Graycap23 said:

Lammastide said:

OK... I've heard the album now. Very solid. Superior, I think, to all of his prior projects. Taking nothing away from this win, I personally still want to hear what D'Angelo would do in the way of more varied compositions, namely up-tempo and rock-inflected stuff. I've long suspected he's had the musical vocabulary, and "1000 Deaths" (which is now possibly my favourite track ever from this guy) confirms he's got the chops.

I hope it's not another 14 years before we get more.

Are u glad u picked it up?

Spotify, bruh. But I'll give up some cash for this. While I remain constructively critical of D'Angelo, he's the type of artist I'd support for what I believe is his potential and genuine respect for the craft.

It's in the cd booklet as well, with no lyrics I reiterate!!!

KingSausage, the booklet is nice, it has everything you would want... EXCEPT lyrics.

The pictures & credits are great, though.


1000 Deaths, second listen... okay, I get it. There's a LOT to love on this track. There's one thing I don't like. The fast, loud in the mix, low end, rhythmic sound, that is especially dominant the first half of the track, grates on me. I'm not even sure of it's source, sometimes sounds like bass strings but not played in a familiar way. I guess I'm probably not describing it very well. Regardless, the song is otherwise fantastic.

Love this album! It's gonna get many spins!!!!

Let's not wait another 14 years D.

You have to wonder-what DOES P think of Black Messiah or does he think about it at all

scriptgirl said:

You have to wonder-what DOES P think of Black Messiah or does he think about it at all

>

Prince is a fan.

I'm sure he's heard it.

I'm sure he loves it.

I'm sure he's tweaking it in his head going over what he would've done with it.

djThunderfunk said:

1000 Deaths, second listen... okay, I get it. There's a LOT to love on this track. There's one thing I don't like. The fast, loud in the mix, low end, rhythmic sound, that is especially dominant the first half of the track, grates on me. I'm not even sure of it's source, sometimes sounds like bass strings but not played in a familiar way. I guess I'm probably not describing it very well. Regardless, the song is otherwise fantastic.

I think you've described it very well. I believe that's the bass being played more as a percussive instrument than a harmonic one -- sort of like in "Irresistible Bitch." I love the filthy, agitated sound of it.

Lammastide said:

KingSausage said:

Lammastide said:

I think you've described it very well. I believe that's the bass being played more as a percussive instrument than a harmonic one -- sort of like in "Irresistible Bitch." I love the filthy, agitated sound of it.

Yep. Nailed it. It's like Cloreen Baconskin. 1000 Deaths is my favorite. So fucking good. It's crazy intense.

Strange. I love Irrestible Bitch & Cloreen Baconskin, but don't like that element of this song.

Maybe it's the mix or something but it detracts for me.

If that's the only complaint I have of the entire LP, this one is a winner!

Lammastide said:

Graycap23 said:

Are u glad u picked it up?

Spotify, bruh. But I'll give up some cash for this. While I remain constructively critical of D'Angelo, he's the type of artist I'd support for what I believe is his potential and genuine respect for the craft.

As long as u checked out......

Ok so I listened to the album a second time. I can get into the grooves on the album, but the songs as a whole don't do much for me. I feel like he did put a lot of energy into it, but yeah I guess certain things you either like or you don't and this isnt really anything i'd put on unless I just smoked weed or something because I wouldn't care about the song structure or the lyrics.

Finally listening... I'm on track 5 (apparently titled Really Love). It sounds great--I'm gonna have to listen with a lyric sheet, because I'm honestly not getting much of the lyrics at all--I love the sound of the vocals, but I do want to know the words. A nice bed of sounds. I'm not losing my mind over it--I enjoy funk, but I do come from a pop world, and so immediate reactions are affected by a lack of hooks. Funk has to grow on me. If I listen enough times, it'll probably become familiar enough that I'll really like it.

.

It is nice though--Back to the Future (Part I)'s on now. I'm gonna make the time to listen enough times, I think.

man listen...

the album is great. 10/10.

it's #1 in 20 countries.

he's going to tour it in a few months.

good day to be a fan.

KingSausage said:

The Slate review of Black Messiah is right on. You people just can't recognize the masterpiece right in front of your faces. http://www.slate.com/arti...iewed.html

Very good read!

Starting Betray My Heart now--the last several tracks have all made me happier and happier. So much pleasure in these vocal arrangements.

EddieC said:

Starting Betray My Heart now--the last several tracks have all made me happier and happier. So much pleasure in these vocal arrangements.

>

My FAVE track!

