It's a modern day version of "There's A Riot Goin' On"; Dark, Dirty, Gritty & Pretty. Most of all.....FUNKY!!!!!!! D'Angelo & Crew just gave R&B/Soul Music a kick in the BALLS!!!!!

jasminejoey said:

You guys crack me up. There are eighteen pages(!!) filled with the most glowing, gushing praise ever issued for a new album. What's with the outrage?? Everyone, on and off the .org, seems to agree it's a masterpiece. A few are not quite persuaded it's the greatest album ever recorded. Certainly you can make an allowance for that?!

[Edited 12/17/14 16:46pm]

I don't understand the line I've bolded from your comment.

Many people are saying it's really good and worth the wait, but I am hardly seeing the vast majority of people saying that "it's the greatest album ever recorded". Your comment implies that only a small number of people do not share that view here or elsewhere (?).

As for the metacritic score: those will drop after a while, as it's usually the biggest fans of the artists that will post their reviews of the records within the first couple of days after the release dates. Having a high "metacritic score" certainly doesn't mean that every one of those critics would have given it a "five star" review. I don't expect this record to get too many bad professional reviews though.

Philly76 said:

Listened to this album 3 times now and i'm somewhat disappointed Although i admire the talent of D'Angelo. I like 3 maybe 4 songs and the rest is crap imo as i cannot speak of "songs" as all rather demos or a mixed up mash of something. After 14 years of album disappearence from D i expected way more tbh.

to call the rest "crap" shows only that you have a very small minded perception about songwriting or songstructure... it's not crap... YOU JUST AIN'T READY FOR STUFF LIKE THIS! Smoke some...

[Edited 12/18/14 0:19am]

I hope that there will be some room left for the people in the middle on this one. I don't hate it, I just don't love it like some of y'all. It's an album I'll keep listening to for a long time, no doubt, but I don't think it will ever be a favorite. I really enjoy that he's continuing an important tradition, one that I'll agree modern music/funk/soul/r&b needs to be reminded of, but it doesn't move forward as much as I'd like it to. That doesn't mean I hate it, though, I just don't, like, LOOOOOOOVE IT... ya know?

lrn36 said:

D'Angelo is a very laid back, chill guy (too much herb) and his music is a reflection of that. I need a little more variety in tempo and immediacy. The fact that all songs are roughly the same speed just lulls me to sleep. How about a dance track or hard driving rock track just to spice it up a bit? Someone else said on this thread that he is a great slow groove maker, but not necessarily a great songwriter and I would have to agree with that. It seems like the groove comes first and everything else is an afterthought. That wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't all the same groove.

ok... but for people like you there's already a ton of RnB Soul Rock Funk Records outthere released in the last 14 years!

But some people like me were deperately waiting for another PSYCHODELIC SLOP FUNK EXPERIENCE 2.0 since... well... VOODOO.

Cerebus said:

I hope that there will be some room left for the people in the middle on this one. I don't hate it, I just don't love it like some of y'all. It's an album I'll keep listening to for a long time, no doubt, but I don't think it will ever be a favorite. I really enjoy that he's continuing an important tradition, one that I'll agree modern music/funk/soul/r&b needs to be reminded of, but it doesn't move forward as much as I'd like it to. That doesn't mean I hate it, though, I just don't, like, LOOOOOOOVE IT... ya know?

That's pretty much my consensus.

purplethunder3121 said:

I just have to say--and it is my opinion only, not taking anything away from D'Angelo or this album--as much as I dig and can dig into his music, it still doesn't move me or transport me to another realm the way that the best of Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown, and, of course, Prince can do. For me, although this is a great album for what it is--after listening many times--it just doesn't have the same lasting effect that the aforementioned artists have. But, in saying that, I still enjoy this album a lot and it is very refreshing to hear.

ok.. but the artist you mention did produce music in the 70ies where a lot of very well produced and high quality music was released. Musicians did inspire each other. The industry was shining.

But we are in 2015 where 95% of todays music is just whack... therefore D's new album is something very special. Analog music in 2014 with a lot of influence from all these artists you mentioned. for me: that's the big WOW! ... and it's #1 in a lot of countries!!!! that' sick...

[Edited 12/18/14 0:52am]

spitty said:

djThunderfunk said:

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.

Is it a Clav?

TASKAE said:

djThunderfunk said:

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.

The review you have just read represents an ultrasound of this reviewers brain. We would now like to apologize for the confusion and unnecessaryness of its contents. It is not beautiful. Whack 'em, music God. Whack 'em.

I know all the words you just used, but I have no idea what you are saying...

I'm not 100% sure that i agree with that.....

But.. Yes, They are Close enough for me to get what you're saying...

LittleBLUECorvette said:

getfunked said:

Holy shit!

Chocolate is the groove to JBs Give it up or Turnit Loose.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Is it a Clav?

I think (and a couple others agreed) that it's the bass, played similarly to how Prince did Bakonskin.

Interestingly, when I wrote that, I was listening on my 800W system and my EQ was set where I keep it for old school funk & soul, classic Prince, P-Funk, etc... For all that I push the low end up quite a bit.

In my vehicle yesterday, with factory speakers and a flat EQ, I thought the song sounded great. So, I just need to remember that this modern disc doesn't need the extra bass push that I need for say, SOTT, and... problem solved. I now like this album in it's entirety (as if this one small thing detracted much anyway).

People that are Ignorant jump on bandwagons...

Exactly my thoughts..

