Lammastide said:

Truth be told, I'd always considered D'Angelo a one-trick pony -- and an overrated one at that. This track, however, knocked me on my butt and definitely called me to listen to Black Messiah with significantly less prejudice.

So........what are your conclusions?

Graycap23 said:

Lammastide said:

Truth be told, I'd always considered D'Angelo a one-trick pony -- and an overrated one at that. This track, however, knocked me on my butt and definitely called me to listen to Black Messiah with significantly less prejudice.

So........what are your conclusions?

I was impressed.

My thing with D'Angelo is that he's got chops, but he only ever seemed to give up the same ol' loungy mid-tempo tune. He showed more versatility and energy on Black Messiah, and I dug it.

Graycap23 said:

Holy shit...

Love this song - great pick!

I also really encourage soul/funk/jazz fans to check The RH Factor albums 'Hard Groove', 'Stronger' and 'Distractions'. (D'angelo appears on 'Distractions' too.)

tongueinthecrease said:

Graycap23 said:

Just in case anyone slept on this joint.

Holy shit...

Hamad said:

Lately I've been listening to this quite alot.

I always liked this song but never really considered it anywhere near either of their best material. It's such a chame that D'angelo didn't hook up with Ronson for the 'Version' album when he was immersed in that soul/Daptone sound. The collab for that album could've been incredible!

thisisreece said:

Haven't seen much D talk on here recently so I thought I'd kick some off... by saying how much of a beast this song is!

You are too right!!! I loved the demo when it came out and although the released track kicks ass the demo edges it to me And live it was awesome

Lammastide said:

Graycap23 said:

So........what are your conclusions?

I was impressed.

My thing with D'Angelo is that he's got chops, but he only ever seemed to give up the same ol' loungy mid-tempo tune. He showed more versatility and energy on Black Messiah, and I dug it.

The problem with D'Angelo's sound is that there is such a limited body of work (3 albums) over such a long period of time (20 years!) that it is hard to make an informed judgment.

L, you make legitimate points about D'Angelo's limitations, though as a fan, I wouldn't agree with them but neither of us has been given a whole lot to work with. But he really hasn't given either fans or non-fans much material to go on.

Happy New Year.

namepeace said:

Lammastide said:

I was impressed.

My thing with D'Angelo is that he's got chops, but he only ever seemed to give up the same ol' loungy mid-tempo tune. He showed more versatility and energy on Black Messiah, and I dug it.

The problem with D'Angelo's sound is that there is such a limited body of work (3 albums) over such a long period of time (20 years!) that it is hard to make an informed judgment.

L, you make legitimate points about D'Angelo's limitations, though as a fan, I wouldn't agree with them but neither of us has been given a whole lot to work with. But he really hasn't given either fans or non-fans much material to go on.

Happy New Year.

Yep. I definitely made my earlier assessment on limited exposure to an already limited body of work. Black Messiah has encouraged me to dig a bit deeper.

To me VooDoo will always be the benchmark.

Lammastide said:

namepeace said:

The problem with D'Angelo's sound is that there is such a limited body of work (3 albums) over such a long period of time (20 years!) that it is hard to make an informed judgment.

L, you make legitimate points about D'Angelo's limitations, though as a fan, I wouldn't agree with them but neither of us has been given a whole lot to work with. But he really hasn't given either fans or non-fans much material to go on.

Happy New Year.

Yep. I definitely made my earlier assessment on limited exposure to an already limited body of work. Black Messiah has encouraged me to dig a bit deeper.

There's no doubt, Black Messiah is a departure from his earlier work. I hope he continues to collaborate with the Vanguard and build on that sound.

Black Messiah is such a great album. I'm shocked that so many people on the Org seem to hate D'Angelo and refuse to give BM a chance. Why? Some stupid perceived rivalry? Some desire to protect Prince from other artists being good? It makes no sense. I listen to BM and I love it, and I think about how it's music that just seems like a natural fit for Prince fans to enjoy.

KingSausage said:

Black Messiah is such a great album. I'm shocked that so many people on the Org seem to hate D'Angelo and refuse to give BM a chance. Why? Some stupid perceived rivalry? Some desire to protect Prince from other artists being good? It makes no sense. I listen to BM and I love it, and I think about how it's music that just seems like a natural fit for Prince fans to enjoy.

I'm not shocked. This place kinda sucks when it comes to discussing new music. If Janet Jackson is popular here.........what does that tell you? LOL

KingSausage said:

Black Messiah is such a great album. I'm shocked that so many people on the Org seem to hate D'Angelo and refuse to give BM a chance. Why? Some stupid perceived rivalry? Some desire to protect Prince from other artists being good? It makes no sense. I listen to BM and I love it, and I think about how it's music that just seems like a natural fit for Prince fans to enjoy.

