Recommended Urban/R&B music (#1 - #10)

DANI LOVE: Dani Love: The EP
She describes her style as "Neo-Jazz," but when you get done listening to this EP, you'll realize that classification only begins to scrape the surface. Over the course of these seven tracks, Love proves that she's adept at seemingly any style you throw at her: soul, smooth funk, straight up R&B, and even hip hop. And while the diversity of the music here is certainly noteworthy, it's her voice that deserves the majority of the accolades. It's one thing to be able to command a track with your vocal skills, but it's another to be able to seemingly convert complex, well-done backing tracks to bit player level once the singing starts. Her smooth (I can't stress that enough) delivery manages to both maintain composure and emote exponentially, taking the hard-hitting kick drum on a track like "What You Made" and soothing its harshest aspects with her layered harmonies. "That's All" is a sparse, piano laced pop jam that looks toward the bright side, while "Get Away" is a slyly crafted he said/she said R&B bouncer that gives Love a chance to show off her rap skills. She steps up to the occasion on both tracks, keeping the lyrics and the melodies sharp and on point. It's that strength and precision that flows through this whole album and makes it one to look out for.
Recommended if you like Sade, Erykah Badu, Corinne Bailey Rae.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $8.80
THE GUMBO BROTHERS: Funky Freedom
This collection of swampy funk is deep in the pocket, right where it should be. The grooves are thick, the vocals are sparse and always add texture to the interplay between the musicians, and the vibes never get bogged down. For a four piece, they crank out a surprisingly full sound, complementing the bass and drums with organ, electric piano, saxophone, and some slick percussion. The lyrics and vocals are pure party soul, designed to get you in tune with the vibe and flow of the music. Songs like "Booty Movin'" give you even more than what you might expect: A tight drum beat, accented with driving organ and guitar that place the listener smack dab in the middle of some wild vocals and a full on groove that splits open for a fantastic sax solo. The Gumbo Brothers say they're "going to hit you with some ass-shakin' funk!" They got that right. Prepare yourself.
Recommended if you like The Meters, Galactic.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $9.99
THE BANKHEAD PRESS: The Bankhead Press
Having perfected their chops as a live band, this six piece San Diego soul outfit does a fine job of capturing that same energy and feel on this, their debut EP. While the grooves are often reminiscent of vintage funk, the overall sound doesn't rely or fixate on one style long enough to warrant any indelible classification. You really get the sense that each of the players here brings his own strengths to the table, as you can hear and feel a lot of different influences, all working together to nail down a vibe that is loose when it needs to be, tight when it should be, and always a lot of fun. The record kicks off hard, jumping into "Searchin," a slinky yet peppy groove that introduces us to Rodney "Buttersticks" Hubbard, a tremendous vocalist who adds a huge amount of style and finesse to these well-crafted tracks. The cuts head in a more mellow direction from there, pulling back on the tempo and really getting to the heart of the soul music that these guys love to play. You'll have a hard time not moving and grooving to this one.
Recommended if you like Marvin Gaye, The Meters.
CD price: $8.00 / MP3 price: $8.00
DOMINIQUE ELISE: Outside Influence
Much more than simple spiritual praise music, this collection of songs features a nicely developed R&B sound while incorporating pop angles in the most tasteful of ways. Heavy on melody and smooth with the grooves, these tracks are brimming with positive messages that are both uplifting and honest, wisely taking their subject matter from personal experience and spinning them into songs that are instantly catchy and always articulate. Elise is a fantastic vocalist, whether she's daintily adapting to songs that are serene, or confidently belting out the more upbeat offerings. "The Moon" is a slightly souped-up ballad, a song that touches on the grandeur of life and our ability to grasp what's really "out there." It's followed by "Emergency," a hard hitting jam that, despite the bleakness of the lyrical content, manages to be a feel-good track that gets the blood pumping. It's this optimism that really gives this album its life, and it's also what makes these 12 tracks so appealing and memorable.
Recommended if you like Jill Scott, Out of Eden, Rach El.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
C PHINEAS: C Phineas
Live band hip hop groups (ones that feature actual musicians providing the backing tracks) are at an instant disadvantage when it comes to putting out a record, because there's not much of a chance that a studio recording is ever going to equal the energy and spectacle of their live show. While it must be endlessly defeating and frustrating, it didn't seem to stand in the way of these cats. Focusing on tight knit grooves and vocal approaches that toggle between lyrically timeless raps and smooth soul singing, this record comes across as fine tuned and controlled, but not holding anything back. Wisely, the bass and horns are in the forefront for the majority of the tracks, laying thick lines for the vocalists lock in with. The drums and keys here, unassuming at first, really become essential in adding those little nods to hip hop that makes these songs really go over. These are some accomplished musicians, so they're also given space to solo and improvise, which cant help but add to the legitimacy and intricacy of these already well crafted songs. It's this impressive playing that really opens up their sound and lends it to accessibility from a wide audience. The playing is spot on and unpredictable, the raps are intelligent and filler-free, and the hooks and melodies are pure soul.
