Playa Playa- normally at this point, I would have googled or wiki'd the artist, looking for insight. I'm going to get as far into this album before doing this as I can. Shortly into this song I'm pleased to hear a funky groove, and a really soulful horn section. It's jazzy, it's not assaulting me like I thought the guy on the cover might. It's almost Prince like in it's feel, and maybe a little Stevie.
Devil's Pie- If Playa Playa didn't, the three part harmony vocals that open up this song now really remind of Prince's 7. "Ain't no justice... just us, ashes to ashes dust to dust" I am guilty of prejudging. I thought this album was going to be angry west coast rap. It's clearly not.
Left & Right- That's not to say there isn't rapping... here ya go there is. So now I'm off to research. The couple of rapped lines in this song are plenty reason for the Parental Advisory. While I laugh at the Joanie loves Chachi reference, it's raw and I'm not sure if it really fits with the sensual vibe--it's as if D'Angelo and you were into each other slow dirty dancing, and then rappers Method Man and Redman come up from behind and start coppin' a feel.
The Line- Very Lauryn Hill sounding in its groove, and thick with soul and harmony. Lyrically it's deep, perhaps a self-affirmation, or a promise he's making to himself, not to give up. "Will I hang or get left hangin" I'm hearing Al Green and Marvin all over this.
Send it On- Oh stop already... damn... this is really good. Al Green's back and taking no prisoners, well maybe one prisoner--Prince. Really nice bridge; I love when I can't predict the road ahead in a song, especially when it doesn't jar me with a sharp corner, but rather takes my breath like getting to the top of a hill and getting an eyefull of the ocean that's finally revealed.
Chicken Greese- This funky morsel could have fallen from the table of James Brown, all it's missing is Maceo. It's very much in the pocket, but I almost want to hear D rip hard in the middle of it. The people talking in the background is reminiscent Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.
One Mo'gin- Since I've referenced "keyboards of an era" on previous blogs, I think this is a perfect place to talk about a keyboard used here that is timeless to me. The Fender Rhodes Piano is unmistakably featured in this song that's about longing for an old lover. There's also a strange/wonderful tapestry of jazz that ends the track.
The Root- harmony rich, and a swirling backwards tracked guitar solo that reminds me of Hendrix, but not overdriven, it's mellow. I've also talked about structure in past blogs (i.e. verse verse chorus verse bridge chorus); this song defies templates, it's a wonderfully unique story told for the first time by a really interesting person, who's baked. (or maybe you are?)
Spanish Joint- As you'd expect from the title, this latin inspired jazzy groove could have easily been taken off of Stevie Wonder's Innervisions album. I read that D'Angelo and crew spent countless hours listening to black music, playing covers of artists influential to them, until their vibe was right and the creative juices flowed.
Feel Like Makin' Love- Speaking of covers, mmm. This is good, really good. Roberta Flack called, and said that you could keep this song D, it looks better on you. Oh, I know that horn lick about 4 minutes in... damn.. is it James Brown? Where are my jazz-heads at? Help.
Greatdayndamornin' - Booty- Two songs welded together, one that reminded me of Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin as told by Al Green, and the second a march that reminded me of a Strawberry Fields Forever fade out ending.
Untitled (How does it Feel)- was written as a tribute to Prince. It won D'Angelo the 2001 Grammy for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. It's the best Prince song he never wrote. All the singing on the song is D's, but you'd swear there was a full gospel choir behind him... as it builds and builds, into a wash of fuzz and reverb.... and then, wow. If you've never listened to this, I won't spoil it. (But I'm listening to this track again right now, and cranking it)
Africa- A song originally written for his newborn son, it morphed into a song about D's heritage, his mission, his religion. The wash of chimes you hear are actually the Fender Rhodes tines mic'd from above with the cover off.
A really amazing album, one that I'm hard pressed to say anything bad about. Taking a long four years from his first release to make, Voodoo is rich with all the musical homework he must have done during the time it takes some to get a college degree. D'Angelo majored in Prince and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Musician Saul Williams wrote in the liner notes "I'd pay to see Prince's face as he listens to this album." I think that probably holds true for anyone listening for the first time, like I just did. Maybe the look on that man's face on the cover wasn't challenging me to a fight, but challenging me to a listen. If you haven't listened before, I encourage you to do it, and you try to keep your shirt on.
Next Up- #487 The Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
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