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PrintableChristopherTracy319 said: BlaqueKnight said: I'd argue strongly that it was D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" CD that changed the R&B game over Maxwell's "Urban Hang Suite" but that's another thread altogether.
For me, it would have to be Mint Condition's "Definition Of A Band" CD (1996 - same as UHS). In my opinion, it was better than UHS in terms of musicianship, lyrics, arrangement and exploring all boundaries of R&B as well as blending R&B with different styles. "UHS" has much more continuity than "DofaB". It flows seamlessly. I'm going to give this question some thought. There's been a lot of music released since 1996. I'll get back to you. Off the top of my head, I'm still riding with Definition Of A Band. Hastings felt the same way about DOAB which is why you can find it for 99cents. But to really take this into consideration let's take a look at Brown Sugar. I am going to disagree with the comparison to UHS. Brown Sugar, while it was a good album, the sound and vibe of that album was not necessarily original. That album was more of a dedication to the early sound of Soul and R&B that was popular in the 60s and 70s. UHS had a sound which incorporated great continuity as you said but also provided great instrumentals as well as original lyrics and mixes. D'Angelo's sound was just a refreshing reminder of what we had been missing for years prior to that. It wasn't until VOODOO, that D'Angelo paved a more original way for R&B but came up short. As far as Mint Condition is concerned I don't think their sound was much different from Shai or even Tony,Toni,Tone. Their sound I feel was centered around more beats than original lyrics and musical arrangements. [Edited 8/20/08 22:24pm] [Edited 8/20/08 22:26pm] Homie you're comparing Mint Condition to Shai. Shai was a one album wonder and that a capella joint was pure barfarama for me. Comforter was slick and baby i'm yours was okay but those guys were through after that. Mint Condition isn't just a group that releases albums, these guys are performing artists. These guys are the best thing to hit the R&B market in the 90's as well as the tonies. I agree with blaque knight as far as the group but a different album. I know i am going to get blasted for this but i feel Life's Aquarium was not only the best album of 1999-2000 but probably one of the most underrated albums of the last 15 years. Elektra totally screwed Mint Condition on this album. Song for song i think it was some of the band's best work as far as musicianship and songwriting. The album didn't have the hits but the body of work was awesome. [Edited 8/22/08 10:26am] Don't laugh at my funk
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A while back, I actually did a Neo Soul chart breakdown for a music publication, so I wanna touch on this:
No matter what you say on a message board, D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" will still be known as the beginning of the neo-soul movement. This is a different thread unto itself - the whole beginning of Neo-Soul thing.
D' can certainly be credited with the biggest impact of ushering-in of the Neo Soul genre, especially to a broader audience, but the first "official" Neo Soul record was "Sons of Soul" (1993) by Tony Toni Tone'. Hell, the title alone pretty much says "Neo Soul". Plus, Saadiq is pretty much the Godfather of Neo Soul, having his hands on one of D's biggest hits with "Lady". Then Saadiq pretty much cemented himself as the Neo Soul guru. As far as the women, it was the same with Badu - She officially ushered the Neo Soul women in, but it was Ndegeocello with "Plantation Lullabyes" (1993) that showed us the first signs of the lady side of Neo Soul. It should also be noted that the Funk Brothers great, guitarist Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin played on both "Plantation" and "Urban," who also played on the Motown sessions with the likes of Gladys Knight, The Supremes, and The Temps. nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
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Yeah, CT3, I have no idea why you said Shai and Mint had the same sound? Utterly ridiculous. nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
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ChristopherTracy319 said: BlaqueKnight said: You need to read more thoroughly. I said maybe he inspired them to go forward, not influenced them musically. Well my point is this I feel that UHS is what sparked not just the Neo-Soul movement so to speak, but gave it some direction that made the sound different from the more tribute sound that seemed to come from Brown Sugar. That is why I feel it was a better album and more innovative. I don't feel that Max needed inspiration from D' to make his music. I think that is actually kind of comparing apples to apples. Same genre but different styles. Oh and as far as Mint Condition is concerned, I am well versed in DOAB and I agree that it is a good album, maybe a great album, no is disputing that. But it didn't spark the movement and sounds that Max and D' or even Erykah did. They created a following from other artists and listeners that still continues. MC while making a great album, I don't feel sparked an influence that is still felt today. IMO. This is a good discussion though. I would have to agree with you that "Brown Sugar", pays tribute to that sound more than it starting the "Neo-Soul", movement. Like I said earlier, Brown Sugar is reminisent of that Smokey Robinson sound of the 70's. Where Maxwell is concerned, his sound started another movement all together. "Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth" |
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Hummmm
