Got it! Waited a long long time!

It has the same viciousness as Bare My Naked Soul but back to the funk stuff of earlier days. Where on Bare My Naked he was obviously making any excuse to play guitar ( I mean that in a great way), here he does the same except the songs are very interesting....this guy is amazing. I can't help but think this loves up to all of Voodoo's hype! My only message to D'Angelo is to not bother returning. Not a negative but some of the licks and riffs sound familiar from some older Jesse tracks. I think it was intentional...an acknowledgement of his past work.

More coming.

JoeyCococo said:

Interesting theory. I never thought it was an "excuse" as much as it was "fuck the bullshit I'm pissed and I need 2 play so let's rock!!!!!" Ya know With b-sides like "Fool's Paradise", do u think Jesse had the songs that became "Bare My Naked Soul" in the vaults all those years he was out of sight?

Can't wait.
Tuesday.

'Verbal Penetration' is the best Jesse Johnson album.

It's absolutely slamming. The first GOOD GOD comes in at fourteen seconds in the first song. This is very, very good.

He's done a neo-soul job on heavyweight funk. D'Angelo, Chico Debarge, Rhasaan Patterson never exactly hid their Minneapolis leanings. And here is how you do it if you've actually lived in Minneapolis and played with The Time for 25 years.

He really goes for the falsetto in a big way... whoever namechecked 'Voodoo' had it absolutely right. And the guitar?

This album is my favourite album of the year.

Good GOD.

Edit: CHECK OUT THE MOTHERCUFKING GUITAR SOLO ON 'VERBAL PENETRATION'.

Sorry. I meant 'MOTHERFUCKING.'
[Edited 10/27/09 15:36pm]

I'll repeat what I said on anutha thread...

"ALI vs FRAZIER"
"PEACE BE WITH YOU"
"BEAUTIFUL SADIE" and
"MERCIFUL"

r GUITAR instrumentals of the HIGHEST quality by a brother at the peak of his powers.

Like his pal "P", all the influences r there - James Brown, Sly, Jimi, Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin, Stevie... but JESSE makes this his own.

A beautifully crafted album... astonishingly good.

REAL R&B music - with a capital "R" and a capital "B".

RONNYRON said:

So would u say this album is somethin like "Shockadelica" meets "Bare My Naked Soul"?

diamondpearl1 said:

Yes and no... "SHOCKADELICA" was straight up funk!... but there r a lot of descendants of "Black in America".

There's nothing as rock hard or ferocious like "BARE...", yet some amazing guitar work.


The tracks that I mentioned tho'...

"ALI vs FRAZIER"
"PEACE BE WITH YOU"
"BEAUTIFUL SADIE" and
"MERCIFUL"

r the sort of cuts that should have been on his earlier albums, guitar instrumentals of rich diversity and style.


The classic JESSE funk is still there on tracks like

"VERBAL PENETRATION"
"100 WATTS of FUNKY" and
"SLO BURNIN"

but they r more polished, smoothed out and jazzy.

There r also monologue driven social commentaries...

"SLAVE 2 R FREEDOM"
"MEDITATION 01: ASTROLOGY"
"MEDITATION 02: SELF-LOVE"

all in all - an incredible listening experience, GOOD MUSIC that makes u FEEL GOOD.

There r also monologue driven social commentaries...

"SLAVE 2 R FREEDOM"
"MEDITATION 01: ASTROLOGY"
"MEDITATION 02: SELF-LOVE"

all in all - an incredible listening experience, GOOD MUSIC that makes u FEEL GOOD.[/quote]


And it is these social commentaries that I think really show something I was not aware of when it came to Jesse - this guy is thinking man!
"Slave 2 R Freedom' - i have listened to thsi one many times already. It's nice to hear a guy say the things he says here.I love how it starts...

"the young brother was downright eloquent with his misinformed soliloquy, he said using 'ni****' affectionaly among ourselves takes the negativity out of the word. But no other race of people could ever use it but us. And you thought that kind of reasoning was only existed in the twilight zone'

It's a great speech.

This is the best album I have heard since 1996...

