Brandon Beal - Comfortable album review
This album has a smooth mellow R&B vibe on top of a comfortable sound soothing to your ears. A smooth mellow R&B sound can be heard throughout this entire album. Brandon Beal never fails to disappoint his audience. As an independent artist, Brandon Beal has made some big moves on the internet with his name and this album is no exception. Brandon Beal has won even more fans across the planet with his record with Virgin/EMI. Fans of R&B should not sleep on this album! You’ll regret it if you do.
You will love the song Girl. It will be a memorable tune stuck inside your head for a lifetime. As a matter of fact, Girl is the best song off the Brandon Beal - Comfortable album. Girl is a longtime favorite among Brandon Beal fans. Brandon Beal incorporates electronic music into R&B on Girl. Girl was a buzz track that helped Brandon Beal gain popularity underground.
You Deserve is an amazing song over a killer beat. You Deserve is about how you deserve love. Regardless of the circumstances, all people deserve love in the eyes of Brandon Beal. You deserve that love. The melody and lyrics are easy to remember.
Purple Skirt is the best song next to Girl off this album being that Purple Skirt is the longest on the entire album.
5/5*****!
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Dick Smith - Initial Thrust album review
Now naming an album Dick Smith - Initial Thrust ultimately is considered cheesy, corny, provocative, and sexually suggestive by today’s standards. The title “Dick Smith - Initial Thrust” sounds very similar to a hot steamy pornographic film you would watch at an adult theatre or stream online by internet connection through a computer. But the 1980s were a simpler time of innocence. Sexuality was not as heavily promoted back then as it is today. Dick Smith - Initial Thrust is a funky modern sound album from the Zapp era that was one of the many side projects of Roger Troutman which is why the Zapp sound can be heard on this album. Dick Smith - Initial Thrust was released in 1983.
For some reason, 66% of this album is cover songs and remakes of older soul hits. 4 out of 6 songs on this album are cover songs. If you were looking for originality or original material from Dick Smith, you will surely but solely be disappointed. All the songs however have that Zapp sound and Roger Troutman sound in both production, musical style, percussion selection, and sound.
Roger Troutman produced to the kick drum sounds heard on Tobacco Road which is why you can hear his signature production sound on this Dick Smith song. Dick Smith’s Tobacco Road is a jazz remake of the blues song Tobacco Road by John D. Loudermilk. It was not a hit for either one of them though.
Sunny has that bouncy boom-clap sound you expect to hear from both Roger Troutman and Zapp. Sunny has that Zapp sound also. This is one of those tracks that will make you get up and want to dance to this funky song. The song Sunny is very similar to Funky Bounce by Zapp. As a matter of fact, Sunny is a highlight for Dick Smith’s solo album.
The Long And Winding Road is a tune of mournful sadness. The title alone gives away a mixture of feelings such as sadness and mournful. Despite the sadness in this song, the beats are really fast. Not surprising since Roger Troutman produced this song with his brother Larry Troutman at the time of recording Dick Smith’s first and only album to date.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix has a smooth modern soul vibe laced on top of a smooth mellow R&B vibe comfortable to your ears.
Warner Brothers, Epic, and Roger Troutman dropped the ball on promoting this album properly and one can see why. No one is going to buy an album filled with covers of rehashed soul songs from old soul hits of yesteryear. People want originality and flavor when they buy soul albums.
3/5***
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Mozzy - Yellow Tape Activities album review
Since the beginning of 2014, Mozzy has making a name for himself both on the internet and on the streets in Sacramento, California with lengthy strings of albums and mixtapes. He has been a consistent rapper who caught buzz at the right time since 2015. Yellow Tape Activities is what lifted his buzz into becoming a trending artist. Since then, Mozzy has went from underground rapper to nationwide sensation on the internet and in the underground music scene.
Yellow Tape Activities was an album that was released by Black Market Records as digital download online only in 2015/2016. Both Mozzy and Ced Singleton heavily promoted this album online and in the streets coming from underground. Many online users on the internet know about Mozzy throughout his Yellow Tape Activities album thanks to Ced Singleton. The album retains its consistency. Juneonnabeat take credit for a majority of the production. (More so than Cedsing.) Gangsta rap with a trap sound can be heard on this album. Yellow Tape Activities is very similar YG - My Krazy Life.
When you look at today's mainstream rap scene and the rap scene overall, it's not that surprising that cats like Mozzy are the ones who are getting all the national attention. Not that surprising at all. Pure original talent does not equate mainstream appeal these days unfortunately. On a nationwide scale, Sacramento is the long due respect the city deserves.
Ain’t $hit Happen is about living life on the edge dangerously. The track has a suicidal vibe with overuse of the word “suicide”. Mozzy is living life on the borderline of suicide. Mozzy is going through so much to the point where he could commit suicide. He could kill himself right now for signing up the lifestyle which he chose. Ain’t $hit Happen is a tale about casualties of war in the streets with gangs proving to be confrontational.
