http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/

Empress said:

I've listened to this cd at least 6-7 times since getting it and although I really do like it, I miss D's great vocals. He is such a good singer, but doesn't showcase his voice at all on this one. I like the beat of the music, but I'm not as in love with it as I am with Voodoo! I would give this 7/10. If the vocals were better, it would be awesome!

I kinda agree that he doesn't showcase his vocals as much. However because he actually put the music before himself showing off his voice, the end result is just superb music. Voodoo had more focus on his vocals, and it was perfect for that particular album. However Black Messiah is less vocal oriented, and it's perfect for the sound he was going for. I LIKE!

scriptgirl said:

Eddie C, what do you think of the full version?

He seemed lost--like he hadn't figured out what he was going to switch up in the melody before he started--particularly through the middle. I liked the quaver on "wave", and just the tone on that bit. Felt like the end was going to be strong, but he did that whole repeat the last line thing that so many people do, thus losing the whole dramatic push of the song--you've got to let it sweep all the way to the end, and lots of people decide to try to do the stop, and then start over because "I really mean this part." The song will do it on its own, if you just let it. Instead, they derail a moving train.

.

All in all, not terrible. I don't know that it's a key problem (though he seemed to be trying to find where he was going to start early on, so maybe he got off on the wrong foot and got stuck with the wrong one). I don't think he was straining, just unsure what he wanted to change. If people would just trust the song, and limit their "touches" to one or two well-timed parts, things would go better in general.

The Village Voice, just named D'angelo`s "BlackMessiah", as the #1 best album out of 1,530 albums of 2014....

http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/

[Edited 1/14/15 7:55am]

As of tomorrow, the album will have been out for 1 month and I'm still loving the hell out of it. Gets regular play on my devices and hasn't begun to start sounding "old" yet. Yes, I'll be jamming this one for much of 2015.

In a distant 2nd place, I'm still loving the hell out of Premier/Royce's "PRhyme" album but that's for when I'm in my "real hip hop" moods...

THEY COVERED THE ENTIRE ALBUM!!!

CAn't stand that blonde woman's voice. She comes from the same school of "soul" as does that awful fake ass Joss Stone.

Impressive!

Learning all those chords and melodies

& performing them so well in a month isnt easy...

getfunked said:

THEY COVERED THE ENTIRE ALBUM!!!

scriptgirl said:

CAn't stand that blonde woman's voice. She comes from the same school of "soul" as does that awful fake ass Joss Stone.

You're not alone, scriptgirl!!

Ego101 said:

Impressive!

Learning all those chords and melodies

& performing them so well in a month isnt easy...

getfunked said:

THEY COVERED THE ENTIRE ALBUM!!!

This is BRUTAL.

Cinny said:

scriptgirl said:

CAn't stand that blonde woman's voice. She comes from the same school of "soul" as does that awful fake ass Joss Stone.

You're not alone, scriptgirl!!

I love this CD so much. I love how I cant understand what he says. I love how the songs have no structure. Somehow it works. This cd is pure brilliance. Eagerly, eagerly awaiting tour dates.

Cinny said:

KingSausage said:

Cinny said:

You're not alone, scriptgirl!!

YES. It's like music for Pottery Barn.

Lol........that is good way 2 put it.

scriptgirl said:

CAn't stand that blonde woman's voice. She comes from the same school of "soul" as does that awful fake ass Joss Stone.

Prince would say "I beg to differ" since he gave a personal green light for that blonde woman to cover Call My Name.

Just some random thoughts on BM.

Black Messiah is a great album and has been steadily growing on me. But if I had to choose just one D'angelo Album to a deserted island, I would still pick Voodoo in a heartbeat, too many classics in that album.

And most of the critics got it wrong, Black Messiah only contains subtle traces of Prince's influence. To me it sounds like D'angelo has spent a good number of years listening to and dissecting Fishbone's "Give A Monkey A Brain", which is a stellar and criminally underrated album.

nuttynutmeg said:

Just some random thoughts on BM.

Black Messiah is a great album and has been steadily growing on me. But if I had to choose just one D'angelo Album to a deserted island, I would still pick Voodoo in a heartbeat, too many classics in that album.

And most of the critics got it wrong, Black Messiah only contains subtle traces of Prince's influence. To me it sounds like D'angelo has spent a good number of years listening to and dissecting Fishbone's "Give A Monkey A Brain", which is a stellar and criminally underrated album.

He actually mentioned that album in the RBMA interview. Also, did you catch his performance of 'Black Flower' with Angelo Moore in the Afropunk set? Link should be a page or so back.

p.s. your username has inspired me to go eat some nutmeg ice cream. i am grateful.

getfunked said:

nuttynutmeg said:

Just some random thoughts on BM.

Black Messiah is a great album and has been steadily growing on me. But if I had to choose just one D'angelo Album to a deserted island, I would still pick Voodoo in a heartbeat, too many classics in that album.

