Search - Naked Music NYC :: What's on Your Mind

Sad never felt so good

Sagan Lazar | In yo monitor | 02/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"True, the songs do sound a bit like one another, but maybe that's why I press 'repeat' and listen to it for hours. One guy pretty much wrote all the songs and did the programming. The songs are simple in their structure but not in their feeling or in their incomparable delivery. The two ladies who alternate on the tracks sing with that certain je-ne-sais-quois that only the soulfulest people have. This is one of those musical creations that make you realize to what extent the sensibility of the modern world as a whole has been shaped by afro-americans. These ladies sing not with their throats but with their wombs. A plangent - not to say bluesy - atmosphere pervades the whole Cd throughout...about love lost, hope remembered, ego surrendered, and peace attained. This music will speak to you if you've ever loved to the point of trembling with sadness. Music for real grown-ups, in other words."

Strong vocals, but tired music

Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 12/05/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The singing on this album is pretty strong, brought ot you by two ladies with more soul in their pinky fingers than the average techno diva, but they don't get matched with the most moving beats. The grooves on this record are all about 1-2 steps away from being songs you can actually hang out with after a couple of listens, but at this stage just sound like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air breaks (click and sample and see), and over and over again at that. You might not be thrown totally off if you just want something to play as background sound, but with the singing upfront (and the lyrics not being very...fresh, let's say) you'll constantly be made aware of the tracks, and conversely the derivative, so-so quality of the CD."

A Lot of People Don't Get It....

Ziontrain | London | 03/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album, but his is not an album for you to "listen" to. It's more of a chillout or romantic album. Jay Denes, (the creator of this album) has said as much in the liner notes, which include a quote of Catherine Russell (one of the featured singers): "Oh I understand, its a ---- record. OK, roll the tape".



In that light, the similar mood of the songs, the thick earthy vibe and the super-soulful sensual vocals are actually perfect. It creates a constant mood over the full time frame of the CD, so you can simply escape to a world of raw unbridled sensuality. Taken individually, only one or two of these songs are 5-stars. As a body of work - an album - they hold together impeccably and create the desired effect. You cannot assess them as "singles". That doesn't seem to have been the objective here. By the way the production is crisp and top-notch on every single track. You feel like you could have been in the studio with them, the sound has that much presense and life.



Jay Denes used a top notch crew of NYC funkateers, including Mark Anthony Jones (thefunkiestmanalive) on guitar, and Jonathan Maron (way, way underrated bass player from the Groove Collective). Bob Power (engineer/producer on Stetsasonic and De La Soul's classic album) appears here on guitat. Flutist Richard Worth of Groove Collective also appears on "Its love".



The singers (Ada Dyer and Catherine Russell) are not famous - but damn they SHOULD be. They give a master class here in deep soul singing. Not for them the rabid histrionics of Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and a million misguided "Idol" contestants all over the world, but REAL modern soul singing, in CONTROLLED voice. if this were the 60's and not the MTV age, I suspect these women would be up there in fame with the Betty Wrights and Shirley Jones's.



I think they all did a perfect job for what they set out to do."