I'll take Chico Bebarge, D'Angelo, Lauren Hill, Minit Condition, Meshell, Rachael Ferrell, Frank McComb, Eric Roberson, Bilal, Conya Doss, Kenny Latimore, and a few others 2 go up against that statement. [Edited 8/22/08 12:31pm] | |
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shorttrini said: ChristopherTracy319 said: Well my point is this I feel that UHS is what sparked not just the Neo-Soul movement so to speak, but gave it some direction that made the sound different from the more tribute sound that seemed to come from Brown Sugar. That is why I feel it was a better album and more innovative. I don't feel that Max needed inspiration from D' to make his music. I think that is actually kind of comparing apples to apples. Same genre but different styles. Oh and as far as Mint Condition is concerned, I am well versed in DOAB and I agree that it is a good album, maybe a great album, no is disputing that. But it didn't spark the movement and sounds that Max and D' or even Erykah did. They created a following from other artists and listeners that still continues. MC while making a great album, I don't feel sparked an influence that is still felt today. IMO. This is a good discussion though. I would have to agree with you that "Brown Sugar", pays tribute to that sound more than it starting the "Neo-Soul", movement. Like I said earlier, Brown Sugar is reminisent of that Smokey Robinson sound of the 70's. Where Maxwell is concerned, his sound started another movement all together. Maxwell didn't start another movement but what he did do was become the first sex symbol for Neo Soul. nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
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AlexdeParis said: No. Brown Sugar is it for me.
Aaliyah's One in a Million deserves a special mention, because it was the album that really launched the careers of Timbaland and Missy. Like it or not, those two have definitely put their stamp on R&B in the last 10+ years. Co-sign. I noticed the changes in R&B once these 2 albums came out. I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that | |
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MuthaFunka said: shorttrini said: I would have to agree with you that "Brown Sugar", pays tribute to that sound more than it starting the "Neo-Soul", movement. Like I said earlier, Brown Sugar is reminisent of that Smokey Robinson sound of the 70's. Where Maxwell is concerned, his sound started another movement all together. Maxwell didn't start another movement but what he did do was become the first sex symbol for Neo Soul. Yeah, your right. He just resurrected one the had been dormant for years. The one started by the soul singers of the 70's. "Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth" |
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shorttrini said: MuthaFunka said: Maxwell didn't start another movement but what he did do was become the first sex symbol for Neo Soul. Yeah, your right. He just resurrected one the had been dormant for years. The one started by the soul singers of the 70's. Yeah, Maxy channeled the sex appeal of Marvin (Smooth), Smokey (Sensitive) and Prince (Erotic) basically. [Edited 8/22/08 19:56pm] nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
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MuthaFunka said: shorttrini said: Yeah, your right. He just resurrected one the had been dormant for years. The one started by the soul singers of the 70's. Yeah, Maxy channeled the sex appeal of Marvin (Smooth), Smokey (Sensitive) and Prince (Erotic) basically. [Edited 8/22/08 19:56pm] And that is not a bad thing... Maxwell, brought back not only the mystery but also the sensuality of romance that had been missing in the music that was being put out at that time and even today. For me "Til' the cops come knocking", is the ultimate slow jam that you play in the background, while you are getting in the mood. Terrence Trent Darby's, "Sign your name", is another one that comes to mind. These songs brought back the romance without being vulgar, unlike the songs that have been written up to that point and even today. This to me is why his music is in a sense, more timeless than the others mentions here so far. "Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth" |
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shorttrini said: MuthaFunka said: Yeah, Maxy channeled the sex appeal of Marvin (Smooth), Smokey (Sensitive) and Prince (Erotic) basically. [Edited 8/22/08 19:56pm] And that is not a bad thing... Maxwell, brought back not only the mystery but also the sensuality of romance that had been missing in the music that was being put out at that time and even today. For me "Til' the cops come knocking", is the ultimate slow jam that you play in the background, while you are getting in the mood. Terrence Trent Darby's, "Sign your name", is another one that comes to mind. These songs brought back the romance without being vulgar, unlike the songs that have been written up to that point and even today. This to me is why his music is in a sense, more timeless than the others mentions here so far. Oh, yeah, I'm certainly not knockin' the dude. UHS is THE ultimate in panty-droppers. nWo: bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher
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I like the American market, but the ones that made it big outside the US were Maxwell's UHS, D'Angelo's Brown Sugar, Aaliyah's first album and Lauren Hill and Erykah Badu's debut albums.
Of all the those, only Erykah and Maxwell still kind matter and Maxwell only if he makes a lasting impression with his upcoming project. If not, we will probably only see one of the three proposed albums. |
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