ANDY D - CHOOSE YOUR PERVERSION

I discovered Andy D during a streaming Electric Six concert.  He was the opening act.  I didn't realize it at the time, but Andy D is the rapper on the Electric Six song 'It Gets Hot'.  I love that song!  So I watched his performance and I was completely stumped.  I wasn't sure what to think.  On one hand, he's a sexy bear of a man and he strips during his show.  He got my attention right there.  I was also intrigued by his Electric Six cover.  He played a version of 'Jimmy Carter'.  On the other hand, I thought his music was somewhat juvenile and embarrassing.  Still, when he performs, he loses himself in the music.  I knew I'd be seeing him the next time I saw Electric Six live, so I decided to reserve my judgment until then.

Well, the day finally came and I saw him live at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City.  He was amazing!  The show was funny, funky and entertaining from the minute he took the stage to the minute he left.  I had the chance to hang out with him and talk for awhile.  He's nice, intelligent and dedicated to his craft.  I bought both of his albums and he autographed them for me.  My personalized message inside "Choose Your Perversion" is "Let's ride unicorns!"  I loved the experience.  Absolutely wonderful!

Since that night, I've had time to listen to the albums and I'm ready to write a review.  On "Choose Your Perversion" you very quickly realize the music on the disc is quite different from what you heard live in concert.  Andy doesn't come across digitally as magnificent as he does live.  The disc starts out with 'New Addiction'; which is also where the albums title comes from.  Right off the bat, I was shocked.  The music is sparse and sounds like it was programmed on a little Casio Keyboard.  When you think about it, a lot of early rap artists sound similar.  They have those minimal drums sounds you can get on just about any small keyboard.  His flow reminds me of Will Smith back when he was in his Fresh Prince days.  'Rockslow' doesn't change the tempo or add much to the musical diversity of the CD.  The one difference is the inclusion of some drum sounds that were popular with hip hop bands from the 90s.  'God Loves Drunk Chicks' continues the sparse musical arrangement.  There is a nice keyboard motif, but he follows it with a weak line that downplays the intensity you expect.

And then out of nowhere, 'Blow U Away' comes in like a holy roller revival on Sunday morning!  It doesn't do much to improve the beat situation, but it utilizes a guitar sound to create a moody and compelling melody that's quite different from the disc up to this point.  The tune is actually quite good and stands on it's own without relying on adolescent humor or dirty jokes to draw attention.  It's my favorite song on the record.

'Party Werewolf (I Need A Freak)' zaps us right back to that late 80s, early 90s hip hop style.  He even refers to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.  'Magic Lady' has some updated keyboard sounds, but it's trapped in the ancient drum loop trap the rest of the album has found itself in.  It's not until 'Just Push Play' that Andy seems to break free from those old sounds.  Probably because he relies more on bass drum sounds rather than snares and high hats.  Much more timeless sounding.  There is one bass keyboard line that sounds similar to 'Ice, Ice Baby' by Vanilla Ice.  '2 Inches From Crazy Town' is another old sounding hip hop tune.  'Dirty Boyfriend' has great sounds, but it's still mired in those awful drum tracks.  'Party Nite' is better beat wise.  It doesn't escape the nostalgia of that early rap sound.

Basically, Andy D wrote a record in a style of music he really likes.  And that's cool.  But it doesn't offer anything new or interesting.  Thankfully, his next record shows more promise.  Andy D is great live.  His rhymes aren't always flowing, but he delivers a lot of soul in his performance.  He has some interesting ideas lyrically and as long as he's avoiding cliches, he creates some cool songs.  I think what's missing is access to better electronic instrumentation and a decent producer.  Andy's rap on 'It Gets Hot!' is incredible.  He's got a style, a hook and a look...  Now all he needs is a more original sound.  With the right collaborator, he could have that as well.  And he wouldn't need to take his clothes off to keep people watching.  

I'm glad I bought this disc.  Having seen some of the songs performed live, it's nice to have versions I can listen to at home.  I like Andy enough to keep following him; which is something I can't say for some of the other bands I've seen Electric Six tour with.  I see a lot of potential here and I want to see it go somewhere.  My final words:  IT WAS GOOD,  BUT I WANTED BETTER.

ANDY D - CHOOSE YOUR PERVERSION
01. New Addiction
02. Rockslow
03. God Loves Drunk Chicks
04. Blow U Away
05. Party Werewolf (I Need A Freak)
06. Magic Lady
07. Just Push Play
08. 2 Inches From Crazy Town
09. Dirty Boyfriend
10. Party Nite

CRYSTAL WATERS - CRYSTAL WATERS

Crystal Waters is a singer I'd heard at clubs and sometimes on the radio when I lived in Las Vegas.  I didn't know much about her, but there was a period of time when I was buying cds from artists who covered Prince songs.  I'd done my research on the internet and I knew this album had a Prince cover so when I found it at the used CD store for a couple bucks I bought it.  I can't say for sure what I was expecting, but when I put it in and played the first song, I was eager to skip ahead and hear the Prince track.  Mostly because I hated it and I wanted to see if she'd murdered 'Uptown'.  

Since that time, I've listened to the disc and my opinion has changed greatly.  Although I'd be hard pressed to include this album on any top list I can think of, I certainly enjoy it for what it is.  The majority of this record is the pop electro equivalent of what's circulating all over pop stations today.  That being said, it's surprising Waters didn't have more success with this record.  As a vocalist, she isn't the most dynamic or exciting.  Her range is fairly limited and her voice lacks any great quality that might set it apart from other singers.  But it's not irritating and certainly pleasant enough to hear.  For her part, Waters doesn't write music outside of her range.  She certainly knows her limitations and you have to give her credit for that.  As a song writer, she's ok but more on the lackluster side.  Her songs aren't trite cliches used over and over.  She's smart enough to choose different word play instead of going straight for the vernacular punch; however, she's also got a tendency to write some tedious material as well.  For example...  The opening track to this recording is 'Momma Told Me'.  The sing song chorus doesn't create a magical feeling.  Instead, it sounds whiny and complaining.  The lyrics are also a little silly.  But she follows it up with 'The Love I Found'.  This is the first track that really stands out on the record.  Soon enough you get the Prince cover and for the record, she does a great job.  It's more danceable and fun than the original, though it loses some of the intense energy of the Prince version.

An added bonus is the appearance of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on the album.  They co-wrote the single 'Say... If You Feel Alright'.  This song is the best track on the album.  It's awesome from start to finish.  Even though it's got Flytetime sound all over it, they manage to stay within the range of Crystal's other material and it blends right in with the feel of the album.  I want to mention some of the other tracks on the album that I like.  'Easy' is a great little number and it's followed by 'Female Intuition'.  This track is slower but has a strange beat and it works to accentuate Water's lyrics and vocal style.  The final three songs, 'Body Music', 'Spin Me' and 'Passion' are all great numbers.  'Spin Me' incorporates Dead Or Alive's 80's smash hit, 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' and is almost as infectious.  'Passion' is a nice way to end the disc.  It's got a great chorus.

So was it enough to make me a Crystal Waters fan?  Not really.  But it is a disc I can put in and let play without worrying what song is coming up next.  It's enjoyable enough to make it a fun listen every now and again.  It's also great for the Jam & Lewis track and the Prince cover.  So if you come across the disc, you can pick it up knowing its got enough good material to jam while you're in your car or let it play in the background while you're at work or doing something more important.  Any way you slice it, you'll be grooving in your seat most of the time and ready to party by the end of the day.  My final words:  GOOD ENOUGH TO DANCE TO, GOOD ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO.

CRYSTAL WATERS - CRYSTAL WATERS
01. Momma Told Me
02. The Love I Found
03. On My Mind
04. Uptown
05. Say... If You Feel Alright
06. Easy
07. Female Intuition
08. Let Go My Love
09. Just A Freak
10. Body Music
11. Spin Me
12. Passion

ROSIE GAINES - CLOSER THAN CLOSE

First off, I'm doing something different with this review.  In the past, when I picked an album I had singles from, I'd review the singles along with the record.  I've decided to stop doing this.  Partially because I don't always have the singles and partially because there are days when reviewing a single rather than an entire record is a better option for me.  They don't take as much time.  So even though I have cd singles from this album, I'm going to save them for other entries and focus instead just on the record.

For the sake of those people who don't recognize the name, here's a little history...  Rosie is probably best known for the time she spent playing keyboards and singing backup in the first incarnation of Prince's New Power Generation band.  This album has an interesting history as well.  Many of the tracks on this disc were slated to be released on a Paisley Park solo record by Rosie called, "Concrete Jungle".  Instead, the record was shelved and Rosie floated around until Motown picked up her contract and she was able to release a version of that original cd.

Rosie has one of those great soul voices you might remember from way back in the day.  She's got natural power, control and above all else, emotion.  She puts more into her delivery than most of the popular divas of our time.  She's also a multi-instrumentalist, song writer and producer.  Most of the material she performs on this disc are written or co-written by Rosie and she plays many of the instruments as well.  But that doesn't mean she's recorded a great cd...  Musical ability and a great voice do not a masterpiece make.  So let's talk about the album.

