KingSausage said:

Look on the bright side: we might get some KILLER extended mixes on singles. Speaking of, I still want an extended mix of Clouds!

It is one! Maybe will b motivated to put out a A.O.A reloaded, after D'angelo's surprise reemerge ...

jasminejoey said:

Wait, HMV stores still exist? Where?

D'Angelo "Black Messiah"

Reviewed By: Tor're Sanz (TheSanzSpot)

December 15, 2014

"You can't leave me, it ain't that easy"... D'Angelo belts out in the opening track of his Long Awaited, Much Anticipated 'SURPRISE' Album. Did any of us see it coming?

D'Angelo dropped "Black Messiah" around Midnight on iTunes on Monday morning (December 15, 2014) to minimum Fanfare and absolutely no Promotion.

The first sneak peak into the New Album is a Track called "Sugah Daddy" which is reminiscent of his "Voodoo" days, about 15 years ago when the God Son of Funk & Soul released his Last Album.

The track debuted as part of Red Bull's 20 before 15 on their website and soon after QuestLove of the Roots Band and Kanye West were tweeting that D'Angelo's New Album would soon follow.

"Black Messiah" is a musical tour de force, a revolutionary movement that bares theme of what's going on in the world right now. D'Angelo spoke on the controversial album title in a statement when questioned about why he decided to title the album "Black Messiah".

D'Angelo, in his own words: "It's about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community has had enough and decided to make change happen," he further stated: "Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are), but calling this album Black Messiah creates a landscape where those songs can live to the fullest."

The 12 Track opus has no cameos, but according to the lyric booklet Q-Tip and Kendra Foster of Parliament-Funkadelic contributed lyrics to the album.

?uestlove, Pino Palladino and James Gadson are a few of the many musicians (along with D's New Band, The Vanguard) who played on it as well.

"1000 Deaths" dares to call Jesus a Blonde haired, Blue eyed White man and challenges the listeners to do their research. D'Angelo sings on this song with a distorted vocal that's almost hard to tell what exactly he's saying; nonetheless it's still funky!

"The Charade" could have been a PRINCE outtake from the Parade era (back in 1986), there's no doubt that D'Angelo has taken a page out of the Purple book. This mid tempo track takes the listener on a roller coast ride; a reflection of one's experience with life and love. Definitely a favorite of ours here @TheSanzSpot.

"Really Love" a well orchestrated track with strings, acoustic guitars and D'Angelo's signature falsetto. In this track, D'Angelo confesses his love for a special someone, making us wanna pour a bottle of our favorite wine with a candles lit ambiance in the background.

"Til it's done (Tutu)" is also one of those mellow tracks that could easily fit on Erykah Badu's "New Amerykah" Project. Neo Soul gets a rebirth as D'Angelo and The Vanguard utilize their real music by real musicians stance to reintroduce soul music in this digital age of disposable pop tarts.

"Prayer" has eerie guitar riffs and a very haunting synthesizer as D'Angelo kicks off the track with the Lords Prayer; yet again some would say he's taking another page out of the Purple book. It's very hard not to think of PRINCE as we listen to this record because PRINCE was known for fusing secular music with religious passages back in the days of "Controversy" and "Purple Rain". D'Angelo prays to his Savior asking for redemption and keeping him from the temptations of the world. This is a testament of his battle with addiction and losing his faith somewhere in between his sophomore album and "Black Messiah".

Agreed this album isn't all very political but more so a testimony of Life, from a very talented Musician and Songwriter who is very well aware of his surroundings. D'Angelo has been through a lot in the past 15 years and as the listener, we can surely tell that he's poured his Heart and Soul into this album with tracks like "The Door", "Betray My Heart" & our personal favorite "Another Life".

It's almost like he feared himself at some point and lost touch of the essence of his own truth. Were just glad he's back and in rare form, with a vivid recollection of his past and a clear focus on where he's headed in the future.

the music sounds funky ...but those voices....this is where Prince will ALWAYS beat him

Some interesting discussion points courtesy of the epic D'Angelo thread they've had going for over four years over in the Kanye To The community:

http://www.kanyetothe.com...g148576065

back to the future part 1 is 5:22 and part 2 is 2:25. i wonder if that's intentional.

http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/index.php?topic=30334.msg148411209#msg148411209

Quote from pbuh on yesterday

I pray to Allah that this album makes everyone in R&B/Soul wake the **** up and consider what they are doing with their music. D'Angelo may very well start another movement focusing on bringing these genres to new levels. Death to Alt-R&B.

