Friday, April 27, 2018

NEW RELEASES: JANELLE MONAE – DIRTY COMPUTER; STIMULATOR JONES – EXOTIC WORLDS & MASTERFUL TREASURES; RUBY VELLE & THE SOULPHONICS – STAGE OF ALL THINGS


JANELLE MONAE – DIRTY COMPUTER

Janelle Monae knocks it out of the park here – sounding every bit as great as before, but also hitting this righteous mode that really takes the singer to incredible new territory! If you loved Janelle's previous records, don't worry – she's still as catchy and playful as ever – but there's also a depth and darkness that's inspired by recent political turns in America – which Monae also uses to address issues that go back much farther in her experience, woven together in songs that are maybe even more politically powerful because of the way that they'll also win over the mainstream! Stevie Wonder gets the very first thanks in the long notes at the end of the book – and the mix of soul and message here definitely hearkens back to Stevie in the 70s – is all Janelle's own. Heck, even guests like Zoe Kravitz, Brian Wilson, and Pharrell Williams can't get in the way – on titles that include "Screwed", "Django Jane", "I Got The Juice", "Stevie's Dream", "Don't Judge Me", "Crazy Classic Life", "Take A Byte", "Do Afraid", "Americans", "I Like That ", "Pynk", "Jane's Dream", and "Make Me Feel". And hey, you've gotta love a record that's inspired both by Vibranium and Stevie Wonder!  ~ Dusty Groove

STIMULATOR JONES – EXOTIC WORLDS & MASTERFUL TREASURES

Bass-heavy funk with a definite 80s influence – but served up here with a contemporary crispness that's the best calling card of Stimulator Jones! In a world where so many others find it easy to completely cop the sounds of the post-disco years, these guys take all the best elements and weave them into something that's completely their own – unabashedly bright and bubbly in their choice of melody, and crafting tunes that are way more than just a blend of beats, bass, and keyboards – even though the keyboards here are pretty darn great overall! Titles include "Need Your Body", "Water Slide", "Give My All", "Feel Your Arms Around Me", "Together", "Trippin On You", and "Suite Luv". ~ Dusty Groove

RUBY VELLE & THE SOULPHONICS – STAGE OF ALL THINGS

Ruby Velle's got one of those voices that will no doubt make her huge – soaring and powerful, right from the very first notes – with a capable confidence that could probably take on just about any style of music, but which is especially great here in the company of the Soulphonics combo! There's definitely an influence here from older soul music – particularly southern deep soul – but the presentation is much more contemporary, although manages to be that way without resorting to modern production or hip hop elements in the rhythms. Titles include "Love Less Blind", "Who Closed The Book", "Lost Lady USA", "I Tried", "Call Out My Name", "Used Me Again", "Broken Woman", and "State Of All Things".  ~ Dusty Groove


No comments:

Post a Comment