Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus) – they are descendants of the one- word moniker family of funk, where you will find groups such as Chic, Shalamar, Plush & Zapp.
The collaboration as Tuxedo began with an exchange of mixtapes back in 2006. The fruits of a long-standing kinship were three tracks that mysteriously showed up on Internet doorsteps nearly two years ago. In between personal projects, these three tracks became a full album’s worth of Tuxedo. The album was mixed by original disco don dada John Morales at his home studio in South Plainfield, New Jersey. “I flew out there,” Mayer says. “He made me spaghetti and everything.”
The duo is excited to release the upcoming album on Stones Throw Records, which also marks Mayer's return to the label since his debut release of A Strange Arrangement in 2009.
I'm also thrilled that Mayer is back at Stones Throw Records His last album was released on a major label and just as I predicted,he got lost in the shuffle.Major labels don't know what to do with someone like Mayer (who has a retro sound).Stones Throw,on the other hand,specializes in artists like this.
I really like the two songs you posted, but I'm kind of sad that Mayer Hawthorne lost his way with that last album... I saw him open for Janelle Monae and Bruno Mars when they were touring together and I had no idea who he was... I really enjoyed his singular style with his band at the time--yeah, it touched on retro styles, different ones, but he made it his own... I enjoyed his performance better than Bruno's... Bruno had some songs that were more than "Oh, gurl, I luv you!" but when I tried to listen I was overwhelmed by teens (girls and boys!) OUCH! screaming in my ears. On these two songs you posted, I can't even hear Mayer's individual voice, much less his individual style... Gotta wonder about that. (?)
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
I really like the two songs you posted, but I'm kind of sad that Mayer Hawthorne lost his way with that last album... I saw him open for Janelle Monae and Bruno Mars when they were touring together and I had no idea who he was... I really enjoyed his singular style with his band at the time--yeah, it touched on retro styles, different ones, but he made it his own...
I like his last album but to be honest,I was missing the retro-soul sounds that he started out with.His debut album,A Strange Arrangement,is a masterpiece.This new album feels like a return to that...but with an emphasis on uptempo funk.
Huh, seems like this project is really influenced by Chromeo. Definitely has the same approach. Mayer Hawthorne had already done a cover of one of their songs, so maybe I'm not so surprised.
Man, these tracks are hot! Definately got that early 80's RnB sound going on that I love so much. Really looking forward to this album. Reminds me of Chromeo, but this is even more authentic funky.
I was so so disappointed with M Hawthorne's last album. It still is on top of my worst musical mis-purchases ever! Ugh!! This collaboration here, Tuxedo, is far better, though, played in full, it sounds a bit samey to my ears. And as much as I like these old-school grooves, isnt that a bit too much of it? If released in 1982 it might go bang! But nowadays it turns out as antiquated, as totally stuck in the past?! I think you can be funky and uptodate while this is only retro and not much more. No, I wont buy! Not yet, ..... haha!
I was so so disappointed with M Hawthorne's last album. It still is on top of my worst musical mis-purchases ever! Ugh!! This collaboration here, Tuxedo, is far better, though, played in full, it sounds a bit samey to my ears. And as much as I like these old-school grooves, isnt that a bit too much of it? If released in 1982 it might go bang! But nowadays it turns out as antiquated, as totally stuck in the past?! I think you can be funky and up to date while this is only retro and not much more. No, I wont buy! Not yet, ..... haha!
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I feel like most of today's R&b music is so dead and boring,so I'm really excited about the retro-sounds on this album Get back to the way music used to be! I fully support artists who go retro.We need to get back to the funk!
I was so so disappointed with M Hawthorne's last album. It still is on top of my worst musical mis-purchases ever! Ugh!! This collaboration here, Tuxedo, is far better, though, played in full, it sounds a bit samey to my ears. And as much as I like these old-school grooves, isnt that a bit too much of it? If released in 1982 it might go bang! But nowadays it turns out as antiquated, as totally stuck in the past?! I think you can be funky and up to date while this is only retro and not much more. No, I wont buy! Not yet, ..... haha!
