Posts Tagged ‘James River’

The Return Of D’Angelo

Posted: December 7, 2011 in Articles
Tags: , , , ,
1

Disclaimer: Yes, that is actually a current picture of Michael Archer. As opposed to this…

These are the times I’m thankful for the existence of ?uestlove. Well, besides that whole “best drummer alive” role he maintains as part of The Roots. Sidebar, everyone needs to go get their new album, undun, right now. No, I mean right now! They’ve officially got another classic in their discography. In any case, because of ?uest’s recent interviews, I’m actually starting to believe D’Angelo is alive and coming out with a new album. Needless to say, if you know anything about me, or have read this site before, you already know I’m FUCKING AMPED!

According to recent reports, D’Angelo is embarking on a tour of Europe, beginning in January. At first, I wasn’t too hyped about the news because it still didn’t seem real enough to me. But when ?uest told Pitchfork about Pino Palladino signing on to play bass and Chris Dave signing on to play drums, my “kid in a candy store” meter went through the roof. To add to the excitement, he confirmed D’Angelo’s album is “97% done” and only missing a couple of lyrics. I don’t think you understand how incredible this is. I’m trying to keep my excitement in check, but fuck that son, this album needs to drop ASAP.

I’m sure I could keep rambling about this, but I’ll spare you for now. All I know is, 2012 can’t come soon enough. I rarely buy music these days, but I’ll be that dude waiting outside the store at crackhead hours to get this record. Oh wait, I just remembered iTunes exists. In any case, this better be real son. If not, ?uestlove, I’m coming down to Jimmy Fallon to cause a scene. You’ve been warned.

Where The @#$% Is D’Angelo?!?

Posted: June 15, 2011 in Articles
Tags: , , ,
4

So I was flipping through my iPod this morning when the song “She’s Always In My Hair” came on. But what’s important about this version is that it’s D’Angelo‘s rendition of the song and not the Prince original. Now anybody who knows me knows that I’m an unabashed Prince stan, so I don’t take to cover songs well. With that being said, I honestly believe D’Angelo is the only earthling to do a Prince song justice. That’s right Alicia Keys fans, I’d much rather listen to Prince’s original version of “How Come You Don’t Call Me,” but I digress. After listening to all 6 guitar-fueled minutes of D’Angelo’s cover, I couldn’t help but ask myself: where the fuck is that dude?

While 90% of D’Angelo’s so-called “fans” only remember his “Untitled” video, I was the dude jamming along to the “Brown Sugar” video with Raphael Saadiq on bass and Ali Shaheed Muhammad on drums. I was the dude trying to figure out what keyboard he was playing on “Me & Those Dreamin’ Eyes Of Mine” and I was the dude who listened to Don-E‘s “So Cold” because he played Rhodes piano on it. I had to listen to any and everything D’Angelo related, and it got to the point that my stanhood for his music started to rival my stanhood for Prince’s catalog. Yes, you read that right.

Needless to say, when the song “1000 Deaths” leaked last year, I completely lost my mind. I’d been waiting 10 years for new music and his Voodoo album was skipping on my iPod due to playing it so much on CD. Sidebar, anybody who doesn’t like Voodoo or thinks Brown Sugar is the better album will be instantly de-friended. I’m serious. Dead serious. In any case, I thought D’Angelo was finally coming out of whatever alcohol-induced stupor he put himself in. I mean hell, Maxwell dropped a new album after 8 years and even Lauryn Hill‘s crazy ass started doing shows again. Well, before she got pregnant with someone’s baby. In my eyes, it was only a matter of time before D’Angelo got his shit together. However, we’re halfway through 2011 and still nothing.

D’Angelo, please do us a favor and PUT OUT SOME DAMN MUSIC!!! I mean c’mon son, I was in high school when your last album dropped. Now I’m 4 years removed from college with a 10-month-old son. Do you see the problem with that? Stop with the bullshit.

Signing off, an overzealously overzealous fan.