An all-analog, traditionalist R&B album in 2014/2015 is an anomaly, not a trend. Most people don't have the cache or the specific chops to make an album like this, for better or for worse.

http://www.kanyetothe.com...g148538033

WHEW.

https://twitter.com/JohnMayer/status/544422430026919936
https://twitter.com/jtimberlake/status/544181858670768128
https://twitter.com/idriselba/status/544451792143396864
https://twitter.com/solangeknowles/status/544502957610663936
https://twitter.com/woodelijah/status/544377153475719168
https://twitter.com/MiguelUnlimited/status/544384177609900033
https://twitter.com/JeanGreasy/status/544408625629114368
https://twitter.com/ActionBronson/status/544320662525853696
https://twitter.com/Pharrell/status/544558747562283008
https://twitter.com/RealMichelleW/status/544554934365323265
https://twitter.com/Steve_Nguyen/status/544560695841288192
https://twitter.com/devhynes/status/544375567978463233
https://twitter.com/JColeNC/status/544530879570145280
https://twitter.com/JakeUno/status/544531914166927361
https://twitter.com/HamiltonAnthony/status/544383786692378624
https://twitter.com/amyschumer/status/544601078126637056
https://twitter.com/MayerHawthorne/status/544527032130867201
https://twitter.com/flytetymejam/status/544433573710004227

Glad Prince didn't get into this discussion...

Ok after about 10 plays.

Here's my thoughts

Ain't that easy 10/10 for me. the groove, chords, the vocals and hook. absolutely stunning

1000 Deaths....7/10 tough one for me, growing but very congested

Charade -10/10 another really strong track, love the bassline, and "all we wanted" part

Sugah daddy 8/10 chicken grease part 2.

Really Love 7/10 too repetitive for me right now... but could be a grower

BTTF Part 1 7/10 nothing amazing but good groove

TUTU 8/10 vocally dig it.

Prayer 10/10 majorly dense, great stuff going on ... and I love the odd time shuffle every other bar on the highhat

Betray... 9/10 most vocally like voodoo for me.

door- 9/10 really good melody line

BTTF 2... 9/10 thick groove fun

Another 8/10 most classic 70's groove for me.

Album: 9.5/10 the album works as a full body.

my issues may be with the mix and how certain things are too smeared in the mix. part of that is pino's bass right in the bass drum frequency so it muddy's it up at times. BTW Pino is my fav bass player that I don't love their sound live or studio. He is way too old flatwound reggae dub for me, his lines are incredible though. love the drums, the programming, guitar is impressive although buried at times.

For 14 yrs we have been waiting, so good for him to release this and best of luck. This is not a run of the mill R'n B album with guests on every track and no samples. SO MAJOR MAJOR RESPECT to him. Hopefully he stays focused and clean and makes music more often vs needing dark periods of dispair to write new stuff.

Just bought the MP3's from amazon. Bout' Time D.

tab32792 said:

i agree the songs seem short.

but...this is not the "same ol d'angelo" and this is not neo soul. get some q tips.

i hear growth. idk about yall

Come on. I wouldn't be surprised if Really Love was a Voodoo outtake. I was a massive fan of Brown Sugar and Voodoo. Maybe my tastes have changed, but this album has those same midtempo grooves and that tired Questlove drum beat at the bottom of most of them. D'Angelo is excellent at what he does, but that's all he does. It sounds like a 2001 followup album to Voodoo with a dash of Jesse Johnson's Verbal Penetration which tells he hasn't been doing much musically for the past 14 years. It's still a solid album, just not mindblowing.

getfunked said:

coltrane3 said:

Is anyone else having a lukewarm reaction to this? I mean, it's completely fine and pleasant but the lead up was that it was somehow otherworldy, and for me it's just not. And I loved his first two albums.

What is it about D'Angelo? Whenever it's even hinted that he's going to release something people freak out and act like it's going to be the best music ever made and that music will be saved.

Again, this was fine. I do really like "Charade" and the album closer "Another Life." "Betray My Heart" was a little piece of jaunty fun.

The rest seems one-note. Repetitive vamping in nearly every song. I don't know. Everyone was waiting for this? I would have rather had a Maxwell album if I had to choose.

Ok, can we agree on a few things?

1. Due to whatever sort of stuff influences what's going on in the brain, we can see that people are influenced/caused to like different albums, song, types of music, musicians, etc. to varying degree.

2. Sometimes people can get excited for something, a lot, especially if they're happy to know that thing is coming.

3. Sometimes more than one or two people get excited for a thing, leading to a widespread collective excitement for said thing.

Now, what's the problem here? It just seems like you're surprised by the idea that any group of people can get hugely excited over something you yourself don't particularly like. I don't mean to compel you or anyone else to like the album any more or less. I just mean that, the discussion you're trying to start, which has been repeated again and again and again so many times till exhaustion, is just futile and pointless.

There's absolutely no problem. What a blatantaly ridiculous post. I can competely understand that people would get "hugely excited about something" I myself "don't particularly like." I myself was hugely excited leading up to listening to it.

All I said is that it left me lukewarm. I even went on to praise a few tracks and simply said the rest was "meh" for me. I gess that's sacreligious.

