Replica said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSeMDaW6qek

Am I the only one hearing stuff from this Van Hunt album on Black Messiah. Especially Prayer is very Van Hunt-ish. I love it though.

The movement of the song is similar but I hear two different songs. VH is more lightweight in tone (more corny...haha) and D'Angelo's Prayer has a more underground dirty feeling, but in a good way One of my favs too.

thedoorkeeper said:

BM debuts on sales chart at #5. 117,000 units sold. Its considered a flop.

Charting at #5 is a flop? Since when?

thedoorkeeper said:

BM debuts on sales chart at #5. 117,000 units sold. Its considered a flop.

He'll probably have better sale the upcoming weeks.

Eh.

He pulled a surprise release after a 14 year absence.

I hope they weren't expecting blockbuster sales.

BTW how's the radio play for "Really Love" going?

thedoorkeeper said:

BM debuts on sales chart at #5. 117,000 units sold. Its considered a flop.

I'm very proud of D'angelo for pulling these numbers. He should be very humbled by these sales...It proves noone forgot him in his absence... Since someone predicted he wouldn't have even sold 20,000 & noone would care.

[Edited 12/26/14 17:53pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Finally got around to listening the album a few times, I absolutely love it!

The production is superb, as are many of the songs and instrumentation. The guitar is a good addition to expand his Voodoo sound and create new textures. I love how the album doesn't take into account any modern styles or tries to deliver 'hit' material. It is mostly a throwback to the seventies, including the way the songs have been recorded.

Hats off for D'Angelo and his crew trying to bring quality music, a piece of artistry uncompromised by commercial interests. Looking forward for more D albums in the future, the guy has my full support.

1. Ain't That Easy: Great start of the album, it took me a bit of time getting used to this song. It reminds me of a mix between Funkadelic and Lenny Kravitz, in the best possible way. This is one of the songs where the guitars really adds to the usual elements of D's songs. Also the first of many tracks that feature strategically placed clap sounds, that add energy to the music in the same way Prince's 80's Linndrum patterns often did. I like that the didn't go for Linndrum claps (would have sounded great but "way too Princey"), he created his own clap sounds instead to great effect.

2. 1000 Deaths: Not too sure about this one, there are elements that I like in it but also elements that irritate me. Again I hear a big Funkadelic influence on this one, which I appreciate.

3. The Charade: I knew this one already from Youtube concert clips and already loved this song since the very first time I've heard it. Unsurprisingly I also like the studio version a lot. It has a very distinct Prince & The Revolution vibe to me, somewhere between ATWIAD and Parade era. This is D doing Prince's sound better than Prince himself, IMHO. Great bass work by Pino!

4. Sugah Daddy: Fantastic funk effort in "Voodoo" vein, again great bass work. Love all the little vocal effects in this track and the other effects like those delays and filters on the horn section. Very good production on this one.

5. Really Love: This is one track that didn't grab me as quick as some of the others. It has grown on me since though. It is a great Sunday morning tune, for waking up slowly with some coffee and a croissant. Very nice guitar work on this one.

6. Back To The Future (pt. 1): Another one that needed some time to hit me. A bit monotone maybe, but nicely orchestrated with those strings. Not the strongest song in this set IMO, but the production/sound is superb.

7. Till It's Done (Tutu): Nice dreamy vibe on this one, another track that would have fit seemlessly on "Voodoo". Very nice guitar work again, like all over this album. I wonder how much of it was played by D himself. Great coda with a little jazzrock vibe at the end of the song, would love to hear that part extendede with a nice guitar solo over it. The song reminds me a bit of something that could have landed on Prince's "LotusFlower" album.

8. Prayer: One of my favorites of this album. The beat and timing of this song sound stoned or drunk, or both at the same time maybe. Whatever it is, it works for me. Lovely synths and great hiphop style beat. This song reminds me of something Lenny Kravitz might have recorded on a good day.