Philly76 said:

Listened to this album 3 times now and i'm somewhat disappointed Although i admire the talent of D'Angelo. I like 3 maybe 4 songs and the rest is crap imo as i cannot speak of "songs" as all rather demos or a mixed up mash of something. After 14 years of album disappearence from D i expected way more tbh.

Philly76 said:

Listened to this album 3 times now and i'm somewhat disappointed Although i admire the talent of D'Angelo. I like 3 maybe 4 songs and the rest is crap imo as i cannot speak of "songs" as all rather demos or a mixed up mash of something. After 14 years of album disappearence from D i expected way more tbh.

D didn't have Angie Stone(who was a ghost writer on his first album) & Sadiq( ) who wrote the biggest and only hit from his second album, to create a variety of sounds for this new one. That is why it sounds repetitive. Even though I do like it. It's not a groundbreaking sound for being missing for 14 years. But I still give him credit for beating drugs. Plus it sounds better than anything else out, besides 's number#1 album "ArtOfficialAge"..

KCool, I agree. I think Angie and Saadiq took a firmer hand with D and reigned him in. I think that was not the case here. I think D was indulged on this record. Kendra Foster does not measure up to Angie in anyway shape or form. She is not even fit to shine Angie's shoes. In fact I blame her for the tunes I don't like on the cd. I would be very interested to know EXACTLY how much writing she did do.

KCool, I agree. I think Angie and Saadiq took a firmer hand with D and reigned him in. I think that was not the case here. I think D was indulged on this record. Kendra Foster does not measure up to Angie in anyway shape or form. She is not even fit to shine Angie's shoes. In fact I blame her for the tunes I don't like on the cd. I would be very interested to know EXACTLY how much writing she did do.

Why all the hate for Kendra? What's that about?

The album is getting more good reviews than bad, and she's got credit on 2/3 of it, so what's to hate?

I've seen her with George Clinton many times and she's always been great. I'm as pleased to see her with D as I am any of Prince's affiliations, and think this collaboration is a winner.

In my not-so-humble opinion, of course...

djThunderfunk said:

Why all the hate for Kendra? What's that about?

The album is getting more good reviews than bad, and she's got credit on 2/3 of it, so what's to hate?

I've seen her with George Clinton many times and she's always been great. I'm as pleased to see her with D as I am any of Prince's affiliations, and think this collaboration is a winner.

In my not-so-humble opinion, of course...

I like Kendra too and have no issue with her. If Kendra is good enough for a legend like George Clinton she's good enough for D'Angelo as far as I'm concerned. I like the songs she's credited as co-writer on and if D'Angelo chose to credit her I assume she must have had a significant hand in writing them.

I think Black Messiah is just as focused as Voodoo. In fact, it might be better. I'm enjoying hearing D'Angelo channel other influences (such as country) and laying down some pure funk. Voodoo was heavier on hip-hop, whereas I'm appreciating the fusions I'm hearing on BM much more.

For what it's worth the critics love it

http://www.metacritic.com/music/black-messiah/dangelo

woogiebear said:

It's a modern day version of "There's A Riot Goin' On"; Dark, Dirty, Gritty & Pretty. Most of all.....FUNKY!!!!!!! D'Angelo & Crew just gave R&B/Soul Music a kick in the BALLS!!!!!

Yeah... I'm feeling that Sly Stone vibe as well. Actually, I hear more of a Family Stone influence that I do Prince, despite all the comments, reviews and memes indicating the opposite.

I happen to think Agie and Raphael are more talented. I have listened tons of Kendras solo work and seen vids of her singing live-I don't think she can sing and I don't care for most of her her original material. She's like a really, really poor man's Erykah Badu.

Anyway, still digesting Black Messiah.

scriptgirl said:

KCool, I agree. I think Angie and Saadiq took a firmer hand with D and reigned him in. I think that was not the case here. I think D was indulged on this record. Kendra Foster does not measure up to Angie in anyway shape or form. She is not even fit to shine Angie's shoes. In fact I blame her for the tunes I don't like on the cd. I would be very interested to know EXACTLY how much writing she did do.

if theres anyone whos under rated under appreciated and deserves way way way more attention its angie stone.

Definitley my favourite D'Angelo album. His only perfect album in my opinion. I've been listening to it almost exclusively since Tuesday.

So is that what we're doing now, crediting D'Angelo's career to other people?

I like Angie and Sadiq as well as the next one, but to me neither of them have put out an album as good as any of D'Angelo's.

It's like all those people who were taking credit for the success of "Miseducation". OK fine, but if Lauryn was so hopeless an artist, how come none of these people have put out an album as interesting on their own as "Miseducation"?

CynicKill said:

So is that what we're doing now, crediting D'Angelo's career to other people?

I like Angie and Sadiq as well as the next one, but to me neither of them have put out an album as good as any of D'Angelo's.

It's like all those people who were taking credit for the success of "Miseducation". OK fine, but if Lauryn was so hopeless an artist, how come none of these people have put out an album as interesting on their own as "Miseducation"?

The alterntive question is--how come she hasn't put out anything as interesting on her own?

YASSS! Angie is the business!

CynicKill said:

So is that what we're doing now, crediting D'Angelo's career to other people?

I like Angie and Sadiq as well as the next one, but to me neither of them have put out an album as good as any of D'Angelo's.

It's like all those people who were taking credit for the success of "Miseducation". OK fine, but if Lauryn was so hopeless an artist, how come none of these people have put out an album as interesting on their own as "Miseducation"?

I'd suggest u talk another look at Saddiq's catalogue.