Office by Alex Penny
Asdrubal 18 I own no rights to music, videos, pictures, etc. posted
So this week R&B made its impact on my iPod. I was watching the BRIT Awards and they announced the nominees for Best British Breakthrough Act. And I only caught a snippet of Emeli Sandé’s “Heaven” but it sounded good enough for me to download the album, Our Version of Events. I recommend listening to it because it’s a beautiful album. “My Kind of Love” with its stormy dramatics pins down that feeling of unrequited love perfectly. “Clown” meanwhile tackles the same topic but in the sense that the singer herself feels foolish. They’re both impressive tracks on an outstanding album.
4 does a pretty outstanding job of revisiting R&B of the 80’s and 90’s. “Party” especially does a good job of this. It has smooth synths in the background, a chorus chant and easygoing lyrics and vocals.
What more can I say about “Staships?” It’s still really fun to listen to.
Robyn and Diplo’s collaboration “Dancehall Queen” is not an R&B track, but the dancehall influence gives it a pretty fun, dancey yet easygoing vibe. Such a fun song from Body Talk.
“Rumour Has It” was the track that got me hooked on Adele’s 21. With it’s combination of bluesy strings and drums and clapping beat, it’s oddly catchy for such an emotional and angry song.
“Diggin’ on You” is still the de jure TLC song for me.
My friend actually introduced me to “Me, Myself and I” from Beyoncé’s Dangerously in Love and thank goodness that he did. Beyoncé has the ability to take any song and portray the emotion perfectly for the listener. Because of that we get to hear the resent, hopelessness, regret and sadness behind the words: “Me, myself and I, that’s all I got in the end.”
“Wade in the Water” sees Eva Cassidy tackling a spiritual and she does it complete justice. The gospel voice, the chorus and light beat give the song an easy-listening feel to it.
Finally, “Paris Nights / New York Mornings” from Corinne Bailey Rae’s The Sea. Corinne’s 2nd album is a stark change from the first as it tackles alternative pop/rock as opposed to R&B and I really like appreciate this shift. “Paris Nights / New York Mornings” is such a smooth alternative track it makes it perfect for winding down.
