RUBEN STUDDARD - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Unconditional Love is filled with some of the most romantic songs Studdard has ever recorded including "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings, The Carpenters classic, "They Long To Be (Close To You)" which includes Stevie Wonder on harmonica and Bonnie Raitt's poignant, "I Can't Make You Love Me". Additional tracks include a steamy version of Teddy Pendegrass' "Close The Door" which was produced by singer Eric Benet who also produced Studdard's breathtaking version of the Boz Scaggs hit "Love, Look What You've Done To Me." The album also contains a soaring duet with Lalah Hathaway of "If This World Were Mine." You can catch Ruben's TV Appearances as he will appear on Kelly and Michael on Monday, February 10, and on The Today Show on Friday, February 14 (10am hour)."Silky,
classy, sexy, romantic -bring you to your knees - this is how I describe the
incredible voice of Ruben Studdard. He feels every note and every word he
sings. He is a man with an extraordinary voice..." - David Foster
JOHN BUTLER TRIO - FLESH & BLOOD
The
sixth long player from the rootsy Australian trio (and first outing in four
years) finds bandleader John Butler occupying a more introspective and
nostalgic headspace than he has on previous outings. Butler has always been a
cerebral gent, although one prone to crafting stadium sized activist anthems
like "Earthbound Child" and "Fire in the Sky," but there's
a more settled vibe to Flesh & Blood that suggests a possible sea change.
Opener "Spring to Come," which begins with the lyric "Lost my
love, lost my light" and concludes with the line "After a lonely long
night comes the sun," sets the mood, offering up a solid foundation of
fluid fingerpicking and circular, warm weather rhythms and melodies for Butler
to opine over. It's a tone and sentiment that occurs frequently throughout the
album's surprisingly concise (for a jam band) fifty-two minute runtime, and it
serves the trio well, especially on more contemplative cuts like "Bullet
Girl," "Only One," and the lovely and languid Ainslie
Wills-assisted "Young and Wild." To be fair, JBT fans looking for
bolder, more familiar strokes have more than a few traditional roots-rock
offerings to sift through, some of them solid (the dark and immersive
"Cold Wind" and the fun, if not a tad derivative "Livin' in the
City") and some of them not (the turgid, reggae/blues-rock epic "Blame
it on Me" and its throwaway, whitebread counterpart "Devil
Woman"), but it's in the more refined, self reflective moments where
Butler, bassist Byron Luiters, and drummer Nicky Bomba really come alive. ~
James Christopher Monger / cduniverse
CHARISSE - THE GOOD LIFE
Charisse
is best known for writing her deeply romantic filled ballads.This CD
is slightly different where as her romantic ballads now have a more upbeat
flavor to them. Continuing
with her smooth writing style the songs are fun, mid tempo with hints of
Contemporary Jazz,R&B and Pop.Charisse
has definitely expanded her songwriting skills by not only writing, and
performing all of the songs, but by playing every instrument that you hear. This Cd
is a feel good compilation of timeless music for everybody. If you
love good music, you will love this CD. Track include: Rhythm of Life; Love How You Love Me; When I'm With You; Rain' The Good Life; Taking My Time; Ooh Ooh; This Silence; Maybe This Time; Reflection; Dance With Me; and This Silence (Instrumental Bonus Track). ~ cduniverse
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