I've finally listened to the album. After being very desillusioned with Ingrid Chavez's second album, I'm glad to say this is different. They can do it without Prince. (I'm connecting both records because The Family and Ingrid Chavez are my favourite Prince protegés.)

I wouldn't say it's a masterpiece, but a very good album, 7 or even 8 out of 10. Over The Crayon is simply beautiful, my favourite track on the record. Drummers And Healers, @8, The Vigil and Lover are all first quality stuff. The only one I don't get at all is Beautiful You.

I love their funk sound combined with well crafted pop melodies, and the arrangements of Leeds and St. Paul give a unique touch to the album and also a strong connection with their first LP.

I'm very happy with this album, it's a great listen.

I'm so loving the fact that both FDeluxe and the Original 7 proved to everyone that they could make amazing music without any help from Prince. I'm sure a few of these tracks would make their former boss very proud if he'd give them a chance.

WonderU said:

I'm so loving the fact that both FDeluxe and the Original 7 proved to everyone that they could make amazing music without any help from Prince. I'm sure a few of these tracks would make their former boss very proud if he'd give them a chance.

I love you but I don't trust you anymore....

....after admitting your appreciation for When We Go!

sosgemini said:

WonderU said:

I'm so loving the fact that both FDeluxe and the Original 7 proved to everyone that they could make amazing music without any help from Prince. I'm sure a few of these tracks would make their former boss very proud if he'd give them a chance.

I love you but I don't trust you anymore....

....after admitting your appreciation for When We Go!

sosgemini said:

WonderU said:

I'm so loving the fact that both FDeluxe and the Original 7 proved to everyone that they could make amazing music without any help from Prince. I'm sure a few of these tracks would make their former boss very proud if he'd give them a chance.

I love you but I don't trust you anymore....

....after admitting your appreciation for When We Go!

It's called When You Go. Which I also like. the live version was really cool- just voices, piano and sax.

I can't stop listening to this album, I love it.

'Lover' is an interesting track because before I heard it, I'd read so many positive opinions about it, so maybe I was coming to it expecting something mind blowing, but it's probably the track that is grabbing me the least. The chorus is a little flat, the "moonshines on a sunny day" lyric/melody doesn't really cut it for me. The best parts are Eric's sax for me, I guess it brings to mind 'Desire', and also reminds me of some of Prince's Emancipation/late 90s mid-tempo tracks. It's dreamy, but I am a little underwhelmed by it. Dont hate it, and definately am finding it more agreeable the more I hear it, just on that first playthrough it left me cold.

Still have an extra ticket for Joe's Pub, Oct. 29the here in NYC if anyone wants to join me

Finally caved in and bought the remixes from iTunes (not in lossless )

The Sanctified mix is probably the grooviest - the keyboard on it sounds like Yes or S's PJs - I forget which, but you know what I mean.

Midnight Gaslight is great too

Had my first listen of Gaslight during my commutes today.

Totally grooving to it. I like all the tracks, but...

but...

Does anyone else get reminded of the Girl Bros.-produced Doyle Bramhall II disc? I know he's on the opening track doing what sounds like a rehash of the Funksway/BTMD jam.

But even Paul's vocal delivery reminds me of Doyle's phrasing, for some reason.

sosgemini said:

3) Clare. Fischer. Is. Missed.

Beyond that, there's some good moments. Eric Leeds stands out ...

I totally agree with these two points.

The discordant background hits and misses on The Vigil. At times, it works well with Eric's vibe. At others, it doesn't.

^If I remember rightly the strings on "The vigil" are partially used as part of the groove, something Clare Fisher would never do.

[Edited 10/24/11 21:52pm]

What is the song Gaslight about?!? I can't figure it out

PsychedelicMama said:

What is the song Gaslight about?!? I can't figure it out

Fucking? I haven't listened to closely, but I thought it was about gettin' it ooooooooooooooon.

NouveauDance said:

PsychedelicMama said:

What is the song Gaslight about?!? I can't figure it out

Fucking? I haven't listened to closely, but I thought it was about gettin' it ooooooooooooooon.

It's about having your mind messed with in a relationship. I recall susannah talking about that somewhere.

jaawwnn said:

This sounds incredibly like a Wendy and Lisa album. Which is understandable considering the people involved. But still! It's really good, if missing a slight touch of magic, I think prince's one-time ability to blend different types of music together is missing. Songs on this are either funky or pop-y or ballad-y, something the first album managed to blur the boundaries with a bit better. Having said though, I actually WANT to listen to it more than once which I wasn't really expecting. It's a hell of a lot more consistent and focused than anything prince has done in recent times. In regards the strings, I think it's a fairly passable Clare Fischer imitation, maybe not perfect but whatever.... they work and I would NOT prefer the album without them.

I think you guys mght be dismissing Susannahs contribution in the writing process. I think it lends a female vibe (and I'm not trying to be sexist when I say that) you really didn't get on the first one (becasue of the obvious). Being that this project is collaborative in nature - you are likely to hear that in the mix. I guess I'm not hearing the W&L vibe specifically, but am hearing more variety than the original album.

"Lover" is the jam. And, Paul's bass playing rocks on that. Very nice, indeed.

Anyone have a link to the lyric/credits booklet? Wasn't part of my Amazon download.

