Friday, April 25, 2008

Jimmy gone M.I.A.

More blue-eyed soul from across the pond. Yall think I'm playing when I say I'm headed to London, but with Amy, Adele, Mark, Kate, Lily, this nigga, and the rest of em, why not? Were this album made by some left-of-center black dude, it'd be hailed as a classic. No hyperbole. Is it classic? No. But it's got the feel of classic Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life, Donny Hathaway Everything is Everything, gospel-tinged, blues-colored soul that makes it a cot durn solid nigger album. Which, considering the dude's from England makes it an even greater accomplishment. But then again, at the rate Britons are producing quality soul music nowadays, maybe its jus par for the course. Click the album cover to download and enjoy.

And while you're downloading, enjoy the video for the opening track.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I actually think the exact opposite is true of what you said. Had it been some left-center black dude it would be consider "too" this or "too" that (you can fill in black or retro after those "too"s). But if it is a white cat, with some reasonable singing skills, ESPECIALLY from Britain, it is THEN consider a masterpiece. The music is hot but the dude's singing is just IITE, and should DEF not be mentioned in the same sentence as Donny Hathaway, that ALMOST makes me SHUDDER.

Call Me... "Mr. Garr" said...

i agree with u mostly, but let's look at cee-lo. his first two solo joints received tepid response (and the soul machine was great), but when he did the whole gnarls barkley thing he and dangermouse were media darlings. had post-gnarls cee-lo made this cd, it'd be every blogger's pick for top 5 album of the year. and yes, white brits get a lotta cred, but a lotta them mofos be sanging. and donny? i 100% agree. being the fanatical donny hathaway fan that i am, i would not compare james lidell's singing to donny's, but the feel of the record is reminiscent of donny. listen to the gospel/blues piano chords, his progressions, etc. donny is an obvious influence.