Next Body To You reveals the grim details of brutal reality rap from the street. The lyrics are too disconcerting for some to handle. Next Body To You is about the role of a crew hitman as the track is about casualties of war in these streets. Here everything gets violent and morbid.
4/5****!!
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Lil Ai - Going My Way single review
Lil Ai ridiculed the absence individual selfishness on Going My Way. Going My Way is a tribute to herself. She is perfectly happy. Lil Ai, her self, was impressed with he results of the song Going My Way to the point where she often talks about it when brought up. Finding your way and living your way yourself is what this track is all about.
Going My Way is about finding your way and living your way yourself. Keep pushing your way without hesitation.Also, Going My Way is about finding your way in the world. Is it not cool to find your own way? Well Lil Ai breaks down all barriers with her pop raps on here. The track turns into an avant-garde theme. However in reality, Japanese society is still very conformist.
Ain’t Nobody is a song that would eventually turn into Nobody on the 2003 album Ryukyu Rhymer. The sounds on Ain’t Nobody are very futuristic. It seems that Lil Ai was experimenting with the styles of electronic music, dance music, and techno. Ain’t nobody can love you like Lil Ai is the motto of this song written by Lil Ai. Ain’t Nobody was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW.
Never uses the elements, clips, and sounds of upbeat dance music. Lil Ai makes you a slave to the rhythm with her futuristic sounds and beats. Never was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW also. Lil Ai experiments with rock music on Never also.
It is a very good direction that her voice quality contains freshness. She calls on producing everything, such as choreography, stage composition, makeup, and styling.
*Lil Ai is a female pop singer from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.
*Lil Ai (リルアイ) is Ai Kawamitsu (アイ川満愛) [Kawamitsu Ai (川満愛)].
3/5***
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Underground Impact - Trapped In Da Hood single review
Established underground Pittsburgh hip hop/rap Tyrone Williams (yes FlyTy) produced a single for Pittsburgh hip hop duo Underground Impact in 1993 for Out Cold Entertainment. Gangsta rap meets the hip hop sound on this single. Underground Impact proves to have a powerful impact on their listeners for their only single.
Trapped In Da Hood deals with daily life, crime, and entrapment in a living in a low class neighborhood. Although Trapped In Da Hood mainly deals with entrapment while in a living in a low class neighborhood, it also about daily life in a low class neighborhood. Being trapped in a cycle of poverty and entrapment is traumatizing. Trapped In Da Hood proves to have a powerful impact on listeners.
At the beginning of Trapped In Da Hood, a siren is heard eventually being accompanied by a beat. News anchor Tyrone Dupree reports live from a housing project in Pittsburgh where earlier that day there was a driveby shooting. A 12 year old boy was shot as he tried to escape from the gunfire. Authorities nor community leaders have answers. People were shocked by the sudden wave of driveby shootings in the neighborhood.
Police brutality is an everyday reality in this neighborhood and housing project. Homicide is also an everyday reality in this neighborhood and housing project. Crime is also a daily reality here. Everyday you have to watch your back.
According to FBI statistics, there are over 12,000 crime related deaths of African American males between the ages of 12 to 25 each year. They are excluded from a society that doesn’t want them.
Underground Impact proves to have a powerful impact on their listeners on the track Powerful Impact. Powerful Impact has a tight dope hip hop sound. In fact, hip hop is what Underground Impact is all about.
4/5****.
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Funky Blue Velvet - Funky Blue Velvet album review
Funky Blue Velvet was released on cassette only in 1991. This cassette was their first album next to their first full length album called Taurus which was released on CD in 1994. All 4 band members used were alias in order to cover their real names. Funky Blue Velvet was a rock band from Sacramento in the 1990s.
Jefferson is mashup mixture of thrash metal and metal rock altogether. Although Jefferson is known for its thrash metal sound, the song is primarily known for its metal rock sound. No surprise since Funky Blue Velvet was a rock band. Double Time is a 2 to 4 minute long track. Funky Blue Velvet experiments with the sounds of thrash metal, metal rock, and rock music.
Funky Blue Velvet educates the audience by saying “Ignorance is our only barrier.” meaning that ignorance is our only barrier that keeps us, the human race, from progressing forward. Ignorance is what is holding us back from progressing forward. We all are human and race does not matter. Race or color do not matter. Racism is another negative ideology that is holding us back from progressing forward. Despite the fact Groove 25 is not something to dance to, this funky groove will move you like no other.
4/5****!
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George Michael - Faith album review
Faith was written after his 5 year tenure in the English dance-pop duo Wham! for which he was growing tired and very weary of. George wanted a solo career for himself. This album is what led George Michael into becoming an international pop sensation overnight. His sexy looks won female fans instantly. This led him to invade 90s pop music and on the BillBoard Charts of course.
As you may know, George Michael is as gay as all get out. Which is why he gives off that gay homosexual vibe. He's even gayer than Elton John, Freddie Mercury of Queen, and Donald Trump combined. In fact, George Michael should be nominated as "Gayest man in the world." next to Elton John. With all gayness, homosexuality, and sexual orientation aside, George Michael had nearly reached the level of popularity as Elton John did with his piano performances.
For some reason, the song Father Figure stands out the most on the whole album. Flute synths, beats, and smooth rhythmic percussion are what make the Father Figure song stand out. When you write or compose a love song such as this one, you're supposed to write from the heart. Emotions in a love song come from the heart. (Be It that you are homosexual or heterosexual.)
Lyrics inside this song give away a gay vibe. (A gay homosexual vibe.) Only a homosexual or a creepy pedophile would say "I will be your preacher teacher (be your daddy) Anything you have in mind". Honestly one has to wonder who writes this guy's stuff. One has to wonder if George Michael had a father figure in his life because most of these lyrics can be considered a crime to some folks standard. The verse "I will be your preacher teacher (be your daddy)" is provocative. It's a bit too much.
With all gayness aside, flute synths and musical notes are what make the very end memorable. The ending is what made Father Figure a memorable song. This type of song will stick in your head. Overall Father Figure is a gay song.
One More Try explores hesitancy inside relationships. People have been hurt by being in a relationship. The song concludes with temptation taking over. Oddly George Michael sings the title only one time which makes One More Try stand out in a mild manner.
Faith incorporates that old classic rock rhythm followed with a beat. The beat is accompanied by a single hi-hat. Hand claps help give Faith that classic rock feel and edge. The mood is very upbeat. Faith is a tune of something you would hear from a Levi's commercial.
Look At Your Hands is a George Michael song although David Austin wrote this song. David Austin takes credit for songwriting though despite the fact George Michael wrote this song also. At least both get credited. Hard Day has a classic rock rhythm following a beat along as the song has a classic rock sound. Classic rock describes Hard Day perfectly. Hard Day is very similar to Faith as well. No music video was made for this song oddly.
5/5*****!!
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George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice Interview album review
Listen Without Prejudice Interview is the first non-music album from George Michael. On this album, George Michael reflects on his music career. Not only does he reflect on his music career, he reflects on his music too. He focuses on the challenges, benefits, and rewards of creating a new album. He faced several challenges with Sony when recording the Listen Without Prejudice album. The rewards turned out great. The George Michael interview is written in narrative form.
4/5****
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X-Raided - Vengeance Is Mine album review
This X-Raided album was different in tone than any his 3 previous albums. There is notability in difference on this X-Raided album. He represents himself in a more aggressive manner. The album featured "clean" vocals in manner of The Unforgiven album recorded with an illegally acquired DAT recorder. It is unclear as to whom the individuals were who had assisted in the recording process of Vengeance Is Mine.
Legitimate artistic expressions are used on Write What I See. How can he compose nice sitting a spot of a nightlight? “What the hell am I supposed to write?/How can I compose nice/When I'm sitting in this cell?" He shows no defeat in his lyrics. X-Raided details his life experiences.
Vengeance Is Mine was Brown’s last studio album on Black Market Records as this album and X-Ology fulfilled X-Raided's contract with Black Market Records. He left the label soon afterwords and started his own label Mad Man Records (now Bloc Star Entertainment). X-Raided received a royalty of $1 per record during his time with Black Market. Although after paying fees to producers and for other costs, he would closer to 60 cents for each copy sold. Black Market had pressed 100,000 copies of Vengeance Is Mine.
Prosecutors tried to have the album it recalled from stores citing the Son of Sam law. Both X-Raided and Black Market Records ultimately prevailed. Bill Lockyer was the general attorney who filed a lawsuit against the rapper and his record company.
4/5****
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George Michael - Symphonica album review
Symphonica was the last classic masterpiece of an album from former British pop sensation George Michael of Wham! that was released on EMI in 2016. Surprisingly this is the only live album from George Michael. Most songs on this live album are cover songs however. The Symphonica live album had sold 50,000 units in a time span of a one week period debuting at #1 on the UK Album Charts on BillBoard. The fact that the string arrangements was recorded in a studio do not accommodate this live album to have a live feel. A 10 year gap between albums did not help popularize the Symphonica live album for George Michael.
New recordings You've Changed, Through, and I Remember You are new material for this George Michael live album. I Remember You was a digital download exclusively for the Symphonica album on Amazon MP3. Only two tracks were exclusively for Amazon MP3 despite not being intended to be a digital album.
Through is a new live song written by George Michael. Although Through was written in 2004, George Michael helps the song Through a fresh new pop sound with his powerful singing and vocals. So his powerful singing and vocals genuinely help Through standout powerfully. Through was a perfect original pop song for 2004 with originality. George Michael is known for his originality. The song Through is no exception or exemption to this matter.
Most music critics gave this album an average rating of 3/5*** stars. Regardless of how the Symphonica album was pan by music critics in long time hardcore George Michael fans the album was a mile to average success for a live album. Having live versions of cover songs will always guarantee a live album will be successful as that is not always the case. George Michael could have chosen new material for his live album as sometimes new material for live album proves to be better in results. Not much new material except for I Remember You and Through were included on the album.
4/5****
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