You can't force good taste on people.

That said, BM could have been better after a 14 year wait.

I love it but I can see how a lot of people wouldn't.

Graycap23 said:

Blasphemy!

The only thing I would change would be to remove the long intro to Really Love. That shit just breaks up the flow.

KingSausage said:

I have a feeling that the Second Coming (the next release) will be better.

Great song, great live version, great lyrics, great music. Just greatness!

I´m so glad that D´Angelo is still around , still making all time classics, still delivering fantastic and energetic live shows.

And yes, the pseudo rivalry between D and Prince here on the org is laughable. People from Prince´s camp and people from D´s camp have always kind of intertwined, there is some mutual respect and both are great artists. We should be glad that they are keeping the funk alive.

I'm still upset D didn't play 1,000 Deaths live when I saw him here in DC.

3rdeyedude said:

KingSausage said:

Black Messiah is such a great album. I'm shocked that so many people on the Org seem to hate D'Angelo and refuse to give BM a chance. Why? Some stupid perceived rivalry? Some desire to protect Prince from other artists being good? It makes no sense. I listen to BM and I love it, and I think about how it's music that just seems like a natural fit for Prince fans to enjoy.

I'm not shocked. This place kinda sucks when it comes to discussing new music. If Janet Jackson is popular here.........what does that tell you? LOL

Sure, some Prince fans are territorial, maybe general audiences became indifferent to D'Angelo because he was gone for so long. Even a lot of D'Angelo fans like me threw our hands up several years after waiting on a follow up to Voodoo.

"1000 Deaths" *alone* almost made it worth the 15-year wait.

[Edited 1/5/16 12:14pm]

1000 Deaths isn't one of my favorites on the album. I liked the demo version better vocally it seems more clear than the released version. I like BM I've come to like it more now than I did when it was first released. I was a tad disappointed after 14 yrs I was expecting a a double or triple CD set. Certainly more tracks than 12. Someone mentioned BM was a departure from his last release. I agree. But it woulda been cool to release 1. BM, 2. A second CD with more like Voodoo and 3. A third CD with around six tracks of just straight old school gospel songs. Something I think is missing from BM is his vocal abilities which was all over the first two albums. Not so much on this album. There are glimpses but not enough. I hope he hooks up with Ali Shaheed Muhammad,Raphael Saadiq and Angie Stone for his next release.

Oh, I was kinda surprised BM did not include a remake. I was hoping it would include Parliments I Been watching You (Sexy Body) and the S.O.S. Band's Tell Me If You Still Care. Both which he has performed live prior to the release of Black Messiah.

daingermouz2020 said:

1000 Deaths isn't one of my favorites on the album. I liked the demo version better vocally it seems more clear than the released version. I like BM I've come to like it more now than I did when it was first released. I was a tad disappointed after 14 yrs I was expecting a a double or triple CD set. Certainly more tracks than 12. Someone mentioned BM was a departure from his last release. I agree. But it woulda been cool to release 1. BM, 2. A second CD with more like Voodoo and 3. A third CD with around six tracks of just straight old school gospel songs. Something I think is missing from BM is his vocal abilities which was all over the first two albums. Not so much on this album. There are glimpses but not enough. I hope he hooks up with Ali Shaheed Muhammad,Raphael Saadiq and Angie Stone for his next release.

Good suggestions but keep in mind that Questlove posted that something like that is already in the works. They announced lots and lots of new stuff and some leftovers from the BM sessions.

.

It´s weird that D´Angelo´s vocals sound so clear when he sings live or clear on his older releases but BM is so drastically different. Don´t know if it´s just a stylistic device or if there´s more to it.

KoolEaze said:

Yeah I've heard that D' and Questlove are planning new stuff. I just wish they had given it to me with BM. Yeah, I know I'm an ungrateful bastard.😭

daingermouz2020 said:

KoolEaze said:

Good suggestions but keep in mind that Questlove posted that something like that is already in the works. They announced lots and lots of new stuff and some leftovers from the BM sessions.

.

.

It´s weird that D´Angelo´s vocals sound so clear when he sings live or clear on his older releases but BM is so drastically different. Don´t know if it´s just a stylistic device or if there´s more to it.

Yeah I've heard that D' and Questlove are planning new stuff. I just wish they had given it to me with BM. Yeah, I know I'm an ungrateful bastard.😭

You guys made me listen to BM once more, loving it! I agree about the vocals, D has one of the most soulful vocals and it was right centre on the two first ones so I kind of missed his vocal abilities not coming to the fore. But if there is new stuff coming I can happily wait for that