe Fiasco, Mary J. Blige, N.E.R.D., Rihanna, concerts
Has Anyone Seen Anwar Robinson?new
The year was 2005. Popular television show American Idol was still respectable. While he didn't make the final cut, New Jersey-based singer Anwar Robinson gained a lot of support from urban viewers around the country that year.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Jonathan Cunningham |
04-15-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Missy's Recipe for Funnew
Missy Elliott is one of the few artists whose videos are still considered events. They are gleeful, frantic, and full of delicious visual puns and quirky effects.
Miami New Times |
Sam Chennault |
08-29-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