I forgot where I was. No room for discussion. Everyone just wants to hear their opinion agreed with. And takes on some sort of weird defensivness if not. Geesh, sorry.

Okay, NOW for the G-Man's take... I am absorbing it now.

Absorbing D'Angelo's new joint: 'D'Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah'. Yeah, he kinda buried his vocals in the mix, but the Prince/Sly Stone thing is in full effect. I am typing this during a self-imposed intermission... half way through... like an album break in-between sides. News at Eleven.

.

I'm still on the fence with this. Could use some more clarity in the mix... Arrangements could use some tightening up. Nice flow though. I kind of respect the raw looseness of it, as I feel it's what D wanted... very late Sly Stone. Echoes of 'There's A Riot Goin' On'.

.

UPDATE: Now at 'Betray My Heart'. I really dug "Prayer'... I'm diggin' this joint.

.

Please keep in mind that I've been checkin' Mr Archer since the beginning.

.

I will not judge based on the 14 year gap... only what I hear is important...

.

On that note, for those of you saying that it "destroys anything Prince has done in _____ years" need to reevaluate your perspective (mind) and your ears (mind).

.

On the positive side... I like that he's having fun doing what he wants on this, and I support it fully.

~G

.

[Edited 12/15/14 17:56pm]

coltrane3 said:

getfunked said:

Ok, can we agree on a few things?

1. Due to whatever sort of stuff influences what's going on in the brain, we can see that people are influenced/caused to like different albums, song, types of music, musicians, etc. to varying degree.

2. Sometimes people can get excited for something, a lot, especially if they're happy to know that thing is coming.

3. Sometimes more than one or two people get excited for a thing, leading to a widespread collective excitement for said thing.

Now, what's the problem here? It just seems like you're surprised by the idea that any group of people can get hugely excited over something you yourself don't particularly like. I don't mean to compel you or anyone else to like the album any more or less. I just mean that, the discussion you're trying to start, which has been repeated again and again and again so many times till exhaustion, is just futile and pointless.

There's absolutely no problem. What a blatantaly ridiculous post. I can competely understand that people would get "hugely excited about something" I myself "don't particularly like." I myself was hugely excited leading up to listening to it.

All I said is that it left me lukewarm. I even went on to praise a few tracks and simply said the rest was "meh" for me. I gess that's sacreligious.

I forgot where I was. No room for discussion. Everyone just wants to hear their opinion agreed with. And takes on some sort of weird defensivness if not. Geesh, sorry.

Much irony in the bolded parts. Your post sounded to me like the same old template when somebody doesn't like something getting an adulating reaction: everyone is going crazy about [x] i can't understand why? [x] is just not that good because of [y] everyone is overreacting. This is a dead and tired discussion, done over so many times. It just doesn't usually get anywhere constructive, imo. Just turns into a continuous cycle of exchanging assertions.

[Edited 12/15/14 18:09pm]

3rdeyedude said:

Nick715 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

when does the Physical copy hit stores, tomorrow?

Yeah, I'm surprised this hasn't been revealed yet. Maybe another week? That's how it worked last year with the "Beyonce" surprise release.

CDs are in stores now, saw at TARGET & BESTBUY today 13.99

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Betray My Heart is the shit.

>

I LOVE this track!

I suspect it's the relentless groove.

KingSausage said:

Every track is the shit. This is perfection. Absolute perfection.

It really is, the more I listen the more I hear.....

Pharrell WilliamsVerified account‏@Pharrell

D'Angelo's album "Black Messiah" is sheer GENIUS.

This is a really good cd! I have "Ain't That Easy" and "Another Life" on repeat. Nice opening and closing (bookends). The singing/sangin' on "AL" is beautiful, lots of feeling.......My next favorites are "The Charade" (what we wanted was a chance to talk!) and "Betray My Heart" (nice keys, horns, I can actually catch the lyrics ).

This will get lots of play for sure. Nice comeback.......

We might get a Tonight Show and Letterman appearance out of him.

I still remember that "Chicken Grease" performance on The Chris Rock Show.

Haven't seen him in a couple months. I wonder if he's succumbed to pressure and slimmed down to be TV ready...

CynicKill said:

Graycap23 said:

Am I the first one to point out that Saadiq is nowhere to be found on this. Did he and d have a falling out?

scriptgirl said:

Am I the first one to point out that Saadiq is nowhere to be found on this. Did he and d have a falling out?

I talked to that Sadiq dude years ago, during one of the many times D'angelo was "suppose" to be working on an album. He told me he was working with him. Sadiq, I don't really care too much for anymore. He is not very friendly. I use to be a fan of his and spent a lot of money on him. He will NEVER get a dime from me EVER again. D doesn't need him anyway

This album will proably go on my purchase list in a minute. Not feeling it just yet, but I ain't mad.

scriptgirl said: