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Mike JosephFeatures
Best R&B of 2006Mike Joseph's picks for the year's best in R&B include manly soul men, retro futurists, sex-you-up lyricists, and one funky Jehovah's Witness. [14 December 2006] Reviews
Gabriella Cilmi: Lessons to Be LearnedDespite the album’s relatively short 37-minute running time, you'll find yourself praying Lessons to Be Learned will end quickly. [20 May 2009] 
india.arie: Testimony Vol. 2: Love & PoliticsTestimony Vol. 2 is strictly in the “I love you, you love me, let’s all love each other” vein…and what’s wrong with that? [7 May 2009] 
Anthony Hamilton: The Point of It AllOne good album can be a fluke. Two good albums suggest potential greatness. Three great albums seals the deal. [8 January 2009] 
Various Artists: Total Soul ClassicsSix of the finest albums from the legendary Gamble and Huff production team, remastered and reissued on CD. [19 December 2008] 
Ice Cube: The EssentialsIt’s hard to give a thumbs-up to an album that calls itself The Essentials when there’s so much essential material missing. [26 November 2008] 
John Legend: EvolverEvolver is one of the better R&B albums of 2008, and Legend goes a long way towards proving himself as a jack of all trades. [5 November 2008] 
Ne-Yo: Year of the GentlemanIt’s always good to pick up an album with modest expectations and find yourself pleasantly surprised by the quality of the music. [4 November 2008] 
New Kids on the Block: The BlockWhile most of the album is listenable, there is a desperate undercurrent running throughout the album, as though the guys are trying too hard to prove their relevance by being trendy. [16 October 2008] 
Marvin Gaye: Here, My DearGaye put his frustrations and anger into one of the most painfully intimate song cycles in musical history and then released it to the public, creating a time-delayed classic. [11 April 2008] 
Raheem Devaughn: Love Behind The MelodyIt’s not a bad time to be a male R&B singer. [10 March 2008] 
Robyn: The Rakamonie EPThis teaser for Robyn’s forthcoming album indicates that good things will be in store when she finally gets her second chance at American success. [22 February 2008] 
Michael Jackson: Thriller 25This, folks, is where the mere pop stars get separated from the legends. [11 February 2008] 
Jaheim: The Makings Of A ManAlthough Makings of a Man still finds Jaheim still trying to impress the dudes on the block, there’s a glimmer of hope in a good chunk of the album. [30 January 2008] 
Wyclef Jean: Carnival II: Memoirs of an ImmigrantCarnival II touches points all over the musical map, while also dropping science and making people dance in equal measure. [28 January 2008] 
Luther Vandross: Love, LutherIf you have to own just one Luther collection (and it’s my firm belief that everyone should have at least one Luther album), you can’t go wrong with this set. [21 December 2007] 
Will Downing: After TonightThose of you who need a little extra spice for any upcoming romantic interludes would be hard-pressed to find better accompaniment among recent releases. [5 December 2007] 
Amy Winehouse: FrankFrom a musical standpoint, her two albums are quite different, but they’re both excellent works. [20 November 2007] 
Seal: SystemAnd what is the end result? A fairly typical Seal album, just one that makes you dance a little more! [19 November 2007] 
Jagged Edge: Baby Makin ProjectYou’ve gotta think that after making the same record six times in a row, a lot of folks have to have stopped listening. 
Matchbox Twenty: Exile On MainstreamWhy reform Matchbox Twenty if the end result is six incredibly mediocre songs that Rob Thomas could do just as well, if not better, on his own? [13 November 2007] 
Justin Currie: What Is Love ForHere's one of those albums that you want to listen to when your wounds are still fresh from the latest romantic disappointment or rejection. [12 November 2007] 
Kevin Michael: Kevin MichaelI'm not sure whether this album's goodness can be attributed to Michael himself, or whether it should be attributed to the small army of songwriters and producers which is utilized here. [2 November 2007] 
Ann Nesby: This Is LoveA classy and mature, yet spirited soul album, the likes of which rarely get noticed these days. [30 October 2007] 
Jennifer Lopez: BraveThrow some danceable beats together, pay for a couple of recognizable samples maybe add a guest rapper or two, and voila! You have an instant J. Lo album! [29 October 2007] 
Raul Midon: A World Within a WorldA World Within a World is yet another reminder of the good music you'll find once you dig deeper than what you hear on the radio. [25 October 2007] 
Angie Stone: The Art of Love & WarEven though you wish Angie would broaden her sonic palette just a little bit, there’s something to be said for knowing your lane and staying in it. [16 October 2007] 
Kenny Babyface Edmonds: PlaylistAs a result of well-written songs and impassioned vocal performances, Playlist is Babyface’s best work in at least ten years. [9 October 2007] 
k-os: k-os CollectedThe rap of k-os contains conscious lyrics, musical eclecticism, left-field pop culture references, and a style that’s definitely anti-gangsta. [4 October 2007] 
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds: Live At Radio CityWhile the two-man-on-acoustic-guitar concept sounds like it would be a bit of a bore to most people, this audio recording perfectly captures the energy and the emotion of the show, and I should know. I was there. [2 October 2007] 
James Blunt: All The Lost SoulsNothing really hits the heart; it's all very precise and workmanlike, and… well, boring, to be honest. [28 September 2007] 
Various Artists: Dick Clarks American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Collectors SetCollecting three decades of pop music history into 12 discs is no small feat, but the folks at Time-Life have done right with this compilation. [21 September 2007] 
Soulive: No Place Like SoulIn one fell swoop, Soulive has gone from a great live band who makes okay albums to a band capable of bringing it on the stage and on wax. [3 August 2007] 
Keith Sweat: Sweat Hotel LiveWhile it won’t be a necessity as long as Sweat has a hits compilation in print, it’s almost good enough to be an acceptable substitute. [9 July 2007] 
Various Artists: InterpretationsOn this compact, efficient compilation, the most successful soul band of the '70s is given their due by an impressive collection of today’s top R&B musicians. [19 June 2007] 
Deniece Williams: Love, Niecy StyleThe problem with albums composed of material that’s already been recorded and released by someone else is this: much of the material is so identifiable with another artist that these new versions sound like well-produced karaoke. [18 June 2007] 
Paula Abdul: Greatest HitsWith this album in your possession, you will never have to own anything by Paula Abdul ever again. This is, of course, assuming you want anything by her to begin with. [14 June 2007] 
Ultra Nate: Grime Silk ThunderUltra Nate continues her long career as a dance music diva with Grime Silk Thunder, her first album in six years. [12 June 2007] 
Joe: Aint Nothin Like MeJoe only embarrasses himself on an occasional basis, preferring instead to (for the most part) musically comport himself in the way a man in his mid-30s should. [6 June 2007] 
Hanson: The WalkIf you cast them off as a one-hit wonder after teenage girls mooned over “Mmmbop”, you’re doing yourself a disservice. [23 May 2007] 
Simply Red: StayStay finds Simply Red working with more or less the same bag of tricks they’ve been working with since their debut back in ‘85. [16 May 2007] 
Gerald LeVert: In My SongsIn My Songs is a solid, dependable album that’s a fitting finale to a career that has sadly ended before it's time. [25 April 2007] 
Marques Houston: VeteranNow in his mid-20s, it’s hard to say whether Houston will ever develop the singular personality that will elevate his career to the next level of hitmaker status. [18 April 2007] 
Macy Gray: BigIt’s hard to imagine that Macy’s lost her mojo already, but after two straight mediocre albums, it definitely appears there’s a spark missing. [13 April 2007] 
Joss Stone: Introducing Joss StoneWhile there are a couple of moments of over-singing and affectation, Introducing Joss Stone is a dramatic leap forward creatively, without straying too far from the sound that made Stone famous. [21 March 2007] 
James Morrison: UndiscoveredUndiscovered sounds like an authentic soul record after being run through a Xerox machine eight or nine times. [13 March 2007] 
Sunshine Anderson: Sunshine at MidnightSunshine seems content to be the patron saint for the girlfriend of every lie-detector-test-taking cheating man on the Maury Povich show. [27 February 2007] 
Toni Braxton: The Essential Toni BraxtonThere is no excuse for the fact that The Essential Toni Braxton is the fourth hits compilation to come from Arista, Braxton’s first label and the company for which she released four of her five albums. [22 February 2007] 
Freddie Jackson: Greatest HitsJust dim the lights, chill the bottle of wine, and let Freddie rock you tonight-for old times' sake. [14 February 2007] 
Vesta: Distant LoverVesta’s got the skills for sure, but next time I’d love to hear those skills put to use on original material. [13 February 2007] 
Al Green: The Definitive Greatest HitsIf your Al Green collection is bare, let The Definitive Greatest Hits be the perfect excuse for you to correct that issue. [31 January 2007] 
John Waite: Downtown: Journey of a HeartAlthough he's a fine vocalist and a good songwriter, I'm not sure that those stats alone create a need to own some of these songs for a second, third or fourth time. [30 January 2007] 
Shelby Lynne: The Definitive CollectionLynne may have blown up too late to catch fame in the Great Female Singer-Songwriter boom of the mid-'90s, but her music is more adventurous than either Sheryl, Alanis or Fiona. [29 January 2007] 
Jamiroquai: High Times: Singles 1992-2006The band's danceable sound is best served on this compilation. And, if it leads you to discover any of the soul/funk bands that Jay Kay and co. were influenced by, that's even more of a good thing. [15 January 2007] 
Fantasia: FantasiaFantasia has a voice capable of moving boulders, and even when she's singing sweet, you can feel the "church" pouring out of her. [5 January 2007] 
Taylor Hicks: Taylor HicksWhile none of this fits on pop radio circa 2006, this stuff would have sounded perfect in between "Higher Love" and "Sweet Freedom" back in 1986. [21 December 2006] 
Dave Matthews Band: The Best Of Whats Around Vol. 1The perfect primer for the new fan, it also deserves to worm it's way into the collections of Dave's diehard fans. [13 December 2006] 
Diddy: Press PlayIt’s definitely an enjoyable listen, although that’s due to hot beats and great collaborators as much (or even more) as it's due to Diddy himself. [1 November 2006] 
Toby Lightman: Bird on a WireBird on a Wire is one of those albums that’s good on the surface, but seems to float by without the listener really retaining anything from it. [13 October 2006] 
Dave Hollister: The Definitive CollectionHollister is definitely a throwback to an earlier generation, representing for all of those hard-working regular guys without the washboard abs or hot dance moves. [6 October 2006] 
Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked Ladies Are MeThis disc won’t win over any converts, and probably won’t grab any teenage fans, but if you’ve loved them for this long, you definitely won’t be disappointed by this album. [4 October 2006] 
Fergie: The DutchessFergie prances, preens, moans, talks and raps, but the result is canned and sterile. [3 October 2006] 
Miki Howard: Pillow Talk: Miki Sings The ClassicsMerely average versions of songs that the music-listening public so readily identifies with other artists probably isn’t the best way to reintroduce Howard to the public. [28 September 2006] 
John Mayer: ContinuumIf that stinky “Wonderland” taste is still in your mouth, a dose of “Continuum” will go a long way towards knocking it right out. [21 September 2006] 
Jonny Lang: Turn AroundWho knew that his music would get better with time, or that he'd prove himself not only as a talented guitarist, but as a solid songwriter and vocalist? [20 September 2006] 
Beyonce: B-DayI still think that Beyonce has a perfect masterpiece in her, but I guess we'll have to wait until the next album to find out. [11 September 2006] 
Christina Aguilera: Back to BasicsShe seems to be self-involved in a way that her predecessors were not, and that can lead to occasionally bad music. However, Back to Basics is a challenging piece of pop that manages to look backwards and forward at the same time. [28 August 2006] 
Obie Trice: Second Rounds on MeObie goes all-the-way gangsta in an attempt to add a minute or two onto his rapidly expiring 15. [21 August 2006] 
DJ Quik: Born & Raised in Compton: The Greatest HitsFor over a decade and a half, the man born David Blake has served as MC, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, making him one of the genre's most well-rounded talents. [10 August 2006] 
Ashley Parker Angel: Soundtrack to Your LifeAngel's debut is fairly generic and unimpressive once you take a solid listen, which means that he hasn't learned much of a lesson since his O-Town days. [30 June 2006] 
Smokey Robinson: Timeless LoveOne of America's greatest musical treasures performing some of America's greatest musical treasures. [19 June 2006] 
The Goo Goo Dolls: Let Love InIt's very easy to picture many of these songs being hits 10 or even 20 years ago, in the heyday of Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi (hey, they both made a couple of good songs, right?) [5 June 2006] 
Jagged Edge: Jagged EdgeWhile the Jagged Edge guys unquestionably have the pipes necessary for the task, their material is sorely lacking. This is an album best left on the record store shelf. [2 June 2006] 
k.d. lang: ReintarnationReintarnation offers a close-up look at a somewhat lesser known but equally fulfilling period of her career. [23 May 2006] 
Terence Trent DArby: Do You Love Me Like You Say?A worthwhile introduction (or re-introduction) to an extremely underrated artist who stubbornly and satisfyingly followed his own muse. [10 April 2006] 
Heather Headley: In My MindHearing love song after cheating song after being cheated on song makes In My Mind the textbook definition of a generic "adult" R&B diva album. [4 April 2006] 
Jaheim: Ghetto ClassicsWhile Ja is unquestionably a gifted vocalist, he won't be in the league of the Luthers and the Teddys until his lyrics overcome cliché in the name of 'ghetto realness'. [3 March 2006] Sergio Mendes: TimelessTimeless is a noble pursuit, and the guest roster is impressive, covering a who’s who of modern urban music. [1 March 2006] Various Artists: Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents…Welcome to Tha Chuuch, Vol. 1Perhaps not that many people have noticed, but it's been well over a decade since Snoop Dogg had an original thought. [17 February 2006] |
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