9. Betray My Heart: Another very good track that would not have been out of place on "Voodoo". Very nice groove and bass work, beautiful horn arrangements and lovely guitar licks. The production and sound of this album are superb, very warm but clear at the same time. Everything sounds so loose and purposedly 'untimed' for lack of a better word. Totally works for me.

10. The Door: A bit of a Otis Redding vibe on this one. Never was a fan of whistling in songs and this track is not going to change that for me. It has a charming vibe but is a bit forgetable compared to some of the other tracks on this album.

11. Back To The Future (pt. 2): Obviously the same song as Pt. 1. I very much enjoy it when the bassline changes at the end of the song into a particularly funky variant. The bass all over this album is warm, round and full bodied: one of the many things I like about the way this album was mixd and recorded.

12. Another Life: Another song that has a particularly strong Prince waft, in the best possible way. This is the 'Untitled' of the "Black Messiah" album if you ask me. Totally biting Prince's style, but executed with a lot of flair and panache. To the extend where you wonder why Prince doesn't record music like this anymore. Great song, great production, great Princely vocals and a great way to end the album!

[Edited 12/27/14 6:20am]

[Edited 12/27/14 6:23am]

funkaholic1972 said:

3. The Charade: I knew this one already from Youtube concert clips and already loved this song since the very first time I've heard it. Unsurprisingly I also like the studio version a lot. It has a very distinct Prince & The Revolution vibe to me, somewhere between ATWIAD and Parade era. This is D doing Prince's sound better than Prince himself, IMHO. Great bass work by Pino!

12. Another Life: Another song that has a particularly strong Prince waft, in the best possible way. This is the 'Untitled' of the "Black Messiah" album if you ask me. Totally biting Prince's style, but executed with a lot of flair and panache. To the extend where you wonder why Prince doesn't record music like this anymore. Great song, great production, great Princely vocals and a great way to end the album!

Eye guess U never heard "Future Love Song", Somewhere Here On Earth, the grammy winning "Future Baby Mama, & The Breakdown....

funkaholic1972 said:

3. The Charade: I knew this one already from Youtube concert clips and already loved this song since the very first time I've heard it. Unsurprisingly I also like the studio version a lot. It has a very distinct Prince & The Revolution vibe to me, somewhere between ATWIAD and Parade era. This is D doing Prince's sound better than Prince himself, IMHO. Great bass work by Pino!

12. Another Life: Another song that has a particularly strong Prince waft, in the best possible way. This is the 'Untitled' of the "Black Messiah" album if you ask me. Totally biting Prince's style, but executed with a lot of flair and panache. To the extend where you wonder why Prince doesn't record music like this anymore. Great song, great production, great Princely vocals and a great way to end the album!

Eye guess U never heard "Future Soul Song", Somewhere Here On Earth, the grammy winning "Future Baby Mama, & The Breakdown....

I haven't heard the album yet, but after checking out the AMG(all music guide)website's almost perfect rating of the album, i'm hella curious 2 hear it.


We all need some good R&B in our lives...

Nice review..

I largely agree with you..although the songs dont do much for me..

funkaholic1972 said:

1. Ain't That Easy: Great start of the album, it took me a bit of time getting used to this song. It reminds me of a mix between Funkadelic and Lenny Kravitz, in the best possible way. This is one of the songs where the guitars really adds to the usual elements of D's songs. Also the first of many tracks that feature strategically placed clap sounds, that add energy to the music in the same way Prince's 80's Linndrum patterns often did. I like that the didn't go for Linndrum claps (would have sounded great but "way too Princey"), he created his own clap sounds instead to great effect.

2. 1000 Deaths: Not too sure about this one, there are elements that I like in it but also elements that irritate me. Again I hear a big Funkadelic influence on this one, which I appreciate.

3. The Charade: I knew this one already from Youtube concert clips and already loved this song since the very first time I've heard it. Unsurprisingly I also like the studio version a lot. It has a very distinct Prince & The Revolution vibe to me, somewhere between ATWIAD and Parade era. This is D doing Prince's sound better than Prince himself, IMHO. Great bass work by Pino!

