Who’s on first, what’s on second, I don’t know’s…

on third. So someone is on deck, right? Here is this week’s edition of “On Deck…”:

Faith Evans – I Don’t Need It :: So I have always liked Faith Evans and I especially liked her last CD, The First Lady. Though I have never bought one of her CDs and/or listened to one of them completely from the first to the last track, but I liked this CD a lot after listening to it all the way through. Her voice fits into a common niche in R&B as a girl who grew up in the church and ended up singing secular music with a gospel tinge to it and this song is a perfect example. I like it because the harmonies are tight, especially in the bridge. I also like it because it’s a nice R&B/Soul update to the song Evans sampled: The Jones’ Girls’ Nights Over Egypt, which is also a great track. Oh yes, and because of my membership on a music website, I finally got the CD two days ago.

Ida Maria – Keep Me Warm :: After much searching, I found this song and found out a little bit about her as well. So I first heard this song on this season’s finale of Grey’s Anatomy and thought it was so pretty with reference to what happened during the finale. And so I looked and looked, went to abc.com to look at info about the music played during the final episode for the season, and I finally found it. She is originally from Norway and is better known in Europe than here; she has released a few albums and EPs. But I feel like we are at loss for a lot of these artists from across the pond who have good music. It’s an alternative rock love ballad and it’s on heavy rotation on my comp.

Ledisi – In the Morning :: There’s something about Ledisi’s voice that’s very refreshing. There is a brightness to it but it’s not so bright that it’s really light. It has kind of a nuanced bright heaviness. But she has a big range that she shows off with ease and through belting; in my opinion, she is kind of like a new incarnation of Chaka Khan, who she has done work with (and I would encourage you to watch the AOL Session to really see powerhouse singing). I like this song because of the groove but mostly because of the video; in the end, she gets what she knew was hers all along and knowing her struggles and successes to release her first album, Lost & Found, the video made even more sense. Yeah, Ledisi is someone musically to be reckoned with.

We Are Scientists – Best Behaviour :: I became aware of this song through this song being offered as a free download. I had never heard of this group but found out that they are originally from New York and kind of play under the guise of indie rock/alternative. I like the polyrhythms the drums create after the initial 32 bars, the heavy bass and the song itself kind of takes on that hipster sound where there is an infusion of rock sensibilities with that of a kind of quasi-reggae a la Vampire Weekend. I’ll be on the lookout for more of their music.

N.E.R.D. - Sooner or Later :: Now I may be considered a fairweather fan of N.E.R.D. or N*E*R*D as some people write it. I like their music for the most part but I wouldn’t say I know all of it. Now with me saying that, I understand that maybe I am a fan of N.E.R.D. inasmuch as I am a fan of Pharrell and his production. For instance, I liked some of the tracks on his album In My Mind and I had a few song from In Search Of… and the track “She Wants to Move”. Anyway, all that to say, when I saw they came out with a new album, I thought I would listen to it and surprisingly, I liked a lot of it. It’s billed as pop music and if so, there definitely is little to no other group/artists with an album out that sounds like Seeing Sounds. Nice harmonies all around, cool rhythms and polyrhythms, lyrically intriguing and though he isn’t the next Luther Vandross, Pharrell makes do with what he has which is more than I can say for most artists out now.

Gavin DeGraw – We Belong Together :: No, this song is not a cover of Mariah Carey’s once huge summer hit (though it is the jam too). I have been a fan of his since Chariot. This song was actually on the soundtrack for the movie Tristan + Isolde (2006) starring James Franco and Sophia Myles. Again, this song fits perfectly with the tenor of the film as well as his delivery; it’s truly gritty and soulful as if he is singing about something he feels and knows. Maybe we belong together…

Eric Benét – You’re the Only One :: No matter what people may think about him and his past addiction(s), Benét is a very talented musician and can outsing most male artists out today. People really sleep. All of his CDs have hits going all the way back to some of my jams like Femininity or Spiritual Thang or When You Think of Me or I Wanna Be Loved. He merges old school R&B/Soul with a sound that is truly and uniquely his. I’m looking forward to the new album. Also, I’m not positive but I think this new single samples/contains interpolations of Gerald Levert’s Answering Service. I’ll look into it…

Honorable Mentions:

• Algebra (Blessett) – Run and Hide
• Bryn Christopher – The Quest
• Ingrid Michaelson – Giving Up

~ by thingzfal1apart on July 24, 2008.