CAMEO - SINGLE LIFE

Cameo is a band I have a hard time with.  As I mentioned in a previous review, I like songs they do, but I usually find their albums a bit on the boring side.  I don't know the entire history of the group, but I can put something together based on what I hear on the records.

I suspect Cameo was a product of 70s funk.  They came in on the coat tails of bands like Earth, Wind & Fire, The Temptations, Cool & The Gang...  They play a lot of traditional soul funk.  Their songs are almost textbook in composition.  However, when the 80s started, the lead singer, Larry Blackmon discovered a persona he started to employ on certain songs.  That vocal delivery and his attitude when using this voice changed the fortunes of the band.  I'm not even sure what you'd call him.  But it's quite different from his other material.  The music is more rhythmically centered like much of the Minneapolis Sound then.  'Single Life' is a great example of this.  It may very well be the first track Cameo employed this method of song writing.  Blackmon still sings somewhat in a more traditional R&B manner, but the transition is evident.  The beat and drum sounds are deeper, more prominent and the keyboard melodies are stripped down to serve as accentuation for the drums.

On subsequent records, the sound is more formulated and they deliver stronger material.  Here, the only song I find very appealing is 'Single Life'.  Of the rest of the songs, only 'Little Boys - Dangerous Toys' offers much musically.  'Urban Warrior' features an early rap.  Tame by more modern standards.  Half the record is mid tempo ballads.  Hardly worth spending much time there unless that kind of R&B is what you're into.

Arguably, the first track, 'Attack Me With Your Love' features Blackmon's vocals in the style I enjoy, but it centers too heavily on the other vocalists and still follows a more traditional style of R&B.  It's fine for what it is, but hardly the mind blowing strangeness of 'Single Life'.

I discovered Cameo when they performed 'Single Life' on Solid Gold.  It blew my mind.  I thought they were strange and freaky.  I ordered their tape at the local music store and actually had to wait for it to come in.  When I got it, I was singularly struck with the tune, but unimpressed with the rest of the cassette.  These many years later, even after purchasing the CD, my initial reaction remains my overall feeling for the disc.

My final words:  MIXED WITH STRONGER TRACKS FROM OTHER ALBUMS AND YOU GOT A WINNER.

CAMEO - SINGLE LIFE

01. Attack Me With Your Love

02. Single Life

03. I've Got Your Image

04. A Good-Bye

05. I'll Never Look For Love

06. Urban Warrior

07. Little Boys - Dangerous Toys

ROBOTS - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

It seems soundtracks end up in my life one of two ways... I either need a song to further a collection by a certain artist or someone gives me the thing as a gift. This item falls in the "Gift" category. I don't really remember why it was given to me other than that it was. I can't even remember who gave it to me. I'm not sure there's a reason to break this one down as there's nothing that really jumps out at me when I listen to it. I like a lot of the music on it. It's got some really great pop, some generic pop and some really boring junk. I should mention the Fountains Of Wayne track. That one is really great and it's nice to hear the remix of the James Brown track. I like the Gomez track and the Steriogram number. They're all pretty exciting. The John Powell number has some exciting moments in it as well.

I guess if I don't write anything negative this will be a very short review... So I'll jump right in and point out a few things I really don't like about the CD. Ricky Fanté is trying waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy too hard to sound like James Brown. It starts out with an awesome beat and then dumps midway into some R&B Gospel workout. However you look at it, I'm too easily reminded of Brown and that makes Ricky a failure in my eyes. It's one thing to incorporate another sound into your own, but to emulate another performer unless you're a cover band is just pathetic. Remember all those Madonna clones in the 80's?

The Stacie Orrico track is total dribble. The music and vocal performance sound like something churned out of a Disney music camp who's soul purpose is to create generic pop clones. It makes me sad to say this, but everything about this number sounds completely by some producers hit making formula. It's really sad. And it also brings to mind my greatest fear... That future musicians and artists will all be mass produced and marketed through some corporate cog like Disney. After all, Disney produced the biggest names in pop music during the 90's and controls most of the major pop icons around today. Or at least is largely responsible for them.

The Earth, Wind & Fire track is another number I want to mention. It's written by Jam & Lewis who I absolutely love and normally follow when I can. However, this horrific number is so bad I'm almost convinced they've lost their skill. The first rhyme is, "Just take the time, to free your mind." If that isn't the biggest cliche lyric in the entire world, I don't know what is... They should lose their songwriters membership cards just for that couplet alone. And trust me when I tell you... The lyrics don't get any better. The cliches keep rolling in, one after the other until you're so overwhelmed with generic crap you can't even look straight. Do yourself a huge favor and take a pass on this turd of a song.

Overall, I'm more or less indifferent to this record. The songs I like are probably already on the band's other releases and if I ever get majorly into any of them, I have no doubt I'll find them elsewhere. My final words: IT'S OK... BARELY.

ROBOTS - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
01. Ricky Fanté - Shine
02. Chingy - Right Thurr
03. Fountains Of Wayne - Tell Me What You Already Did
04. Fatboy Slim - Wonderful Night
05. James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing (All Dee Remix)
06. Stacie Orrico - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life
07. Earth, Wind & Fire - Love's Dance
08. WAR - Low Rider
09. Houston Feat. Chingy, Nate Dogg And I-20 - I Like That
10. Gomez - Silence
11. Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man
12. John Powell Featuring Percussion Performed By Blue Man Group - Robot City

EL DEBARGE - IN THE STORM

El DeBarge is a member of the 80's R&B family band, DeBarge. They scored a number of mediocre hits in the early 80's, especially on soundtracks. They eventually split up to work on solo projects. On this particular disc, El enlists the help of famous producers and songwriters. The overall production credit goes to Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire fame. He only gets one writing credit. It's the album's final track. 'Special' is a rather unremarkable piece that drags the body of work down. Ending with 'Prelude To Midnight' would have been a smarter choice.