Ok, OP has been updated with links to outlets, lyrics, booklets and such. Just one thing... is this site legit... ? http://www.hdtracks.com/b...iah-209416 I don't see it in the list of official digital vendors on blackmessiah.co. Something smells fishy.

[Edited 12/16/14 20:22pm]

In the end yes a great album and one hell of a huge nod to Prince

but a milestone? Masterpiece? Uhh...noooo

1. Without Prince there is no D'Angelo (as many have pointed out)

2. Prince has made each and every of these songs throughout his career

3. D'Angelo not only imitates his sound/vocals/style he also uses former band members to create the sound

4. Upon repeat listening his mumbling is seriously irritating and detracts from the incredible grooves
5. Ain't nobody layers vocals like Prince...nobody
6. This ain't no masterpiece...its a master ripoff of Prince and D nails it a ton like he always has. Bravo! I dig it.

FIRE!!!!!!!!! What an empowering and soulful work of art! Yes D! I knew you would bring it!!! So inspirational!

2020 said:

In the end yes a great album and one hell of a huge nod to Prince

but a milestone? Masterpiece? Uhh...noooo

1. Without Prince there is no D'Angelo (as many have pointed out)

2. Prince has made each and every of these songs throughout his career

3. D'Angelo not only imitates his sound/vocals/style he also uses former band members to create the sound

4. Upon repeat listening his mumbling is seriously irritating and detracts from the incredible grooves 5. Ain't nobody layers vocals like Prince...nobody 6. This ain't no masterpiece...its a master ripoff of Prince and D nails it a ton like he always has. Bravo! I dig it.

>

But as someone else also stated Prince has never made an album like this or VooDoo.

2020 said:

In the end yes a great album and one hell of a huge nod to Prince

but a milestone? Masterpiece? Uhh...noooo

1. Without Prince there is no D'Angelo (as many have pointed out)

2. Prince has made each and every of these songs throughout his career

3. D'Angelo not only imitates his sound/vocals/style he also uses former band members to create the sound

4. Upon repeat listening his mumbling is seriously irritating and detracts from the incredible grooves 5. Ain't nobody layers vocals like Prince...nobody 6. This ain't no masterpiece...its a master ripoff of Prince and D nails it a ton like he always has. Bravo! I dig it.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

2020 said:

Eh, don't let the "this is better than anything Prince has put out in 25 years crowd" let you not enjoy the music on the album.

I aint never seen either JB or Sly get down on a guitar like Prince..

I think Prince's fandom is much more subtle than D's.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

2020 said:

In the end yes a great album and one hell of a huge nod to Prince

but a milestone? Masterpiece? Uhh...noooo

1. Without Prince there is no D'Angelo (as many have pointed out)

2. Prince has made each and every of these songs throughout his career

3. D'Angelo not only imitates his sound/vocals/style he also uses former band members to create the sound

4. Upon repeat listening his mumbling is seriously irritating and detracts from the incredible grooves 5. Ain't nobody layers vocals like Prince...nobody 6. This ain't no masterpiece...its a master ripoff of Prince and D nails it a ton like he always has. Bravo! I dig it.

Replace D'Angelo is to Prince as Prince is to James Brown-Sly Stone. Prince is a rip off of James Brown-Sly Stone.

There's loads of differences between D'Angelo and his hero Prince...

Prince can go deeper, and higher.
D'angelo can go smoother and warmer.
Prince is often tight and on the one like James Brown.
D'angelo is often tight, but always loose, and never as strict as James Brown.
Prince is not stereotypical "black" in his sound, but when he wants to, he will prove he's the baddest.
D'angelo is always going for a sound that is referring to african roots/heritage.
Prince is usually very articulate.
D'angelo is going for a mumbling voice.
Prince talked about being a little bit behind the beat on Joy In Repetition.
Everything D'angelo does sounds like it's a little bit behind the beat.
Prince are usually making his choirs sound like big chords, and he is one of the best at putting different textures to it. Violet The Organ Grinder is a great example of a crazy choir.
D'angelo tends to make his choirs sound like many melodies at once that just fit together perfectly. It's smooth and sweet, and even though it doesn't sound as crazy as if Prince would do the same, it's perfect for its purpose.

As a whole I think Prince is a more interresting and versatile artist. However that shouldn't be a reason for not liking Black Messiah. Black Messiah is a fantastic collaboration with different legendary players, and the result is amazing. He doesn't need to be a one man band to make a good record, and a one man band doesn't make an album better. A one man band being behind the music just makes it more impressive. Impressive doesn't equal classic, and collaboration doesn't equal less good music.

[Edited 12/17/14 0:11am]