“It’s another Christmas holiday. It’s a joyous thing, let the angels sing”

Although, I live in Los Angeles which has never had snow (except for the time we thought it was snowing in Compton but it was just hailing really hard and the people were making “hail” angels on their front lawns *side-eye*) I’ve always wished it would snow so I could be in the atmosphere of the flurries listening to this song sipping hot chocolate. Cliche’, I know. don’t judge me. Anyway, this happens to be another one of my favorites for the holidays.

GFM family, please enjoy this 12 Play to Christmas soulful selection by Boyz II Men ft. Brian McKnight

“Got my back against the wall, feels like I’m standing ten feet tall, on the ledge too close to call, if you push… I just might fall.” Choruses like this from the lead single “Fall 5.0”–catchy, rhythmic, and metaphoric–coupled with beautiful melodies are what Brian McKnight fans have come to love about his music. “Fall 5.0” has the elements—solid lyrics, a catchy tune, a memorable chorus, finger snaps, a decent amount of base and even autotune (There was much online discussion/buzz about his use of it.)–to keep his core audience (and himself) up to date and appeal to a new generation of fans. If only it could get some airplay. But, that’s a commentary for another time. “Fall 5.0” shows McKnight can be current, yet remain his quintessential self, and it seems he’s being ushered into his musical “now” by his sons, (musicians Brian Jr. and Niko, who can be seen and heard on tour with McKnight and have their own band, BRKN RBTZ, read: Broken Robots) who are also producers on Just Me.

Just Me is a two-disc album. Disc One features ten slow to mid-tempo studio tracks, including “Temptation”, a silky duet by McKnight and his son Brian Jr. During his live show, McKnight mentions Stevie Wonder as a musical influence, and that comes through on “Without You” . He covers “Careless Whisper” by Wham, and as gorgeous as McKnight’s voice is, the song is uninspiring as perhaps it’s too slow. And while “Careless Whisper” seems too slow, “End And Beginning With You” seems a little busy production wise. It’s no less than the melodious, Hallmark card, lyric-filled ballad that McKnight is a master of, but it would be nice to hear it stripped down a bit to where it’s more piano driven like favorites, “Anytime”, and “Back At One”, or even the title track, “Just Me”. “Just Me” is just McKnight—pure vocals, the piano and even an spirited organ that perhaps is a nod to his church roots, although it is not a gospel song. Speaking of gospel tracks, noticeably missing from this album is that one gospel song that McKnight has included on so many of his albums. There have been some special ones like, “When Will I See You Again” and “Home”.
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Yeah, we know it’s “Valentine’s Day” but who said we gotta pay Cupid some damn tribute!!!! If you’re one of those lovesick puppies and hopeless romantics looking for your fix on V-Day, we got your fix but it sure as hell ain’t what you think!!! On this day of love, we wanted to send Cupid a special mixtape! A list of songs that really express our deep passion in the subject of amour. So if love has kicked you in the ass, made a complete fool of you, had you crying like Lenny Williams and broadcasted your shame all over Facebook and Twitter, then welcome my friends to our official “F!ck, Cupid,!!” mixtape!! A Valentine’s mix that is sure to have you burning down someone’s car and lighting a cigarette afterward!!!

And Cupid, in case you missed our sentiments, let us say it again……….”F**K YOU!!!” (in my Cee-Lo voice) (more…)

This song started as James Moody’s alto saxophone solo on the standard “I’m In The Mood For Love”. As Moody recalls the story he was leaving the bathroom and the take was beginning and because he had been playing tenor on most of the session he had to adjust and find the key on alto so the first few notes or the “there I go…” is actually his attempt to find the key. A few years later the lyrics were added to the solo by Eddie Jeffferson and the song was recorded by King Pleasure and as they say the rest is history…

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So great to see this brother back and doing his thing. I was pleased when I caught him a few weeks ago as a panelist on TV ONE and now this. Please enjoy this great interview and performance from one of the greatest writers and musicians to ever put it down. Shout out to the folks over a Soul Bounce for posting this earlier today.

Although it may not seem like it, Brian McKnight is a busy man. In addition to his album that dropped today, Evolution of a Man he was recently featured on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice and soon will be hosting his own syndicated late night television show.

Check back for a full review but we we’re glad to report that there are no awkward collabo’s with < -inserthotemceeofthemonthhere->. You can preview the album for yourself after the break, or if you’ve got it, let us know what you think.

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Some classic Hall & Oates for your weekend enjoyment. Too many hits to list them all, but go back and recognize their vast contributions to the music landscape.

Also check out Brian McKnight performing his rendition of Sara Smile after the jump.

I can’t go for just repeating the same old lines.
Use the body, now you want my soul,
Ooh, forget about it, now say no go.
I– I’ll do anything that you want me to do,
And I’ll do almost anything that you want me to do,
But I can’t go for that, (No can do)
No, I can’t go for that, (No can do)
Oh, I can’t go for that, (No can do

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“What’s My Name” (Brian McKnight), Ten, (Warner Bros/2006).

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