'I Want U' is the first and final cut on the disc.  Although I'm not sure why two versions of this song are necessary, I think it does help understand the progression of this disc and how it came to be.  The original version of 'I Want U' is probably the final track on the album.  It is co-written by Prince and has a very "Prince-y" sound.  But as you get to know Rosie outside of her time with Prince, you realize she's influenced more by Bob Marley and old Motown soul records than she is by funk and modern R&B.  

Here's what I think happened:  The original tracks recorded for "Concrete Jungle" had a Paisley Park vibe all over them.  You could probably hear Prince in every single number.  When Rosie signed the cd to Motown, I think she took the basic tracks and re-arranged them to fit her own style.  That's why many of the songs recorded at Paisley Park feature additional recording at other studios.  The first version of 'I Want U' incorporates elements of Marvin Gaye's 'Inner City Blues'.  I think this version is more in line with Rosie's solo work.  Personally, I prefer the Prince version.  I like Rosie when she works with Prince.  I like her solo too.  But this amalgam of sound is a bit on the overdone side.  

The next tracks are definitely more in line with Rosie's old school soul sound.  'Are You Ready' and 'Closer Than Close' are very similar in sound.  Both feature a mellow groove though 'Are You Ready' is more upbeat and faster in tempo.  The next track is 'Googaga' and although it maintains the quality of the music appearing on the disc so far, it does little to branch out.  It's very similar to the previous two tracks, but there is something different about this number.  It's the slowest of the three and has an almost Reggae quality to it.  It's also the first song with a story narrative.  It sets a scene rather than just expressing a sentiment.

Track 5 is the first of two Bob Marley covers.  'Turn Your Lights Down Low' and 'Concrete Jungle' are both exceptional covers.  Rosie was born to perform these cuts.  'Turn Your Lights Down Low' is the more traditional of the two with more standard instrumentation and less of a pop arrangement.  It's followed by the second Prince contribution, 'My Tender Heart'.  Now this track sounds completely out of place on this record.  Prince music often does when he doesn't have much of a presence on a disc.  It sounds like a typical Paisley Park production from the "Diamonds And Pearls" period.  It's a ballad and features a very soulful performance by Rosie.  You can feel the emotions on this track.  But it's conflicting with the rest of the album.  

The next number is a sparsely arranged bit called 'I Almost Lost You'.  It's a brilliant piece, but the real kicker is the next track.  'Slowman' kicks in with some horn playing you gotta hear to believe.  Rosie pulls out all her tricks on this number.  She scats, growls and croons her way through the track.  It's easily the sexiest, most romantic and enjoyable number on the disc.  The next song is 'Can You Handle It'; which is Rosie's contribution to modern pop.  This one has all the makings of a top 40 hit.  Sadly, it was never promoted as a single.  'Concrete Jungle' is next and it features a scattered, unorthodox hip hop arrangement that succeeds in speeding up the tempo and updating the tune.  Marley's own version is slower and more of a social cry for change, while Rosie gives us a version more in tune with the American inner city.  It's followed by 'Get The Ghetto Off Your Mind'.  This is a song I seriously can't believe Marley didn't write.  It's in step with his philosophies and echoes much of the subject matter he spent his career developing.  I'm sure he was the inspiration behind it and Rosie doesn't disappoint.  This is a song Bob Marley should've written.  The final cut is December 25th.  I'm not sure what to say here other than it's pretty good.

All in all, this is one of those cds you can put in, push play, sit back and enjoy the ride.  Every song is strong and the performance is equally satisfying.  It's a solid collection of material, though somewhat disjointed considering the out of place, but still exciting, Prince additions.  Rosie Gaines certainly burst out from behind the tailcoats of her former boss for those who were paying attention.  This is such a great disc is could easily land on a Desert Island list if I had to put one together.  If you have the chance to pick this one up, I highly suggest you do.  Even though there are radio accessible numbers here, she also gives you just as much jazz, reggae, hip hop, soul, r&b and funk.  It's a package everyone should try at least once.  My final words: EXCELLENT LAUNCH FOR A POWERHOUSE MUSICIAN!  YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE.

ROSIE GAINES - CLOSER THAN CLOSE
01. I Want U (Inner City Blue) Earth Mama Version
02. Are You Ready
03. Closer Than Close
04. Googaga
05. Turn Your Lights Down Low
06. My Tender Heart
07. I Almost Lost You
08. Slowman
09. Can You Handle It
10. Concrete Jungle
11. Get The Ghetto Off Your Mind
12. December 25TH
13. I Want U (Purple Version)