Blogcritics

Les Nubians' 1998 Debut, Princesses Nubiennes, Seamlessly Combines Afro-pop, Jazz, R&B, and Hip Hop

Kit O'Toole — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:00:05 EST

Over a decade later, world music duo Les Nubians still amaze with their sultry French vocals and modern beats.
Afro-pop? French hip-hop? Jazz? World beat? Les Nubians defies description. I first encountered the musically talented sister act back in 1999, when their single “Makeda” received airplay from urban adult contemporary stations. Instantly I became captivated by its infectious beat, sultry French lyrics, and its unique combination of...

"I Believe in Father Christmas": One of the Darkest and Most Unusual Carols Ever Recorded

Kit O'Toole — Mon, 8 Dec 2008 10:07:55 EST

Greg Lake's classic Christmas tune holds some interesting secrets and communicates a lasting message.
Everyone has their favorite Christmas carol, those chestnuts that we play every year — “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley… the list goes on and on. But every year I would hear a unique carol on the radio,...

Experience the "Robot Pop" of Kraftwerk

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:02:42 EST

Kanye West's new album owes a great deal to visionary German band Kraftwerk.
Kanye West's new album, 808s & Heartbreak, has already generated a storm of controversy among fans. West takes a radical departure from his usual, straight-forward rapping style and actually sings (with some technological aid) most of the tracks on this album. Already shaping up to be the album listeners either love or hate, 808s &...

Like Robin Thicke? Don't Miss Remy Shand's 2002 Gem The Way I Feel

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:50:29 EST

Blue-eyed soul singer Remy Shand's 2002 debut still delights with its obvious affection for vintage R&B.
Blue-eyed soulster Robin Thicke is currently riding high on the success of his latest album, Something Else. A fun trip through 70s soul, his recent release has solidified his status as an artist who deftly straddles current and retro R&B, adding just a touch of disco. Before Robin Thicke, however, there was Remy Shand. Around the same...

Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan's Family Style Celebrates Music and Family

Kit O'Toole — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:33:36 EDT

Stevie Ray Vaughan's collaboration with brother Jimmie Vaughan still amazes with its energy and musical virtuosity.
When Texas tornado Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut album, Texas Flood, was released in 1982, it signaled a new era in blues music. Combining rock, blues, R&B, and pop, Vaughan seemed like the lovechild of B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix. With his band, Double Trouble, he recorded a followup, Couldn't Stand the Weather, which spawned the...

Rediscovering Des'ree's I Ain't Movin'

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:48:59 EDT

90s soul singer Des'ree combined rock and soul with self-empowering lyrics to create a satisfying blend.
Before the self-empowering artist that is india.arie, there was Des'ree. The British-born soulstress first experienced success in the U.K. with “Delicate,” a duet with Terrence Trent D'Arby, in 1992. The song barely reached the charts in the U.S., but all that changed with her 1994 album I Ain't Movin'. “You...

Music Review: Darius Rucker's Back to Then Showcases His Talent Outside of Hootie & The Blowfish

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 13:27:43 EDT

Think that Darius Rucker's new country CD is his first solo effort? Think again.
Tongues have been wagging over Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker's new country album, Learn to Live. He recently scored a hit with “Don't Think I Don't Know About It,” and has made the talk show circuit discussing his seemingly improbable transformation to country star. What some may not know is that this is...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Not Just Another British Invasion Group

Kit O'Toole — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:28:33 EDT

Gerry & The Pacemakers stand out from other British Invasion groups with their introspective songwriting and catchy songs.
In 2000 I made the journey to Liverpool, as fellow avid Beatle fans have done, to explore the Fab Four’s roots. Standing on a platform at the Albert Dock, I gazed at the Mersey River, and a tune suddenly popped into my head as the water gently lapped against the shore: Gerry & The Pacemakers’ “Ferry ‘Cross the...

Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" Represents More Than Just A TV Theme Song

Kit O'Toole — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:47:25 EDT

Unfairly overlooked, the Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" encapsulates some of the best elements of 70s funk and soul.
Among the wonderful aspects of the Internet is the ability to discover obscure tracks from past decades. As a frequent listener of Internet radio, I frequently encounter artists and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes such a track will make me sit up and take notice. Such an event happened the first time I heard the Soul Train...

Rediscovering Blue-Eyed Soul Singer Lisa Stansfield's Real Love

Kit O'Toole — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:05:55 EDT

Before the current influx of English blue-eyed soul divas, there was Lisa Stansfield and her overlooked 1993 album.
Before Duffy, before Adele, before Joss Stone, there was Lisa Stansfield. In 1990, Stansfield injected the music scene with equal shots of dance and retro soul with her hit “All Around the World.” Sporting a very short hairdo with her signature spit curl, the British Stansfield proclaimed her allegiance to soul pioneers such as Barry...