El brings in all kinds of brand names to create this outing. Chante Moore contributes vocals on numerous tracks. Soul/Funk veterans Patti LaBelle and Larry Graham also show up on songs. Rapper Kool Moe Dee contributes a satisfying funk workout at the start of the album in the track, 'Fast Lane'. Larry Graham thumps out a pounding bass and you can catch him vocalizing as well. Patti LaBelle donates her voice and arranges vocals on 'After The Dance'. Keith Crouch appears to be the major musician on the disc. He works well with DeBarge and the interlude/prelude pieces are interesting musical ideas. They're intriguing though sadly too short to fully appreciate. There's at least another album's worth of instrumental material waiting to be flushed out.

The lag time occurs in the ballads. Switching up from nasty funk to social consciousness has never sat well with me. It's a bit dodgy and the fact El apologizes for the naughtiness of this album in the liner notes only destroys the credibility of the funky sound. It also demonstrates he realizes he'll never be successful just singing soppy ballads. And it should be pointed out the generic, boring moments on the album are the result of poor balladry. Still, nothing compares to the instrumentation and sheer funk of 'Leggs'. George Clinton would be proud.

Of course, all of this was unexpected but welcome. My purpose in buying this disc was the addition of a Prince track co-written by Kirk Johnson. 'Tip O' My Tongue' doesn't feature a performance by Prince. Instead, El and Crouch collaborate to interpret the song in the style of the album's other material. Musically interesting and catchy; 'Tip O' My Tongue' stands out from the other songs. It's more complex and challenging with a wonderful vocal arrangement driving the rhythm section forward. El isn't a stranger to the Prince camp. He sang background on the song Prince wrote for Kenny Rogers in 1987. It's not unexpected to have this contribution floating around.

What is unexpected is the funky diversity and fleshed out soul of the entire disc. It's quite enjoyable on its own. Like most R&B albums, it contains its share of boring, generic filler material, but comparatively speaking... It has more bright moments than dull. Song highlights include though not should be limited to: 'Fast Lane', 'My Heart Belongs To You', 'Tip O' My Tongue', 'Elmo Funk' (Prelude and Interlude), 'Thick', 'Leggs' and 'Another Chance'. So if you buy nothing else from El DeBarge, you wouldn't go wrong making this your one selection. Worth it!!!!! My final word: STORMY.

EL DEBARGE - IN THE STORM
01. Elmo Funk (Prelude)
02. Fast Lane
03. After The Dance
04. My Heart Belongs To You
05. Cry (Interlude)
06. Love Me Tonight
07. Sincerely Yours (Interlude)
08. You Know What I Like
09. Tip O' My Tongue
10. Soul Searchin' (Prelude)
11. In The Storm
12. And Then I Wrote (Interlude)
13. Thick
14. Another Chance
15. Leggs
16. Elmo Funk (Interlude)
17. You To Turn Me On
18. Prelude To Midnight
19. Special

EARTH, WIND & FIRE - MILLENNIUM

Even though Earth, Wind & Fire are a famous band from the 70s, I've never really listened to them. I certainly have some affection for 70s funk bands, but this one never caught my attention. My main reason for picking up this disc is of course my obsessive pursuit of Prince songs. He contributed one track to this album. I later learned 'Super Hero' was actually used by The Steeles on the "Blankman" soundtrack. I believe this track is therefore considered a cover. At the time I was under the impression it was the only existing recording of the song. In comparison, this is the superior cut of the two versions. It's a sparse arrangement whereas The Steeles' version seems overproduced and cluttered.

I'd like to say this disc inspired me to buy more Earth, Wind & Fire material, but the exact opposite is true. I find the album tedious in a generic way. There's nothing that really stands out and grabs me. I find certain tracks somewhat interesting, but they're hardly worth the price. I keep reading about Maurice White and how important a producer/songwriter he is; yet if this work is any indication of his ability, I'm left wondering what the attraction is. Maybe is a generational thing. I'm too young to appreciate what's happening here. But my overall impression is extremely strong. I feel like I'm listening to a band that hit its stride and is now churning out retired music.

There seems to be a list of well known, respected songwriters working here to create a hit record, but the collection falls short and for the most part lacks strong efforts by various names like Philip Bailey, Frankie Blue, But Bacharach, Michael and Linda Stokes... The packaging promised something iconic, but the contents fail to deliver.

You expect something groundbreaking or more representative of the band's history and hits. What you get is bland, run of the mill pop. 'Super Hero' is the singular exception here. It's one of Prince's better tunes from the early 90s. I think Prince would have done the band a big favor by donating more tunes to this lackluster project and punching it up a couple notches. With dismal track after track of throwaway tunes, 'Millennium' needs a vital infusion of contemporary funk.

Of course these days you can download the single track and avoid the filler material entirely. I recommend saving the money unless you find it used for a couple bucks. 'Super Hero' is at least worth that. My final words: MILLENNIAL BOMB.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE - MILLENNIUM
01. Even If You Wonder
02. Sunday Morning
03. Blood Brothers
04. Kalimba Interlude
05. Spend The Night
06. Divine
07. Two Hearts
08. Honor The Magic
09. Love Is The Greatest Story
10. The "L" Word
11. Just Another Lonely Night
12. Super Hero
13. Wouldn't Change A Thing About You
14. Love Across The Wire
15. Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues
16. Kalimba Blues