NEW SOUNDS

BRITTANY HOWARD

Alabama Shakes, the blues rock band, broke out in 2012 with their critically acclaimed debut, "Boys & Girls". After an extensive tour to promote that album, the group's follow-up, "Sound & Color" helped make Alabama Shakes even bigger. The album debuted in the US at number one, reached the top ten in several countries and won the band four Grammy Awards.

Following all of this success, the band's dynamic guitarist and lead vocalist, Brittany Howard decided to take a step back and put the band on hiatus so she could explore her own musical pursuits. She and her wife, Jesse Lafser hit the road, traveling around the country to experience modern-day America. This road trip lead to the Southern-based singer's first solo album, "Jamie" with the title named after her sister who passed away from a rare form of cancer as a teenager. With this record, Howard was inspired to go deeper in to her personal history and viewpoints to create her music. She also incorporates a little jazz, funk and hip-hop in to her songs. This is an exciting and bold new work from Howard. Here are a couple of tracks including the funky single, "Stay High" with the music video featuring actor Terry Crews:





RAPHAEL SAADIQ

One artist who I think is vastly underrated is r&b singer, musician, writer and producer, Raphael Saadiq. I don't think this incredibly gifted performer has gotten nearly enough attention that I think he deserves. The Oakland-born Saadiq (birth name Charles Ray Wiggins) began his career as part of the '90's neo-soul group, Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother, D'Wayne Wiggins and their cousin, Timothy Riley. After they disbanded in 1996, he continued to create music as part of the short-lived r&b super-group, Lucy Pearl while co-writing and producing tracks for such artists like D'Angelo, Jill Scott, The Roots, Q-Tip, Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige and John Legend. Saadiq released his first solo album in 2002 with "Instant Vintage", a classic work yet not fully appreciated at the time.

For his fifth solo project, "Jimmy Lee", Saadiq has created a concept album that is deeply personal. The record is named after his brother who had contracted H.I.V. and later died from a drug overdose. The songs, inspired by other family losses in his life from addiction and tragedy, features the inventive production you expect from Saadiq yet the lyrics have a deep emotional complexity that you don't usually find in his work. Here is the clip for the single, "Something Keeps Calling" featuring Rob Bacon and a mini-documentary with Saadiq discussing the creation of his art and latest album:

HOT AND FRESH OUT THE KITCHEN

"STONE ROLLIN'" -  RAPHAEL SAADIQ

Raphael Saadiq is a one man neo-soul movement and the world is a better place for it.

This former member of Tony! Toni! Tone! is continuing the old school r&b sound that he used on his terrific last album, "The Way I See It"  but this time he is incorporating a bit of rock & roll to the mix. Mr. Saadiq is an underrated talent and "Stone Rollin'" is the perfect blend of rock and soul and I hope people discover this.

The only downside to this project is the awful album cover but I can overlook it.

I love this song from the album:

"Good Man" - Raphael Saadiq

"LOVE?" -  JENNIFER LOPEZ

Actress and "American Idol" judge, Jennifer Lopez has returned to music with her first album since 2007's "Brave".  "Love?" is her seventh CD and  has production assistance from some of the hottest producers working today such as Tricky Stewart, Red-One and The Dream.

While the first single, "On The Floor" is a somewhat, surprising top-ten hit but I don't think there is anything else on this record that is going to get her much radio play as the songs all feel like rejects from any one of the current female pop singers out now using these same producers and have basically the same sound.

Ms Lopez has never been known as a great singer but there is an unusual lack of any inspired vocals. "Love?" comes across as a desperate attempt by Ms Lopez to try and keep up with what is hot right now instead of making a move  forward in dance music.

This is the title track which is the only other song that I kinda like:

"(What Is) Love?" - Jennifer Lopez

"WHO YOU ARE" - JESSIE J

Jessica Cornish's initial claim to fame was as a songwriter and she co-wrote the only song that I will admit that I like of Miley Cyrus: "Party In The U.S.A.".

The twenty-three year old Brit, who is now known professionally as Jessie J, has released her debut album, "Who You Are [Explicit]", where she is now singing the songs that she wrote. Already a smash in her homeland since February, with the album reaching number two on the charts and selling over a million copies, it has finally hit stateside.

It is a collection of hip-hop flavored pop that is in vogue now which is actually part of the problem. She is an interesting artist but isn't offering much that feels particularly fresh or innovative. Jessie J is probably going to have some difficulty breaking through the pack of all of the other female pop vocalists doing the same exact sound.

I do like this track from the album:

"Abracadabra" - Jessie J

This is the music video for the song, "Price Tag" which features B.o.B:




"IN YOUR DREAMS" - STEVIE NICKS

"In Your Dreams" is the first album of new music from Stevie Nicks in ten years and it's well worth the wait. With production assistance from Glen Ballard (Alanis Morrisette) and The Eurythmics', Dave Stewart, Ms Nicks enchants us with her mystical soft rock sounds.

If you are a fan, you will not be disappointed by her latest collection of songs that sticks closely to her particular (and slightly peculiar) thoughts on love

This is the first single off of the album:

"Secret Love" - Stevie Nicks

"THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION" - SADE

"The Ultimate Collection" is all of the musical highlights of Sade's amazing body of work, starting from 1984's. "Diamond Life" to her latest, "Soldier of Love". All of the songs have been remastered as well as featuring three new songs including a remake of the Thin Lizzy song, "Still In Love With You" and two remixes.

Be sure to catch Sade on the North American leg of their world tour, hopefully stopping in a town near you.



Here is one of the remixes, "The Moon And The Sky (Remix)" that features an appearance from Jay Z which is a surprise because Sade has never collaborated  much with other artists:

"The Moon & The Sky (remix featuring Jay Z)" - Sade