4. Sugah Daddy: Fantastic funk effort in "Voodoo" vein, again great bass work. Love all the little vocal effects in this track and the other effects like those delays and filters on the horn section. Very good production on this one.

5. Really Love: This is one track that didn't grab me as quick as some of the others. It has grown on me since though. It is a great Sunday morning tune, for waking up slowly with some coffee and a croissant. Very nice guitar work on this one.

6. Back To The Future (pt. 1): Another one that needed some time to hit me. A bit monotone maybe, but nicely orchestrated with those strings. Not the strongest song in this set IMO, but the production/sound is superb.

7. Till It's Done (Tutu): Nice dreamy vibe on this one, another track that would have fit seemlessly on "Voodoo". Very nice guitar work again, like all over this album. I wonder how much of it was played by D himself. Great coda with a little jazzrock vibe at the end of the song, would love to hear that part extendede with a nice guitar solo over it. The song reminds me a bit of something that could have landed on Prince's "LotusFlower" album.

8. Prayer: One of my favorites of this album. The beat and timing of this song sound stoned or drunk, or both at the same time maybe. Whatever it is, it works for me. Lovely synths and great hiphop style beat. This song reminds me of something Lenny Kravitz might have recorded on a good day.

9. Betray My Heart: Another very good track that would not have been out of place on "Voodoo". Very nice groove and bass work, beautiful horn arrangements and lovely guitar licks. The production and sound of this album are superb, very warm but clear at the same time. Everything sounds so loose and purposedly 'untimed' for lack of a better word. Totally works for me.

10. The Door: A bit of a Otis Redding vibe on this one. Never was a fan of whistling in songs and this track is not going to change that for me. It has a charming vibe but is a bit forgetable compared to some of the other tracks on this album.

11. Back To The Future (pt. 2): Obviously the same song as Pt. 1. I very much enjoy it when the bassline changes at the end of the song into a particularly funky variant. The bass all over this album is warm, round and full bodied: one of the many things I like about the way this album was mixd and recorded.

12. Another Life: Another song that has a particularly strong Prince waft, in the best possible way. This is the 'Untitled' of the "Black Messiah" album if you ask me. Totally biting Prince's style, but executed with a lot of flair and panache. To the extend where you wonder why Prince doesn't record music like this anymore. Great song, great production, great Princely vocals and a great way to end the album!

[Edited 12/27/14 6:20am]

[Edited 12/27/14 6:23am]

novabrkr said:

Now Maxwell is posting that he will put out his record "Winter 2015". Normally I'd just think "yeah, whatever". He's procrastinated on his right for quite a while already, but I think D'Angelo finishing his just might make him feel motivated to finish his own as well. Like, there's always been healthy competition between those two.

Yeah, on that one, I'll wait until I actually see it on the shelves. The whole promise of three albums one a year starting in 2007 burned me a bit as a fan. I figured the 2009 release would just be the first part of the flood, but here we are. I don't care if you don't have another album waiting, that's cool if you want to take time to enjoy life and all that, just dont' promise that you've got all this funky mess on lock when you don't.

I may be the only one here who thinks this way, but in songs like Another Life, I really don't hear Prince. I mean, yes, D'Angelo sings falsetto and some might be tempted to call this the "Adore" of Black Messiah, but to me the Prince comparisons come off more coincidental than anything. Maybe it's that he takes what we think of as "Prince sounds," which are as much like Prince songs as Prince is the creator of the MPLSound--he didn't create this sound all by himself, he just used it the best. Take the opening verse of "Ain't That Easy," as well. I don't get Prince at all on that one, and it reminds me of something I'd hear on a Bilal album more than a Prince album. I'm focused on listening to this album based on its own merit, and if the occasional influence from this or that artist comes along, I'm like cool, but this is a D'Angelo album, and I'm taking it on face value. To me, the comparison game just makes for bitter music listeners than anything.

