Carl Thomas’ fans have been anxiously awaiting his fourth CD Conquer. Especially those who fell madly in love with his debut CD Emotional. Hopefully they have given him the space to change and grow because it has been four years since his last album (11 since Emotional) and Conquer is different. While there is something to be said for remaining recognizable to your core audience, there is also something to be said for the artist who is brave enough to take a risk and not “reheat” what he’s done before.

The tracks on Conquer are contemporary, meaning they have the sound of a lot of music currently out now but this CD is not another beat-heavy, bass driven, so-called R&B album. Instead the songs are mature and have more of a pop feel. Especially the tracks “The Night Is Yours,” “It’s Not The Same”, “Running”, which also has an inspirational slant in its message (“Run the race to win. Win the race to live.”), and the title track “Conquer”.  The song is reminiscent of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” in its execution and it would be interesting to see if pop stations or Thomas’ fans will embrace or reject the song due to the fact that Carl Thomas is a R&B singer. There is one song that fits into the current R&B landscape; the track “Round 2″.  The sound is hypnotic, but the lyrics disappoint because there are so many songs on the radio right now centered around a sexual rendezvous.

But, those who buy Conquer to hear Carl Thomas, the R&B singer, will be happy with songs like  “It Ain’t Fair”, “Long Distance Love Affair” and “Don’t Kiss Me”. “Long Distance Love Affair” has that old school, hip-hop flavor on the track and “Don’t Kiss Me” is a throwback to classic soul records. Both lend themselves perfectly to Thomas’ soulful voice. “It Is What Is” is a bittersweet tune about caring for someone who belongs to someone else and seems like the grown up version of “I Wish” (his #1 single from Emotional). Where as with “I Wish” he desired the lady and fantasized about being with her despite the reality of her situation, with “It Is What It Is”, he has no more fantasies about their relationship and the reality of it lets him see it clearly. It is what it is… instead of what he wishes it was. “You know, you know, that you’re still his for real though. As much as I wish things weren’t so different… it is what it is.” The song is also bittersweet because it was written by the late Heavy D.

Perhaps what will really satisfy the Carl Thomas fan is “Sweet Love”. Sweet love is… sweet. It’s also very reminiscient of a ’90s, “Jodeciesque”, slow jam.  Conquer is a mature album and most of all Carl Thomas brings a clear and strong vocal performance. Hopefully, he’s back to stay for a while.

Favorite tracks, “Sweet Love”, “It Is What It Is”, “Running”
–KKC

From the press release:

Download Conquer on iTunes

Micah Stampley was right when he said people don’t really know how to classify his sound. There is not a lot of the “old school” organ and tambourine to be heard on One Voice so in that sense, it isn’t traditional. Actually, there is quite a bit of lead guitar and it has a pop feel at times. If any label can be given, then it’s probably contemporary gospel; simply meaning it’s the sound that’s happening in gospel music now. One thing IT’S NOT is watered down. And that IS refreshing. The listener doesn’t have to wait until the last track on this CD of 14 tracks to finally hear some key words that have seemingly gone MIA in gospel music, i.e. Jesus, God and Lord. He does not mumble or stumble over these words. In fact many of the lyrics of the songs are taken directly from Holy Scripture. The writing is strong, and the vocals are executed well, especially when you consider that Stampley never had formal vocal training.

One Voice can be summed up as a worship and praise CD. Almost every song declares praise unto God and/or is a call to worship. Tracks like “Shout” and “Hosanna” are reminiscent in style of songs by fellow worship leader and gospel artist, Israel Houghton. It probably isn’t a stretch to say that these songs will make their way into the praise and worship playlists at many churches across the country soon. “Desperate People” and “We Need The Lord” are perhaps statements about the world we live in today–”In times like these, we need the Lord.” If you want to listen to music that is not necessarily “churchy”, but is clearly God focused and sounds fresh all at the same time, then pick up One Voice.

Favorite tracks: “Desperate People”, “Crucified”, “Call of Love”

–KKC

Get One Voice here

http://www.micahstampley.org/

Check out Micah Stampley talking about One Voice below:

The day has arrived.  Johnny Gill’s highly anticipated new cd, “Still Winning” is in stores.  Grown Folks Music was lucky enough to obtain an advanced copy of the ten track set so that we could give you a heads up on the new release before you head to your local music retailer.

The disc opens energetically with the title track “Still Winning”.  “Still Winning” is unexpected in that it departs from the signature quiet storm sound that Mr. Gill is known for and couples a guitar with an infectious hand clap beat. The track “Let’s Stay Together” has a breezy, cruising vibe that is reminiscent of Usher’s hit, “There Goes My Baby”. “This should be his next single” was the thought that came to me upon hearing “Black Box”. Mr. Gill uses aviation metaphors to express how he wishes that “love came with a black box” so that he could determine what went wrong to make it right.

Fans receive a great surprise on “Long, Long Time” because the track creates a semi-reunion with one of the famous groups Johnny took part in while at the same time paying homage to one of that group’s founding members. “2nd Place” stands out in that Mr. Gill uses his falsetto against a sweet piano melody to softly lull the listener in. Once you arrive, though, you realize that there is nothing sweet about the scenario being described in this track. I can’t wait to see the video for “2nd Place” if it is chosen as a single.

