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January 2010 Playlist and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!! So it's 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve and where am I...? Obviously in front of my Macbook. I'm at home. At first I was a little bummed, but then I realized I'd rather be here doing what I'm doing, than doing anything else. So while all of you are getting drunk for me out there with the rest of the crazies, I'm safe at home. Drinking some wine. FINALLY burning some CD's for a good friend. I promised I'd burn these Eric Roberson CD's MONTHS ago, but hey, better late than never. :) So as I'm finishing up my friendly duties, I'm ready to do something for myself. I'm also finishing up a new collection of some neo-soul/soul music songs I love for another friend. I love creating these soul music compilations. I'm telling you, DJ Ms. Soul Star WILL be creating some compilations for REAL one day. :)

Hmm...*buzzing* Lol, thanks wine. What else is going on?? Oh yeah...The combination of this wine with the eclectic sounds coming from this new Q-Tip album are putting me in a great place. So this month's playlist is going to be pretty short. But I will say this...

My dad gave me one of the best Christmas gifts anyone could give me. What? Music of course! I was given 2 albums for Christmas that I have had on repeat non-stop on my iPod, my laptop, AND in my car.

I got Vikter Duplaix's Bold and Beautiful album. Finally! I had downloaded maybe 3 or 4 songs from the album, and I couldn't WAIT to add the rest of the songs to my collection. Amazon.com said that the manufacturer DISCONTINUED making the album.... my heart dropped! But luckily some people were selling it on Ebay, so it was all good. :) So now I can proudly say I own this amazing album.

I'm not a Vikter Duplaix historian anything. But I do know he is a SUPER talented producer/singer/song-writer/DJ out of Philadelphia (I need to get to this city IMMEDIATELY!). It's not your average soul music. Hell, it's not even your average neo-soul. It's a myriad of neo-soul, house, downtempo, lounge...a little bit of all the great sub-genres that I love. Stuff that is beyond its time. And beyond the Bay. Stuff that they play overseas- like in London (another place I NEED to go!). So if you want something a little different that's unlike ANYTHING you're hearing in your area, please check him out. FAVORITE SONGS ON THE ALBUM:

-"Make a Baby"
-"In the Middle of You"
-"Another Great Love Gone By"

And the second album I was blessed to receive was Sy Smith's Conflict album. I discovered Sy through Eric Roberson (lol of course. Who isn't he linked to? Geno Young, Peter Hadar, Anthony David, Choklate, Wayna, Lalah Hathaway....that man works with everyone). Sy sings background on Erro's song "Celebrate" off his latest album Music Fan First. I liked her voice. Then I also heard her singing the hook on a Nicolay song called "My Story." She killed it! So I knew I had to do some research and find out about this girl. I don't know much about her except that she's worked with alot of people in the underground scene. And that she went to Howard with Eric Roberson. But anyways...the girl is gifted. She has a few albums out there, but for some reason I was drawn to Conflict.

*Side note, whoever is playing the piano on the Q-Tip song "Blue Girl" is killing it. Ahhh, the beauty of owning a CD. I can just open it up and see who's doing what. Hold on... Kelvin Sholar. Mr. Sholar, you're GETTIN' it!*

Okay, back to Sy Smith. So yeah this album is another one of those albums that is hard to define. While it does have some of your typical neo-soul songs, there's also a mix of other types of songs. Two of my favorite songs, "B-Side Love Affair" and "The Art of You" have that two-step/garage/house vibe that is so popular in London (booking my plane ticket next pay check). There's also "Star", which is gritty and dark enough to be any respectable rock song. She has a sweet, pure voice. EXCEPT in an interlude called "Would All the People from Compton Please Leave?" It starts off pretty good, but towards the middle and end, she hits some VERY unflattering notes. I guess she's TRYING to channel Minnie Ripperton, but it doesn't work at ALL. I wouldn't have included that in my album. But hey, where's my record deal?

So that's what I've been listening to for the past couple of weeks.

LEDISI concert is this Saturday at Yoshi's in San Francisco. I'm really looking forward to it. To this day, that woman has put on the best show I've EVER seen. And I've been to quite a few concerts. Let you know how it goes.

I appreciate music for it's healing power. I pray that it continues to heal old wounds, and that it decorates my new scars. Until next time...stay positive in the new year. Don't sweat the stuff you (WE) can't control...*Turning up "Make It Work" by Q-Tip and rockin' out* PEACE.
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