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
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