duccichucka said:

I'm not sure I agree with Me'Shell giving Hunt a run for his money in the songwriting arena, but she's going down the same artistic path he is: innovation that successfully builds upon R&B roots and influences.

That's true.

The opinion I have on Parade and Popular is not that one album reminds me of the other one musically. Instead, the similarities exists solely in that each album best encapsulates a recording artist producing a perfect pop album.

I got you, but I don't *hear* Popular as a capital-p Pop Album per se. I think the title itself is ironic. But as an exercise in small-p pop music, what I heard was impressive and well-crafted. I will say this -- both albums were appreciable commercial risks, and ahead of their respective times.

You haven't heard all of Popular yet? Check out "Ur Personal Army." That is an example of Van Hunt's songwriting prowress; he uses polychordalism so smartly. This is something that I think
Me'Shell and other songwriters cannot do these days. It takes talent, a great ear, and a bit of music theory to know what you are doing when you write so urbanely.

I need to see a complete Popular tracklist because I think I've heard a lot of it but not all of it. Some of it was available on iTunes and I bought what was there.

I've heard, and dig, "Ur Personal Army," but I'm not sure that I've heard everything. You're right, though, Van's been doing things most artists cannot or would not attempt. That's why I'm following him on his journey.

duccichucka said:

Namepeace, have you not heard all of Popular by choice or by lack of possession? If it is the latter,
PM and I'll send it to you.

I'd lean towards the latter. I searched for it for a while, found the EP release on iTunes, and listened to it, then got caught up in the "Use In Case Of Emergency" releases and some of the single releases from his site in 2009 and 2010. Then What Were You Hoping For? dropped.

namepeace said:

duccichucka said:

I'm not sure I agree with Me'Shell giving Hunt a run for his money in the songwriting arena, but she's going down the same artistic path he is: innovation that successfully builds upon R&B roots and influences.

That's true.

The opinion I have on Parade and Popular is not that one album reminds me of the other one musically. Instead, the similarities exists solely in that each album best encapsulates a recording artist producing a perfect pop album.

I got you, but I don't *hear* Popular as a capital-p Pop Album per se. I think the title itself is ironic. But as an exercise in small-p pop music, what I heard was impressive and well-crafted. I will say this -- both albums were appreciable commercial risks, and ahead of their respective times.

You haven't heard all of Popular yet? Check out "Ur Personal Army." That is an example of Van Hunt's songwriting prowress; he uses polychordalism so smartly. This is something that I think
Me'Shell and other songwriters cannot do these days. It takes talent, a great ear, and a bit of music theory to know what you are doing when you write so urbanely.

I need to see a complete Popular tracklist because I think I've heard a lot of it but not all of it. Some of it was available on iTunes and I bought what was there.

I've heard, and dig, "Ur Personal Army," but I'm not sure that I've heard everything. You're right, though, Van's been doing things most artists cannot or would not attempt. That's why I'm following him on his journey.

Popular is pop, in my opinion and quite reductionistically, because it's not jazz or classical. So I consider funk, R&B,
and all their stylistic counterparts a facet of popular music.

Looks like the single Vega (stripes on) has been cancled or just taken off Amazon.com. Also it was never mentioned on any official Van hunt site.

therat said: