First Impressions: In The Thicke Of It, 'Sex Therapy' Not The Perscription

Let me just point out the elephant in the room. Robin Thicke has sold out. Now before the tomatoes, chairs, hot combs and grits start to fly in my direction, Mr. Thicke has reason to pitch up his foreclosure sign in his musical front yard, thus the reasons why Sex Therapy: The Experience  is the way it is make me feel a bit of sympathy for Thicke.

After 2008's Something Else failed to attract an audience who were searching for the second "Lost Without You" come-on or even reprising what 2005's The Evolution of Robin Thicke or even his 2003 debut, A Beautiful World, possessed, Thicke possibly felt that going down a "radio accessible" route was the answer to him to not be pegged as a one-trick pony chart-wise. But album wise, his artistry is lost.

There was a growing monstrous fear of Mr. Thicke taking the expressway to Sell Out Junction, especially after hearing the atrocious, "Shakin' It For Daddy" last month and the Sex Therapy album as a whole hasn't comforted the fact that he has indeed opted for radio hits than actual substance. It's a career move that he shouldn't have to take, but these are desperate times, and since he's one of the few genuinely talented  R&B/Soul cats out there, and since the radio likes something a little gimmicky, Robin switches mindsets. The rap cameos are kicked up a notch, the content is less romantic, even more sleazy, the ballads are lazily done and at times, you can barely hear Thicke because he's sweet falsetto is drowned out by electronic grooves and hip-hop thunder claps. In seriousness, on Sex Therapy, Thicke abandons what got him the attention in the first place for a much more sellable sound, and that's really the big disappointment here.

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Recycle It!: Rock Steady With Sue Ann's Take On An Aretha Classic

For those of you who want to sing an Aretha Franklin song and actually be serious about it...yeah, just sit your butt down. You can't do it. You'll get up start to warble out a couple of chords of "Chain Of Fools" and part way in, you're looking the fool. Still it's all forgivable, as it takes a special kind to be on the same level as the Queen of Soul and only few have managed to get to that zenith point.

In a way, Sue Ann Carwell latches onto Aretha's energy in her rendition of "Rock Steady" and just takes it too the next level. True, the cover is shellacked over with a shiny, patent leather New Jack Swing exterior, but it's Sue Ann's powerhouse vocals that drive this song into being a mighty fine tackle of Aretha's 1971 classic (of which you can see Aretha work it on out below in a vintage Soul Train clip).

Sue Ann's name isn't recognizable, as is this cover song, though her connections through Prince (she was once pegged as the lead vocalist for The Time) and Giorgio Moroder (he produced her 1981 debut album...to no audience) make her seem apart of the musical movement of the 80's, yet she was only standing in the wings. In 1988, she dropped Blue Velvet, a spicy album that featured production credits from Time alum, Jesse Johnson, was heavy on the attitude and hefty with the sounds. I have unabashed love for Blue Velvet because it's just what you'd want on an New Jack album and wedged in the middle of it, is this little dime piece. On first glance, I wasn't sold, thinking, "Cute, she's going to do Aretha", but after listening, it really stood toe to toe with the original. Dispell the obligatory late 80's rap, and synth/drum machine effects placed in here, and listen to Sue Ann really throw it down, rocking steady throughout.

'Tis The Season: 'Caroling, Caroling' With Cole

If there is any Christmas song that sounds like warm hot coco topped with melting marshmellows and cinnamon, it's this one. Natalie Cole's "Caroling Caroling" is just so frothy and warm, that right from the start of the chiming bells you'll have an instant glow of love for the holidays. While we usually associate Christmas classics with Natalie's father, the legendary Nat King Cole, Lady Cole has some Christmas tunage up her sleeve, and it's just as lush as the renditions her father made Christmas carol staples. From 1994's Holly & Ivy, Miss Cole dives right into the Christmas spirit jubilantly with this track. Oh, and of course there is a kid's choir backing her up, just to up the ooze factor. Gotta love it.

Caroling, Caroling

Buzzy Wuzzy: Afternoon Delight

Because we all need to know what's going on...

•  Cyndi Lauper and Lady GaGa are the new faces of M.A.C makeup's Viva Glam campaign...see someone else saw similarities between these two. [FWD]
  
• Mariah Carey is touring...and the show is called 'The Angel's Advocate Tour'. No, it's name is not based after that Keanu Reeves movie. [Billboard]
• Blondie have recorded their version of "We Three Kings" just in time for Yuletide. [HardCandyMusic]
  
• Kid Cudi punched the wrong person at a concert...smooth. [WSHipHop]
• The Jacksons trek on without Michael, in their new A&E reality series, Jacksons: American Dynasty. Sadly, no mention of the mystery behind Jermaine's "hair". [NYTimes] 
• Samantha Mumba...is that you? [TWorld]
  
• Paloma Faith has some of the best darn artwork this year, even for single covers. [XOMEight]
• Snoop Dogg reads 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon...and changes the story, naturally. [Idolator]
  
• Lady GaGa's album, The Fame dubbed 'Album of the Decade'...okay, stop reaching and get off the disco stick. [Examiner]
• Karen O., from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, snags a Grammy nom, after Miley Cyrus was disqualified. [Spinner]
  

Crisp N' Fresh: Something 'Beautiful' Occurs In Paloma's 'Truth' Visual

Paloma Faith should get an award being a walking cabaret act for 2009, as she's glamming it up more so than anyone this year with the plumbs, baubles, beads, boas, and looking straight out of the golden Hollywood age. Last month, Paloma released her third video, which happens to be the title track to her glorious debut, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?, and yes, I'm just now getting around to checking it out. The video is physically a plush homage to torch singers of the 1940's and 1950's with glamorati fashions, gracious hand gestures and vanity table reflections. Lush life indeed. The single, "Do You Want The Truth..." is being released on December 21st.

Album Watch: The Social Studies Lesson Of 'New Amerkyah Pt. 2'

2010 is shaping up to be divine, especially with the inclusion of Erykah Badu following up with the second installment of her New Amerkyah opus. Billboard announced the unveil of New Amerykah Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh last week, and gave some insight on the construction of what the album consists of. Some familiar names pop up on the credits, names such as James Poyser, ?uestlove, 9th Wonder, J. Dilla, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Andre 3000, and surprisingly (and quite questionable) Lil' Wayne are all featured in some fashion on the new record that is set to hit stores February 23rd of 2010. ShowingOut.com got a sneak peek at what they heard at the incense lighting and star studded album listening party, and in the extensiveness of  descriptions on the list, you can almost hear the sounds tumbling around in your head. Some tidbits that caught the eye....

• "The track ends with a sudden psychedelic smear of noise." (describing track "Window Seat") 
• There is a song called "Incense" yes, its about those smelling sticks..what can this woman not write about? Wonder if it sounds like strawberries n' cream, or musk.
• There are two Notorious B.I.G references
• There are lots of bass guitars, vintage jazz, fat drum and something called "subtle, liquid butter keys" sounds swirling about the album.
  
• One track was produced by the late J. Dilla, and another track that sounds Dilla-esque. 
•  "This album is the sister of the left side of my brain -- it is the right side...the album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings. It reminds of the days of 'Baduizm'" (Erkyah describing the album's context).

Well, February 23, 2010, hurry the funkle up!

Oh, and Erykah is not done letting us explore uncharted territory in the nation of New Amerykah, as the third album in its set is called, Lowdown, Down Underground and is described that it "would be sung in the persona of her alias Loretta Brown, a woman that’s “from the ’50s but acts like she’s from the ’40s - the 2040’s.” Oh. I see.

First Impressions: 'Element Of Freedom' Hits Middle Ground

Maybe I've been living in a misty mirage, but there has been a lot of people questioning the caliber of Alicia Keys' talent. I've seen it here and here...and yeah, here too. It's an almost bizarre accusation as Keys is the last person who I would call untalented, considering the fact that she's one of few mainstream artists who can put pen to paper and fingers to instrument. Especially in this day and age of fast tunes and fast moving rumps, Alicia Keys is that window of opportunity so to speak. Yet, some are questioning Keys artistry and how she's "soulless" and has become "too accessible" or has simply "lost her touch".

The cries of disgruntlement are understandable. Keys has been in a slight plight with her current musical output, as to me, she's been dancing around the primrose bush too much, not really pushing the envelope lately. Yes, the talent from the songwriting to the piano playing to her voice is still all there, but Alicia is settling into a groove that she's having a hard time crawling out of, and it showed with 2007's As I Am, which left little to be desired in my book. Then we had the lackluster duo of newest singles, "Doesn't Really Matter" and "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart", which were dropping hints of something bigger, but just didn't latch on. Still, we can't judge an album by two singles can we? Thus, we listen to Alicia's fourth installment, The Element of Freedom , in full.

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Song Stuck In My Head: Alphabeat Have Put A 'Spell' On Me

"The Spell" - Alphabeat (2009) 

Once again the hazard of being a music blogger and a student has crept up and bit me hard in my tushy, as I must apologize to Alphabeat, for the sheer fact that I surpassed gracing my ears with their dazzling song, "The Spell". The pop sextet from Denmark managed to effortlessly slam a jam on me, as well as give me one of my new favorite tracks that emerged out of this quite mediocre year of music. Pop songs, in my opinion, should just latch onto you on arrival, right from the opening splash of sound, and this song does just that. While a lot of people are channeling the neon 80's, Alphabeat are tackling on the frosted glitter and grime of the 90's with this groover that recalls late 90's pop princesses, Ce Ce Peniston, La Bouche and Black Box all in one crafted package. The song samples has a heavy sample from Danish group, Cut n' Move's 1991 single, "Get Serious" which is why it sounds so divinely pulsating and addictive. A spoonful of sugar that will definitely help the medicine go down.

Album Watch: Kelis Going For The "Electro-Disco" Approach For New Album

The cheeky, and of course 'bossy', Kelis is prepping album numbero cuarto for 2010, and she's going for the "futuristic disco" approach, which is an elaborate term for: trying something different. Last month, the singer dropped a glitter bomb on us with her David Guetta produced, "Acapella" and what a nice splash of cold water it was, and an announcement that Kelis is edging towards going towards the strobe lights. The "Caught Out There" vocalist relayed to MTV News that she has been in a mindset for doing something a little more on the dancey, strobe light n' glowsticks side and from the sound of things (see below) she is cooking up something that's going to surprise longtime fans as production by Guetta, Free School, Boyz Noise and DJ Ammo, are to be featured. In addition, to releasing a brand new set of sure-to-be club anthems, the singer has also signed with Will.I.Am's label, through Interscope Records, which should bring some hefty weight. The album, called Fleshtones, is set to drop early next year.

Cover Smother: Under 'The Sea'

Corrine Bailey Rae basks in the glow of love and reflection on the cover of her anticipated sophomore effort, The Sea. The album will be dropping in stores January 26th. From the look of things, it shall be a gorgeous listening engagement indeed.

Welcome To Audio Diva for 2010!

I know. It's not 2010...yet. Still with all the countdown lists, people saying "Happy Holidays" and "See ya in January!", well its time to dust off Auld Lang Syne and say cest la vie to 2009. Thus, it's time for some changes, and like Ledisi said this year : "I'm going through changes" and well, it is poignant. Audio Diva is taking on some changes for the upcoming year, yet the voice of musical reason is still intact and still as exuberant to muse, review and go on adventures that are of the musical persuasion. So what exactly is new here? ...

• Layout: Don'tcha love the new layout? It's easier to navigate, organized and for people with weary eyes, a big old break from the technicolor spin-out that was the previous layout. I wanted to premiere the layout in the new year, but I got impatient. 
• 'Adventures' Name Drop: Don't freak. The blog is still called, Adventures of an Audio Diva, but since alot of people have condensed the title down to Audio Diva in their links, in speaking/twittering/blogging about me, etc. I decided, why the hell not? and joined the crowd.
• Tags: I have condensed the tags aka "the Adventures"...for easier navigation, once again.  
• "Read More" Tag Returns: Because even I got sick of scrolling. 

I'm truly looking forward to what 2010 is going to bring, but in the meantime, while you enjoy the new layout and new posts into the new year, Audio Diva is going to finish up 2009 with continuing the recap of the 2000's, spotlighting Christmas tunes, and beginning to countdown the best of what 2009 had to offer. Oh, yeah, and continue on the road to more musical adventures.

First Impressions: Sade Soilders On With Six Minutes Of Bliss

Usually catchphrases like "stuntin' on these hoes" seem a little generic to me...not to mention sound ridiculous whenever verbally spoken by me. Yet, looking at this single cover of Sade's newest single, "Solider of Love", I have to say that Miss Sade Adu is "stuntin' on these hoes"...stuntin' with a capital "S". And at 50 looking fitter than my 20-something arse? For all the nine years the band has been away, I believe she's been on that planet that was featured in Cocoon, wading in the fountain of youth...or she's just got it like that.

But I digress.

Sade is indeed coming back after a nine year hiatus, and as quickly as the news emerged the single, "Solider of Love" has finally hit the Internets. It was described earlier that this track, "features a pulsating and anthemic drum beat along with the haunting vocals that Sade is known for", and well that sentiment couldn't be even more truthful. The song speaks of the will to survive and standing strong in the game of love and its persistence mirrors in the instrumentation of the track. The song embodies the shining display of stark militant percussion, deep guitar licks, an eerie yet powerful atmosphere that contrasts with Sade's soothing alto vocals effectively. In a simple word, it's excellent. And even epic. Take a listen and be transported to six minutes of bliss. Solider of Love drops in stores February 8, 2010.

Solider Of Love