For all you Prince fans, from one huge fan to others, I am highly recommending the debut record from a new artist that goes by the name of Van Hunt.

He's mentioned Prince's name in countless interviews and acknowledges Prince's huge influence on his music.

Wendy Melvoin plays guitar on a track from his debut record. There's some really Prince sounding music on here... I mean, people say that D'angelo is influenced, absolutely true, but the music doesn't give me that feeling that Prince's music does... Van Hunt on the other hand brings back good memories of a time when Prince's music wasn't so contrived and produced.

There's stuff on Van Hunt's record that'll make you want to hit the rewind button to here it again... I'm talking about seconds of music that make you say "What the fuck was that!?!?!".

I'm so behind this guy's music that I should be working for the guy. I love the chords Prince's chooses, I like the way he plays guitar, I love the way he sings, I like his drums, I love everything about the little man's music so with this in mind, take this opinion seriously and go get a copy of Van Hunt's disc... burn or buy it... It don't really matter to me... the main thing is to hear it...

In a market flooded by singers and imposters who get creedence and respect form award shows to fans, Van Hunt stands alone with a record full of amazing vocal melodies, well crafted and well dressed songs, and interesting soundscapes that'll make you want to hit the rewind button and make you want to tell your friends about this guy's music - like I'm telling you.

By the way, I've heard about this guy for about a year or so, sort of discounting what he was about because I can't really see anybody comparing to Prince's brand of creativity - but I bought the disc while I was with my girlfriend at a local used CD shop here in Toronto. I got it for 9.99 under the 'V' section. I bought it about 6 days ago or so and I can't put it away... I almost feel bad because I've put Musicology away replacing it with Van Hunt.

Peace And Be Wild
Jay
[Edited 2/20/05 11:40am]

I've heard a few tracks, namely 'Out of The Sky', 'Her December', 'Hello Goodbye' and 'Dust'. Are these typicaly of the album?

I do quite like these songs. Shows real promise.

He's not really new though.

Produces, writes and plays on other peoples' stuff, notably Rahsaan Patterson's.

Yeah, pretty cool stuff. Sounds like a mix between Prince & Lenny with a mellow Brazilian jazz vibe and some old school R&B. Very nice!

Van Hunt sounds like a porn name.

Hadn't heard anything from him , when googling i came here
http://vanhunt.com , the song that's playing when you enter the side is
pretty cool

EvilWhiteMale said:

I'm still not getting this guy

EvilWhiteMale said:

I'll have to try him out to be the judge of that.
[Edited 2/21/05 0:10am]

Well worth paying for. He is also on tour right now, so check him out (see schedule on his website.)

I saw him last summer and he put on a good show, but it was blemished by a really poor sound system (not his, it was at a festival.) He was the first show of the day and the sound techs were still trying to get the sound right. He inserted Rick James' "Mary Jane" into the middle of one of his own songs -- very clever and artistically done -- in memory of Rick (who had just died at the time.)

His songs are cool but his voice is boring. The ability to sing has nothing to do with it, eg. Hendrix, Andre 3000, Bob Dylan etc. Hunt's voice has no...personality, I guess. But as a songwriter and producer I love what he dishes out.

So far, the only cut that I am digging by him is Moments of Pleasure.

Hotlegs said:

Ya'll have to go out and get this CD... it's absolutely funky and rocky at the same time... absolutely neccessary... unless this guy hits a serious songwriters block, he's going to have a very interesting career...


By the way, the name of the tune is actually 'Seconds of Pleasure'

CalhounSq said:

me either


That song "dust" makes me violent..its so damn annoying....


nowadays, anyone that can play an instrument is the next Prince....

Yup, we discussed Van Hunt a lot on the org last year...I really like his album, he's even better live...

Originally, he was in Dionne Farris's band, doubling on guitar and keyboards...He wrote her song, "Hopeless" which was featured in the movie and soundtrack "Love Jones" (Dionne Farris appears on his album, doing background vocals on "Out of The Sky"...)

btw, I really liked his performance on the Tavis Smiley show a few months ago... he did an acoustic version of "Down Here In Hell With You"....

brianr54 said:

Van Hunt definitely gets cool points in my book for giving it up for the true King Of Punk Funk .

Rhondab said:

That last comment is far from being true... I don't think I should bother getting into a conversation with you about music in that your comments suggest that Prince, at least in your mind, is the end all and be all of popular music.

Wake up!! There are a lot of different singers and musicians and songwriters out there and if you opened up your mind a little - just like Prince suggests you do in his music - you may be able to hear music by artists different then Prince.

Try it... it's fun

EvilWhiteMale said:

I was watching Jeopardy! last night, and one of the contestants was named Lance Johnson. Lance fucking Johnson! I busted out guffawing like a 12 year old boy and spit beer all over the place. My kids thought I was crazy.

True story.

FunkMistress said:

There are days you make the whole org worthwhile

I love Maxwell. Is Van Hunt similar in style?

Rhondab said:

I find Hunt to be the most refreshing "new" thing out there.
Never thought of "Dust" as annoying but I guess if you focus on it...there is that Psycho action going on. That's funny.

Thanks for ruining a perfectly good song. I really liked that track.

Rhondab said:

paligap said:

I love "Hopeless", maybe he should have saved it for himself

CalhounSq said:

Yeah. Hopeless is better than some of the songs on his ablum w/ the exception of Seconds of Pleasure which is my jam.

noonblueapples said:

Me? Thank you.




Who the hell are you?

FunkMistress said:

That username sounds like a slang for a tit infection.

Adisa said:

An infection that turns your boobs blue at twelve o'clock every day?

FunkMistress said:

Or irritation from improper bra size or material...

anon said:

damn, you're easy!! who else do you like? Maybe I can ruin that for you too

I've been wondering why I keep seeing posts about this dude. I listened to a couple of samples when he was first mentioned months ago. And I didn't like them.

Then I read this:

"Wendy Melvoin plays guitar on a track from his debut record."

And it clicked why people who post on this site keep jocking this guy.

I'm just very wary of artists who are touted here because Wendy, Lisa or both play on their albums. It's almost as if either of them are on the album all of a sudden very medicore music automatically is supposed to sound great.



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[Edited 2/23/05 12:03pm]