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I feel like most of today's R&b music is so dead and boring,so I'm really excited about the retro-sounds on this album Get back to the way music used to be! I fully support artists who go retro.We need to get back to the funk!
Truly updated modern funk would be even better, but I happily settle for retro goodness in this case!
The tracks I've heard so far from this project don't sound 100% retro though. That's why I made the Chromeo reference, because they have a similar approach. The melodies, the chord progressions and many other aspects are actually quite removed from what funk music sounded like in the late-70s, early-80s. There are all kinds of modern production techniques involved there too.
The problem with modern dance music, or modern R&B with an electronic twist, is that it obliterated so much off what was good about music back in the day and replaced it with elements that really aren't an improvement. A lot of it had to do with "producers" that weren't able to play their instruments properly aggressively seeking out dominance in the clubs. Shit just spread from there.
At the very least, this type of music has a wonderful overall sound and that should justify people wanting to do it in 2015 too. It's sort of weird to say that people should have been making it only during a specific period in time (which was relatively short anyway).
I don't see anyone complaining that singer-songwriters who go perform their music with their acoustic guitars are being too 1965-1969.
The tracks I've heard so far from this project don't sound 100% retro though. That's why I made the Chromeo reference, because they have a similar approach. The melodies, the chord progressions and many other aspects are actually quite removed from what funk music sounded like in the late-70s, early-80s. There are all kinds of modern production techniques involved there too.
The problem with modern dance music, or modern R&B with an electronic twist, is that it obliterated so much off what was good about music back in the day and replaced it with elements that really aren't an improvement. A lot of it had to do with "producers" that weren't able to play their instruments properly aggressively seeking out dominance in the clubs. Shit just spread from there.
At the very least, this type of music has a wonderful overall sound and that should justify people wanting to do it in 2015 too. It's sort of weird to say that people should have been making it only during a specific period in time (which was relatively short anyway).
I don't see anyone complaining that singer-songwriters who go perform their music with their acoustic guitars are being too 1965-1969.
[Edited 3/5/15 2:01am]
Agreed, not 100% retro but at the very least 80% in my opinion. I don't mind it myself, I am happy with any good soulful funk and boogie music, especially when laced with 80's influences (drum machines and synthesizers for bass, stabs and chords).
The tracks I've heard so far from this project don't sound 100% retro though. That's why I made the Chromeo reference, because they have a similar approach. The melodies, the chord progressions and many other aspects are actually quite removed from what funk music sounded like in the late-70s, early-80s. There are all kinds of modern production techniques involved there too.
The problem with modern dance music, or modern R&B with an electronic twist, is that it obliterated so much off what was good about music back in the day and replaced it with elements that really aren't an improvement. A lot of it had to do with "producers" that weren't able to play their instruments properly aggressively seeking out dominance in the clubs. Shit just spread from there.
At the very least, this type of music has a wonderful overall sound and that should justify people wanting to do it in 2015 too. It's sort of weird to say that people should have been making it only during a specific period in time (which was relatively short anyway).
I don't see anyone complaining that singer-songwriters who go perform their music with their acoustic guitars are being too 1965-1969.
[Edited 3/5/15 2:01am]
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Good points! But imagine music would sound (more or less) the same over and over again. Would that really please you? Me, I think music is best when it sounds fresh, like nth else I heard before. I like new ideas. I like it when people are innovative! Tuxedo may be a solid retro-funk album, ok, that's cool, but it is no E-Funk 2015 Experience Deluxe!
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I like what I'm hearing...some truly funky,retro soul tracks here.
His last album was released on a major label and just as I predicted,he got lost in the shuffle.Major labels don't know what to do with someone like Mayer (who has a retro sound).Stones Throw,on the other hand,specializes in artists like this.
On these two songs you posted, I can't even hear Mayer's individual voice, much less his individual style... Gotta wonder about that. (?)
these songs take you right back to 1982....it's got that early 80s R&B sound
way more than the Mark Ronson CD. 
no midtempo,hip-hop influenced sounds here!