From: clg1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Chris "deephouse" Gray)
Subject: Blakwatch Review: Soul II Soul
Summary: you don't have to read it ##:>
Keywords: repost
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 20:20:05 GMT

This is a repost...it is the summer isn't it? ##:>


This is...

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_______________________________________________________________________________
SOULIISOUL--VOLUMEIII JUST RIGHT--VIRGIN--10 TRAKS--42:03 MINUTES
_______________________________________________________________________________


1.  Joy(4:33)           You all have probably heard this sub-bassed(almost
                        too much?) houser. ~112 BPM  Richie Stephens does
                        a nice jobs with the lyrics, but he could work
                        more at not trying to "over-emphasize" the delivery.
                        The choir kicks.  Some hip-hop drum beats would make
                        this go over nicely.

2. Take Me Higher(4:49) Caron Wheeler comes in and works this classic soulIIsoul
                        funk muffin.  This sounds very similar to a remix of
                        her solo work "Blue".  It should have been on her album.
                        You SoulIISoul devouts will love it.  The hiphop flavor 
                        is nice.  I think they should have added more prominent
                        violins.

3.  Storm(3:36)         Tribal flute and jungle funk rule! Funky Jungle Jazz.
                        This instrumental, featuring Gary Barnacle on theflutes
                        is too funky.  Is there such a thing? Yep.  *heart
                        fludders while listening*  If you want to reallly make
                        dat dashiki feel real again, through yourself a Sunday
                        afternoon Bar-B-Q (sunny weather of course), and invite
                        some good friends over to chill wit dis one.

4.  Direction(3:47)     Jazzi B dares to venture more on the hiphop tip...
                        Hmmmmmmmmm........ HmmmMMMMM...singing ain't so bad
                        after all. ##:)  Sounds like a weak mix of the Stereo
                        MC's, Massive Attack and PM Dawm, all haphazardly
                        thrown together...I think this should have been one of
                        those "volt-hidden" ones. #:)  But the Choir Connection
                        hums nicely over the funk-ladden beat.

5.  Just Right(3:00)    Ok, this is more like classic soul.  Rick Clarke
                        manages to step up to bat with the vocals.  When Jazzi
                        begins to rap, the bassline under him is too nice.
                        The strings tug on that old soulIIsoul vibe, but betta.
                        ~112 also.

6. MOve Me No Mountain  (4:40)  Kofi handles this one nicely.  This
                        113 BPM chilled houser is packed with the
                         patented soulIIsoul flavors, but it has a more
                        crossover appeal.  It has a 70-ish nostalgic
                        overtone.  Afrikan house steps would be a breeze
                        wit dis one.  I will be waiting for this to drop
                        as a single!

7.  Intelligence(5:17)  Your boy Jazzi B is on lead vocals again, Gary BArnacle
                        dazzles you with more Jungle flutes.. this is classic
                        funk in its infancy.  More attemps at 
                        Massive Attack/Stereo MC's rapwise.  
                        The Choir Connection gets many props for their
                        background work.  Gary gets loose yall.  ~82-85 BPM?
                        Sounds like that old Afrikan flute you're used to 
                        hearing on documentaries, but more funkier.

8.  Future(4:34)        These guys certainly cleaned up their act after their
                       last album... kofi sounds a helluva lot like Jane 
                       Eugene, formerly of Loose Ends. The vocal perfomance
                       deserves many props.  The music is too much.  This
                       deserves a #1 rating yall. The disco hand claps are
                       really nice *laughs*  This is nice.  The sampled drum
                       fill is real fonkay.

9.  Mood(3:48)          What are these guys trying to do to me?
                        The jazz/funk marraige is too much.  Chris
                        "Snake" Davis funks up the classic-sounding saxs
                        sound so intoxicating, especially when they meet
                        the reggae patterns of the bass and piano.  Nice
                        instrumental to cruise to.  About 109 BPM.

10. Everywhere(3:53)    Jazzie B takes leads again...what? reggae flavors
                        with sub-blowing bass? this is actually kinda nice.
                        Clubs will no doubt pump this one.  this delivery
                        from Jazzie is quite unusual....hmmmmmmm DAddae
                        harvey helps out wit raps...kinda ok.  But its
                        not as strong as the rest of the album.



This one is worth the $13.99-$16.99.  Check it out.


  
--
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Mr. Christopher L. Gray   * Blak Kings and Queens 
clg1@ra.MsState.edu       *     Come Forth! 
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Newsgroups: rec.music.funky