TASKAE said:

I may be the only one here who thinks this way, but in songs like Another Life, I really don't hear Prince. I mean, yes, D'Angelo sings falsetto and some might be tempted to call this the "Adore" of Black Messiah, but to me the Prince comparisons come off more coincidental than anything. Maybe it's that he takes what we think of as "Prince sounds," which are as much like Prince songs as Prince is the creator of the MPLSound--he didn't create this sound all by himself, he just used it the best. Take the opening verse of "Ain't That Easy," as well. I don't get Prince at all on that one, and it reminds me of something I'd hear on a Bilal album more than a Prince album. I'm focused on listening to this album based on its own merit, and if the occasional influence from this or that artist comes along, I'm like cool, but this is a D'Angelo album, and I'm taking it on face value. To me, the comparison game just makes for bitter music listeners than anything.

You're overrationalizing it. There's obviously a Prince influence on many of the tracks. People who have worked with him on the record say the same. Of course it's going to sound a bit different when a smart artist like D'Angelo is going to do it, because he sticks with those aspects of Prince's stuff that he can pull off doing himself well and modifies them a bit. It's a mix of different things, sure, but that doesn't mean the Prince influence wouldn't be there.

byw, the album doesn't have that much to do with the "Minneapolis sound". The Prince influence here comes mostly from the latter half of the 80s.

TASKAE said:

novabrkr said:

Now Maxwell is posting that he will put out his record "Winter 2015". Normally I'd just think "yeah, whatever". He's procrastinated on his right for quite a while already, but I think D'Angelo finishing his just might make him feel motivated to finish his own as well. Like, there's always been healthy competition between those two.

Yeah, on that one, I'll wait until I actually see it on the shelves. The whole promise of three albums one a year starting in 2007 burned me a bit as a fan. I figured the 2009 release would just be the first part of the flood, but here we are. I don't care if you don't have another album waiting, that's cool if you want to take time to enjoy life and all that, just dont' promise that you've got all this funky mess on lock when you don't.

In Maxwell's defense, a lot of times, the reason albums aren't released when the artist says, has to do with the record company. Plus RnB is not selling anymore right now. Unless your Justin Timberlake or Sam or Ariana Grande.

TASKAE said:

TASKAE said:

I may be the only one here who thinks this way, but in songs like Another Life, I really don't hear Prince. I mean, yes, D'Angelo sings falsetto and some might be tempted to call this the "Adore" of Black Messiah, but to me the Prince comparisons come off more coincidental than anything. Maybe it's that he takes what we think of as "Prince sounds," which are as much like Prince songs as Prince is the creator of the MPLSound--he didn't create this sound all by himself, he just used it the best. Take the opening verse of "Ain't That Easy," as well. I don't get Prince at all on that one, and it reminds me of something I'd hear on a Bilal album more than a Prince album. I'm focused on listening to this album based on its own merit, and if the occasional influence from this or that artist comes along, I'm like cool, but this is a D'Angelo album, and I'm taking it on face value. To me, the comparison game just makes for bitter music listeners than anything.

Charade is the only song that sounds very Princeish to me.

Another Life is such a beautiful amazing song! I can't stop playing it.

Really Love and Betray My Heart are divine.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

TASKAE said:

Yeah, on that one, I'll wait until I actually see it on the shelves. The whole promise of three albums one a year starting in 2007 burned me a bit as a fan. I figured the 2009 release would just be the first part of the flood, but here we are. I don't care if you don't have another album waiting, that's cool if you want to take time to enjoy life and all that, just dont' promise that you've got all this funky mess on lock when you don't.

In Maxwell's defense, a lot of times, the reason albums aren't released when the artist says, has to do with the record company. Plus RnB is not selling anymore right now. Unless your Justin Timberlake or Sam or Ariana Grande.

There is no defense. Dude said the new cd would be on on Feb 14, 2014 and that was on the 10th of Feb. How do u explain that?

what is the James River album?

luvsexy4all said:

At one time, wasn't there a rumor that Prince actually worked on a song with D'angelo for this album? Was that rumor totally unsubstantiated or did the idea just get scrapped?