And most of the critics got it wrong, Black Messiah only contains subtle traces of Prince's influence. To me it sounds like D'angelo has spent a good number of years listening to and dissecting Fishbone's "Give A Monkey A Brain", which is a stellar and criminally underrated album.

He actually mentioned that album in the RBMA interview. Also, did you catch his performance of 'Black Flower' with Angelo Moore in the Afropunk set? Link should be a page or so back.

p.s. your username has inspired me to go eat some nutmeg ice cream. i am grateful.

Yes I noticed that but I'm surprised that nobody seems to pick that up. 1000 Deaths alone confirms that Fishbone is a major inspiration.

Enjoy the ice cream to this.

getfunked said:

nuttynutmeg said:

Just some random thoughts on BM.

Black Messiah is a great album and has been steadily growing on me. But if I had to choose just one D'angelo Album to a deserted island, I would still pick Voodoo in a heartbeat, too many classics in that album.

And most of the critics got it wrong, Black Messiah only contains subtle traces of Prince's influence. To me it sounds like D'angelo has spent a good number of years listening to and dissecting Fishbone's "Give A Monkey A Brain", which is a stellar and criminally underrated album.

He actually mentioned that album in the RBMA interview. Also, did you catch his performance of 'Black Flower' with Angelo Moore in the Afropunk set? Link should be a page or so back.

p.s. your username has inspired me to go eat some nutmeg ice cream. i am grateful.

Nutmeg ice cream sounds delicious, is there any particular brand you like? I was in an ice cream parlor a few days ago, now I'm regretting not looking for nutmeg on the menu.

It tastes as good as it sounds ;p Not sure of any brands. There's an ice cream place serving it closeby.

Also, https://www.apollotheater...elo_2_7_15 GET YOUR TIX. Damn I wish I lived in New York about now... T_T

I moved my post on Nick Hakim "D'angelo-esque" Indie pop to a new thread here http://prince.org/msg/8/413642 since it might be OOT.

[Edited 1/17/15 5:20am]

[Edited 1/17/15 5:22am]

D’Angelo is bringing his new LP “Black Messiah” to the stage.

The celebrated R&B singer, who surprise-released his firs...last month, has booked his first U.S. show at New York City’s Apollo Theater. The gig is set for February 7, with his backing band the Vanguard joining him.

Tickets go on sale starting on January 21 at 10 a.m. EST, with Apollo A-list members getting first crack from January 19 – 20. The prices will range from $56 to $226.

Though this is D’Angelo’s first official headlining gig at the New York institution, according to a statement released by the Apollo, he has a personal history with the venue, dating back to 1991. At the time, he was just 16 and competed in the venue’s “Amateur Night at the Apollo” weekly competition series using his birth name Michael Archer – the band was called Michael Archer and the Precise. He went on to win three consecutive nights and a cash prize, where he used that money to buy recording equipment and began writing songs that would be featured on his 1995 debut “Brown Sugar.”

Though this is the only U.S. show announced so far, he’s gearing up for a European tour dubbed “The Second Coming.” It kicks off days after the Apollo gig on February 11 in Zurich, Switzerland.

“Black Messiah” is out now on RCA Records. It debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 117,000 copies in its first week.

getxxxx said:

Dainger, it's on youtube

I havent seen anything like that.. a link please.. thanks.

scriptgirl said:

Dainger, it's on youtube

Empress said:

this album is still my production yardstick

every time i do a session in my studio, i play at least one track from the album first ... right now it's like my mixing/sonic bible

MoBettaBliss said:

this album is still my production yardstick

every time i do a session in my studio, i play at least one track from the album first ... right now it's like my mixing/sonic bible

From a mixing and production vantage point, you need to raise your standards if Black Messiah is
a "sonic Bible" for you.

The production sounds like it was rushed (we now know that the album itself was rushed) and al-
though he used analog recording devices/techniques, the result was a totally muddied affair.

Now, if you are purposefully producing opaquely and not aiming for clarity, then yes, maybe you're
better off with Black Messiah as a benchmark.

duccichucka said:

duccichucka said:

MoBettaBliss said:

this album is still my production yardstick

every time i do a session in my studio, i play at least one track from the album first ... right now it's like my mixing/sonic bible

From a mixing and production vantage point, you need to raise your standards if Black Messiah is
a "sonic Bible" for you.

The production sounds like it was rushed (we now know that the album itself was rushed) and al-
though he used analog recording devices/techniques, the result was a totally muddied affair.

Now, if you are purposefully producing opaquely and not aiming for clarity, then yes, maybe you're
better off with Black Messiah as a benchmark.

one man's 'clarity' is another man's stale, lifeless, sterile, run of the mill drivel

these mixes are alive to me... i think the album sounds incredible


.

[Edited 1/19/15 11:20am]