Ive seen people disagree with opinions without flaring up.
On Fri, 25 Feb 2000, Mark Allerton wrote:
> Where would we be without assholes? For that matter, where would this list
> be without opinions?
>
> So here's another: I now have "Voodoo", "Black Diamond" and "Infinite
> Possibilities". Only one of these records is a classic, and it begins with
> "V". There's some pretty good stuff on the other two LPs though. I'd rate
> Amel's LP second out of the pack - "Ini", the title track and "Down" are
> gorgeous tracks. The Angie Stone LP is nice enough, but there's nothing that
> really blows me away. And how, in the year 2000, can anyone really expect to
> base a whole damn song around rhyming "funky", "junkie" and "monkey" and be
> taken seriously?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: BAO <tunde@arches.uga.edu>
> To: Dirk van den Heuvel <dirkv@groovedis.com>
> Cc: Deep Soul <jjeudy@hotmail.com>; <acid-jazz@ucsd.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2000 8:25 PM
> Subject: RE: My last rites about Voodoo...
>
>
> >
> > opinions are like assholes.
> >
> > On Thu, 24 Feb 2000, Dirk van den Heuvel wrote:
> >
> > > Well I bought both the new D'Angelo CD and Angie Stone CD and overall
> I'm
> > > very disappointed by both of them. It's not anything as abstract as what
> > > their influences are or aren't, or that I am or ain't diggin' their
> > > vibe/sound/etc, it's just the songs aren't that good. Plain and f'ing
> > > simple. These are the kinds of CDs that compilation tapes (or mini discs
> in
> > > my case) were made for. Take the 3-4 great tracks off the D'Angelo album
> and
> > > the 2 tracks I like off Angie Stone and put them on a mini disc
> compilation.
> > > I hardly buy any music we don't distribute. When I do it's almost always
> > > r&b. I had high hopes for these records. I WANTED to like them. But,
> > > listening to them I was struck with the feeling that the songs just
> weren't
> > > at the level I expected. YMMV but that's my opinion.
> > >
> > > Dirk van den Heuvel (dirkv@groovedis.com)
> > > Groove Distribution
> > > http://www.groovedis.com
> > > Your Guide To The Underground
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Deep Soul [mailto:jjeudy@hotmail.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2000 11:24 AM
> > > To: acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
> > > Subject: My last rites about Voodoo...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I think that a lot of people who are downing the album have put
> themselves
> > > outside it's reach. To say that it doesn't encompass that old-skool soul
> > > flavor is to clearly miss the mark. Influences of greats like Sly,
> Marvin,
> > > and Prince are well apparent. However, D'angelo adds a jazzy yet still
> > > soulful spin to his expression. In comparison, a song like "Heaven Must
> Be
> > > Like This", or "Your Precious Love" done by both D'Angelo and Erykah
> Badu
> > > would probably be more palatable since it's more of a classic soul
> style.
> > >
> > > It's ironic that Stimp mentioned how much he disliked "Voodoo" and how
> much
> > > he liked "Black Diamond" by Angie Stone. Both artists have worked
> together
> > > for several years and are VERY close friends (close like D being the
> father
> > > of one of her children!) If you check closely, most of the songs written
> on
> > > Voodoo are co-written by Angie Stone. "Everyday" on Angie's album was
> > > co-produced with D'Angelo.
> > > Not surprisingly, I get similar enjoyment from both of these albums.
> > >
> > > Initially, I had reservations about Voodoo since hearing Devil's Pie
> which
> > > came out back in '98. For me, I thought this was what to expect of D's
> album
> > > and thus I wasn't pressed on getting it. Now that it's out, yeah there's
> > > tons of reviews, shots and praises about the album. My General Rule: why
> am
> > > I going to let the opinion of people swayed by winds of expectation and
> > > their own biases affect how I feel about an artist and his music.
> > > There are only two entities to really compare this album with: the
> generic
> > > radio tune from the various urban hit factories
> > > (BadBoy/Timbaland/DarkChild/etc); and D'Angelo's first album, Brown
> Sugar. I
> > > shouldn't have to explain the differences in the first category. But
> it's
> > > really into looking where D has been to what he's trying to do now that
> the
> > > real enjoyment comes. I loved Brown Sugar and it definitely stands out
> among
> > > less aspiring r&b albums, but it still left me wanting for something.
> Maybe
> > > someting personal that I DID get from Badu, or more recently Amel
> Larrieux
> > > (foreshadowing...) Even he admits in his liners that he could easily
> have
> > > used the same formulas and aproach towards this album and enjoyed
> similar
> > > success as he did previously. But this was personal project to expand
> his
> > > artistic self and to honor those possesive forces and people that drive
> him
> > > to make music. "Untitled" is out and out an ode to the now untitled
> artist.
> > > Instead of drum machines and snappy samples, you have talent the like of
> Roy
> > > Hargrove, Charlie Hunter, Ahmir Thompsoin of The Roots, and Raphael
> Saadiq
> > > to add a living spirit to the album. Listen to each song... Recognize
> that
> > > each is done without overdubs or looped orchestrations. This isn't radio
> > > playlist music for passive ears. Every cuts is a live jam that echoes in
> > > your mind when you open yourself to it. You can't just browse through it
> > > like you can a Marvin Gaye or otherwise more "formatted" album because
> the
> > > format is different. The same way you can just browse through Miles
> Davis or
> > > Sun Ra.
> > >
> > > What I would tell anyone about this album is to ignore everything that
> you
> > > have heard and remove all expectation. Listen and enjoy it like you
> would
> > > that smokey jazz club away from the pop life. See if you too get caught
> up
> > > in the voodoo.
> > >
> > > Deep_Soul
> > > ______________________________________________________
> > > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
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