Recommended if you like D'Angelo, The Roots, Herbie Hancock, Common.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00
JUICEBOX: Popcorn 69
I was just reading an article proclaiming the return of the Stax record label when this came along, another sign that this modern world of ours will, with any luck, never be able to let go of the indelible pop, soul and R&B sounds of the sixties. This is a collective who is doing their part to a staggering degree. More than just a group content to pay their respects and move on, these are musicians who have worked (I must imagine, extremely hard) to faithfully replicate these classic numbers and truly create an album that stands up, in heart and musicianship, to the originals. That is not to say that this is a cover band, because there's more going on here than that. This is both honoring and adding to the form, with a newer generation of artists lending their skills and passion to a genre that remains as exciting and affecting as it was 40 years ago. These are songs of sly complexity and vigor, getting in and out within 3 minutes running time but sticking with you for the rest of the day. Short (but present) guitar and horn solos make appearances throughout, but mostly these tunes remain heavy on groove, feel, and genuine soul. It's fun, timeless, and a must for any fan of 60's R&B and boogaloo.
Recommended if you like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
CD price: $12.97
MEZMETIC: Secrets of the Stingray Style
This Bay Area producer has created a hip hop hybrid that is as smoothly flowing as it is technically adept. With assistance from a trio of vocalists, Mezmetic dips into a deep array of jazz, dub, soul, R&B and hip hop, all with stellar control of the instrumentation. Starting with a base of distinct MPC beats, the tracks are layered with solid bass lines, slinking keys, understated guitars, and well placed turntable work, yielding a sound that is warm, welcomely complex, and tough to categorically classify. The lyrically potent MC's featured on the more straightforward hip hop tracks do justice to the solidity of the beats, laying down verses that wisely match the intricacy of the production. The same can be said for tracks like "Soul Arrival," where the soul-soaked female vocals blend with the keys to give a real depth to the song. It's this versatility that makes this album so intriguing and simply fun to listen to. If you ever feel like the men behind the boards don't get the props they deserve, check this out and witness a producer who has put in some real work.
Recommended if you like DJ Krush, Gorillaz.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00
BUMPUS: All The People
Simply put, this album exemplifies how modern soul music should be done: The lyrics are topical but timeless, The vocals are rich and textured, and there is an electricity flowing between the players that is palpable but not overexerted. For me, there is nothing better than funk jams that add pop elements to their arsenal, blending catchy tunes with themes that embrace change and hint at uprising. It seems a bit sinister, but it's a classic soul strategy and the effectiveness of the approach can't be denied. The 10 tracks here (and a bonus goody at the end) are, on the surface, feel good party songs that will, at least, get your head bobbing. Dig a little deeper and you'll find songs filled with genuine emotion, songs that are striving for something better and brighter and asking you to do the same. This feeling encompasses the album, flowing from the hands of the eight musicians who are incredibly versed in the art of groove and execution. It's great to hear an album like this that is not only well played, but also instantly accessible and extremely relevant.
CD price: $9.99 / MP3 price: $9.99
THE HIPSTONES: Something's Gonna Start
Tackling soul, funk, and a little bit of rock, this Sydney, Australia nine piece has a real knack for writing modern songs with a vintage feel. Headed up by the core duo of Anthea White and Mark Palmer, this is a band that is flush with method and feeling, slinking and jamming through an hour of upbeat party songs, slower ballads, and smoother numbers that have a definite pop appeal to them. It's a wise diversity in sound that offers a bit of something for everyone, and really allows the band to open up and show their prowess as players. While some songs feature guitar heavily, others rely on string arrangements or tastefully devised horn parts that do a fantastic job of building off the initial structure of the song. This is all held together by Palmer and White, whose harmonies and melodies seem to really lead the way and push these songs along. Their voices meld well together, with each working off the other and neither overstepping their bounds. Like any good modern soul album, this one has a timeless feel to it, but it steps away from being a simple homage and instead treads a new path that makes it memorable in its own right.
Recommended if you like Rickie Lee Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & The Family Stone.
CD price: $20.00 / MP3 price: $15.00
SITUATION SIX: 3/thirteen
I suppose this should technically be considered an EP, but don't let its 5 track format dissuade you from giving this funk fusion group a sporting chance. This album is packed so full of grooves it's bursting at the seams (and, in the interest of full disclosure, the tracks all boast sufficiently beefy running times). As their name somewhat implies, there are six players in this group. Alto sax and trumpet lead the way, floating over the top of the tightly knit grooves provided by the bass and drums. This leaves the guitar and keys free to tastefully interject when the time is ripe, and they make the most of it. Each of the players is given ample time to showcase their solo skills as well (as wonderfully exemplified by the drum work on "View From San Pedro"), and they each pull it off with a calculated sensibility. Overall, the most impressive element here may be the fact that this was recorded live in the studio. It's great to hear the musicians fall into a groove and ride it all the way out, feeding off one another and progressively building the songs together.
Recommended if you like Soulive, Parliament, The RH Factor.
CD price: $9.99 / MP3 price: $9.99