Zannaloaf said:

NouveauDance said:

Fucking? I haven't listened to closely, but I thought it was about gettin' it ooooooooooooooon.

It's about having your mind messed with in a relationship. I recall susannah talking about that somewhere.

So much for my "drunk fucking under a street light" theory.

Zannaloaf said:

jaawwnn said:

This sounds incredibly like a Wendy and Lisa album. Which is understandable considering the people involved. But still! It's really good, if missing a slight touch of magic, I think prince's one-time ability to blend different types of music together is missing. Songs on this are either funky or pop-y or ballad-y, something the first album managed to blur the boundaries with a bit better. Having said though, I actually WANT to listen to it more than once which I wasn't really expecting. It's a hell of a lot more consistent and focused than anything prince has done in recent times. In regards the strings, I think it's a fairly passable Clare Fischer imitation, maybe not perfect but whatever.... they work and I would NOT prefer the album without them.

I think you guys mght be dismissing Susannahs contribution in the writing process. I think it lends a female vibe (and I'm not trying to be sexist when I say that) you really didn't get on the first one (becasue of the obvious). Being that this project is collaborative in nature - you are likely to hear that in the mix. I guess I'm not hearing the W&L vibe specifically, but am hearing more variety than the original album.

Actually it makes me wonder how involved she was when in the Wendy & Lisa band, circa their 2nd and 3rd album. I'd guess.... a lot.

NouveauDance said:

Zannaloaf said:

It's about having your mind messed with in a relationship. I recall susannah talking about that somewhere.

So much for my "drunk fucking under a street light" theory.

you can still imagine that....lol.

jaawwnn said:

Zannaloaf said:

I think you guys mght be dismissing Susannahs contribution in the writing process. I think it lends a female vibe (and I'm not trying to be sexist when I say that) you really didn't get on the first one (becasue of the obvious). Being that this project is collaborative in nature - you are likely to hear that in the mix. I guess I'm not hearing the W&L vibe specifically, but am hearing more variety than the original album.

Actually it makes me wonder how involved she was when in the Wendy & Lisa band, circa their 2nd and 3rd album. I'd guess.... a lot.

sosgemini said:

jaawwnn said:

Actually it makes me wonder how involved she was when in the Wendy & Lisa band, circa their 2nd and 3rd album. I'd guess.... a lot.

calm down you. She has vocal and writing credits all over those albums

jaawwnn said:

sosgemini said:

calm down you. She has vocal and writing credits all over those albums

And none on any Wendy & Lisa's beyond backing vocals. I think it's a stretch to think she was a major player on those works. W&L are pretty good at giving credit where credit is due.

Calm down? Cute...

sosgemini said:

jaawwnn said:

calm down you. She has vocal and writing credits all over those albums

And none on any Wendy & Lisa's beyond backing vocals. I think it's a stretch to think she was a major player on those works. W&L are pretty good at giving credit where credit is due.

Calm down? Cute...

She's got a few writing credits in there on eroica. I'm not interested in more org writing credit consipiracy theories I was just surprised how similar a lot of the stuff on Gaslight sounds to those two albums. Obviously IMHO and all that, but take away the strings and sax/flute and a fair amount of this album could fit on a wendy and lisa album 20 years ago....

It's a good thing!

jaawwnn said:

sosgemini said:

And none on any Wendy & Lisa's beyond backing vocals. I think it's a stretch to think she was a major player on those works. W&L are pretty good at giving credit where credit is due.

Calm down? Cute...

She's got a few writing credits in there on eroica. I'm not interested in more org writing credit consipiracy theories I was just surprised how similar a lot of the stuff on Gaslight sounds to those two albums. Obviously IMHO and all that, but take away the strings and sax/flute and a fair amount of this album could fit on a wendy and lisa album 20 years ago....

It's a good thing!

Oh, yeah, she does. Never noticed that. However, I don't hear the W&L vibe that your speaking of. Sure, on the two songs they wrote I hear it but overall, I don't think this would have been work W&L would have released---not in a million years.

The title track is quite W&L-ey, when I heard it, I thought it reminded me of something from Eroica or WFOWC. Maybe Drummers & Healers and Sanctified too, minus the horns.

I guess the influence will rub off both ways with their close working history.

NouveauDance said:

The title track is quite W&L-ey, when I heard it, I thought it reminded me of something from Eroica or WFOWC. Maybe Drummers & Healers and Sanctified too, minus the horns.

I guess the influence will rub off both ways with their close working history.

You said rub off .....(sorry could not help myself)

Sorry. I don't like this at all. I wish them all the success but this is not my type of music. Very disappointed. The Original7 on the other hand, now thats the cd of the year!! These two should tour together though. It would be cool to see the Family open up for the Time!!

dandeeland said:

Sorry. I don't like this at all. I wish them all the success but this is not my type of music. Very disappointed. The Original7 on the other hand, now thats the cd of the year!! These two should tour together though. It would be cool to see the Family open up for the Time!!

Yes their cd suck bad, but i'm still encouraged to see them tomorrow night live. Going with an open mind and hope they put on a great show.

Most of the fan reviews have been very positive. Fans who wanted a duplicate of the first album don't like it. I think it's a great album and both FDdeluxe and the Original 7ven have more than proved they are more than just puppets of the purple one.