RONNYRON said:

Oh ok,Jesse's on a higher, brighter plane these days where "Bare" was overcast and dark, so are we a little closer in feel and approach to "Every Shade Of Love"?

diamondpearl1 said:[quote]

RONNYRON said:

Hmm... not exactly...

There's a really nice fragility to one or two of the tunes, and the musicianship's gone to the next level. Much more intricate arrangements. His Funkadelic influences are showing... many of the riffs remind me of the Standing on the Verge... and Let's Take it to the Stage -era Funkadelic. There's some Sly / d'Angelo / Curtis things going on too...

Edit: I have to say that although this is Jesse's best album, by a measure, the interludes and prologues are really annoying. You can make a much more satisfying album by making a playlist and squashing all that shite. It's the first thing I do with 90% of the hip hop albums I buy too.
[Edited 10/28/09 13:50pm]

Splanknasty said:[quote]

diamondpearl1 said:

Methink's me got it now. lol Basically love the albums I have but check them old hats at the door when I play this new album. Goddamn...."Standing On The Verge" AND "Let's Take It To The Stage"??? that's real serious business right there. Don't know if you read it, but Questlove from The Roots mentioned these albums when he described the direction D'Angelo was/is goin in on "James River". As far as interludes go I like the ones on Outkast, De La Soul's and Tech N9ne's albums.
[Edited 10/28/09 14:34pm]

Splanknasty said:

Check the guitar solo on "Get Next To You"
Monstrous!

Check out the guitar in "verbal penetration' and 'merciful'.

His Best over the years!!!
5 stars over 5!!
Neo-Soul & Funky !!!
Good God!

best album?

no way.

i was dissapointed in the overall vibe of the album

i might get it in the future but as of right now i really dont care for it.

Maan, I'd love 2 know who "Sheila Rae" is and see some pictures 'cause that song is fuckin beautiful!!!!!
[Edited 10/29/09 11:41am]

I gave in and got this today.


6 songs in and I'm very pleased.

mushmackalenta said:

Where did u get it?

Graycap23 said:

[Edited 10/29/09 14:31pm]

fakir said:

Agreed. Most diverse offering of his on one release - plus old school sound done right. Was playing it for a Ugandan musicians who was blown away. Loved the use of horns- very fry and percussive. I liked Jesses other cds- but they have fallen into a dated sound for me. Some of the later ones don't, but they are more like a few good solid songs, then some less formed tracks. Other than the interludes (not a fan of this type of stuff- unless it's a musical interlude) this is really solid from start to finish. also flows very well without seeming like it might get too "same" sounding.

minneapolisFunq said:

Wow. I think you're the first one who stated they didn't
care for it. When i first heard over the summer he was
coming with a new release i wasn't expecting it to be an
epic album but without being biased i can honestly say
depth wise this is his most solid release. Hopefully it
will grow on you.

phunkdaddy said:

This is his best album.

phunkdaddy said:[quote]minneapolisFunq said:[quote]best album?

no way.

i was dissapointed in the overall vibe of the album


You have to give something this deep more time...

I'm listening to it again with headphones on. There is so much happening...you can not take it in on a the first few listens. ONe thing is for sure, he does not mind letting loose on his guitar.

diamondpearl1 said:

Sheila is Jesse's girl (no pun intended!)

fantastic album. not sure about the excessive rambling though; maybe vol 2 should have a been a special bonus download disk because if falls flat on it's feet (except for a couple of things) compared to disk one which is just epic

forgot to say, the start of Dreamer interlude (first 5 seconds) has such a irresistible groove i can't believe he didn't give us the whole thing or complete the whole thing

nusouldownunder said:

lol And when I played it back the next 3 x's I said I wish I could find a woman like that....

Listening on a long drive I have to say I'll probably end up deleting the "talking" interludes for playback in the car. But the rest is not only well done- the production is VERY live... present and crisp.

Zannaloaf said:

This is easily Jesse's best album. His funk has aged very well. I am having trouble getting past the first disc, which I love so much. And his guitar work on "Merciful" and "Beautiful Sadie" just show what a talent he is.

I am loving "Love Letters", which has got a D'Angelo vibe to it.

This was well work the wait !!

- JD