Long-time fans will be pleased to know that even though this set is abbreviated, they will still get the slow jams they expect from Mr. Gill while also getting a couple of uptempo grooves sprinkled in.

Let me know what you think. Will you be picking up “Still Winning” today? If so, come back to the site and let us know what you think of Mr. Gill’s solo return to music after more than a decade.

If you missed our great interview with Mr. Gill from August in which he discusses a myriad of interesting topics including “Still Winning”, you can still listen to part 1 & 2 and part 3.  You can purchase “Still Winning” and both ITunes and Amazon.com.

This post was submitted by GFM contributing writer Dani Hill you can check her out at kanielesthots.blogspot.com and follow her on twitter @KaiulaniHill

Let me start by saying that I downloaded Charity Starts at Home at the same time that I got The Wonder Years, so I haven’t listened to either separately yet. He really should have charged more than $8 for this….

I was a little apprehensive about what a solo project from Phonte would sound like. Was it going to be Authenticity part two? The Minstrel Show minus Pooh?

What he gave his fans was the same honest lyrics whether he sang or was rapping. I’m a lyrics fanatic so I have to applaud the feeling behind Dance in the Reign and The Life of Kings. He seems to effortlessly speak from his heart and you can’t help but relate in some way. This album is a great representation of why he has been instrumental in two outstanding groups. (more…)

The latest from Van Hunt What Were You Hoping For? out today is what I describe as a musical opus as American as apple pie. Not apple pie in the Madison Avenue sense where you are always inundated with images of big trucks, flags and actors that curiously all look and dress like Toby Keith (no intended slight to Toby), no I mean the real, the core, the core of who we are and what’s really going on today. (more…)

This is the part where this reviewer is going to make a pretty big statement… what I want to say is simply that Homebrew from Jesse Fischer & Soul Cycle is one of those projects that instantly reminds of what folks mean when they say “Have you listened to any music lately?” I can say confidently, that yes I have… along with some other fantastic musical moments in recent memory, the 50 min. set that comprises Homebrew gives me the feeling, that feeling of music. (more…)

*Reviewer’s Note: It appears that the reviewer was listening to the watermarked version of this CD, and the overdub at the beginning of each track does not appear in the actual released version. Whew! That was the only blemish on this otherwise appealing compilation of songs from Ms. Scott. We may never know if she considered this her best or her favorite work, but the fact that music this solid came from the vault, speaks to the quality of the artist that Jill Scott is.

Sometimes when vaulted tracks are released after an artist has separated from a label, it can be bittersweet experience for the fans. It’s a bitter experience because we don’t know the circumstances surrounding the music. We are left wondering. Were these songs considered finished by the artist? Is that the arrangement, music or production that the artist would have chosen for the lyrics? Were these songs intended for past or future albums? Or frankly, were they considered not “up to snuff’ by the artist and deliberately vaulted?

It also can be sweet. If you are a fan of a certain artist, then you welcome any and all of his or her work that you can get your hands on. The more the better.

Because Jill Scott has never come “wack” she has no reason to be ashamed of The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol 1. Lyrically, it has the “open mic on poetry night vibe” that we’ve come to love from Ms. Scott. Especially on tracks like “I’m Prettier”. “I am so beautiful, when I let it go. Let it go. I’m so much prettier when I let it go.” “I Don’t Know (Gotta Have You)” gets your head bobbing. Her delivery on the jazzy track “Holding On” is flawless. The influence of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, songstresses who Jill Scott admires, is apparent.

But when listening to the CD there is one blaring hint that suggests Jill Scott may not have ever intended to release this music. And it’s not the music itself. It’s the fact that within the first 30 seconds of EACH track comes a loud overdub that proclaims, “THIS IS THE ORIGINAL JILL SCOTT”. It’s as if her former label, like an ex-boyfriend, is trying to remind anyone who will listen, of the fact that “she used to be my girl”. By about the fourth track, hearing that declaration is distracting (read: annoying). The listener can’t help but to think there is some underlying suggestion that work on The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol 1 is supposed to be considered more authentic than the work that Ms. Scott has produced for her new project and label. It’s also worth mentioning that the original title for this CD, before it was changed, was Just Before Dawn: Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1, which is very similar to the title of her The Light Of The Sun CD. Add to that the irony of the inclusion of the song “Dear Mr. & Mrs. Record Industry” on this CD, given the painful separation between Ms. Scott and her former label.

Even with all that if you are a Jill Scott fan, you should add this CD to your collection as it is solid. And, as this work seems to be older work you will dig it if you’ve been “riding” with her from the beginning.

Favorite tracks: “I Don’t Know (Gotta Have You)”, “I’m Prettier”, “Holding On”, “Wake Up Baby”

KKC

I had intended on posting this great track from Elle Varner earlier this week, but as you know here at GFM we may not always be first but you can count on us for having something to say about what we co-sign :) First, I always admit when the repeat button is engaged and these days that is no small feat with the sheer amount of music in the marketplace. But, for me that’s the only way to really get to know the music that grabs me on the first spin, consequently one or two listens is not going to get it.

Being a tried and true 90′s R&B head of course this track would resonate with me, but more than just feeling nostalgic for an era, this writer has documented how he’s been nostalgic for melody. I have been involved in more than one conversation concerning the very, very limited melodies that have dominated music in the main for the last decade or so. (more…)