Customer Reviews

Colored Section

5 star:		(126)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This phenomenal singer/songwriter may be new to many of us, but to many this debut release from Donnie, "The Colored Section" has been a long time coming! Those who have patiently waited, supporting Donnie's EP releases and shows around the world, feel that it has definitely been worth the wait! Donnie's inspirational courage and talent was singled out in India Arie's recent debut CD, Acoustic Soul, where she claims in the album's credits, "one day the world will know what I have known for so long". With a voice that has been compared to greats before him such as, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, Donnie holds his own! "The Colored Section" contains thought provoking, honest, heartfelt lyrics over funky, jazzy, hip, 70's reminiscent tracks. With titles such as, "The Colored Section", "Beautiful Me", "Big Black Buck", and "Our New National Anthem", ones curiosity has to be stimulated. Wonder no more, pick it up, you won't be disappointed. This one is definitely for "GOOD" music lovers...

Prepare to be MAJORLY moved, especially if you're African-American. Deep. DEEP, I tell ya! He HAS to be the most racially/socially conscious singer out there right now. This brotha's stuff?...Goes DEEEEP! Hell, the title is deep! Controversial cuts like "Big Black Buck" lets you know this ain't ya ordinary "Bump-N-Grind" CD ya got hea! Great music. Stevie-esque sound, and it's all good. "Cloud" isn't about what you think it is...of course it's deeper. See the theme here: DEEP! Great music matched with a great vocal and consciousness and this CD is hotter than a working oven on Mercury. This may not be for everyone, but it should be...if you ctach my drfit. Get this and you will see what I mean.

Who says talent doesn't run in the family? Laylah Hathaway and Jakob Dylan are respectable performers who have paid their dues and earned their fame independently of their influential parents. Add to this list a Kentucky-born brother by the name of Donnie. A cousin of the legendary Marvin Gaye, Donnie has released his debut "The Colored Section," which is shaping up to become the year's best recording by a male vocalist. A jaw-droppingly brilliant stroke of down-to-earth soul, "The Colored Section" is beautifully conceived, flawlessly arranged, and crafted with affection. Donnie's lyrics preach messages of hope, salvation, empowerment, and love, but unlike India.Arie, he doesn't insult your intelligence with self-help cliches and predictable catchphrases. And his voice? It's smoother than silk. I've been intrigued by this brother since I heard his dynamite "Our New National Anthem," which appears on the excellent "Soul Sessions" compilation released a few months ago. The rest of the album picks up where that song left off in a big way. He steps up to those who use the word [n-word] in the rousing "Beautiful Me," recalls 1970s Stevie Wonder in the classy "Heaven Sent," and sharply criticizes society's spending habits and likens it to slavery in "Big Black Buck." The music has a vintage, elegant feel; it gives off a genuine, authentic vibe without resorting to overproduction or studio gimmickry. Quite simply, "The Colored Section" makes 27-year-old Donnie a soul brother without peer, and like all good albums, its ample riches gradually reveal themselves after each listen. Classics like "Songs in the Key of Life" and "What's Going On" have weathered trends and quietly earned their reputation as milestones in soul. "The Colored Section" seems destined to follow a similar path. Yup, it's THAT good.

What is wrong with you people? I am continually reading where some make the comment that Donnie is a Stevie Wonder wanna-be, or "Is this Stevie's kid", or "He is ok, but he sounds too much like Stevie", and my response is, SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Over and over again it is continually mentioned and commentated that "These young people with their hip-hop music,they have no lyrics, they degrade women, they shed a poor image on other Blacks". And now here we have a wonderfully young man, who chose not to cave in to the pressures of mass media and corporate America, who knew that if he compromised a little, he could get much recognition, and he chose not to. Why? Because he chose to stay true to himself! And what does he get in return, "He sounds like a Stevie Wonder wanna-be"? Oh, and pray tell, did not Stevie sound like others before him, when he was younger? Did he not emulate the great masters before him? Show me any profession, and I will show you the teachers that inspired their students to greatness in those professions, no man/woman is an island. Our world has us intricately tied to the other, our lives are intertwined and interwoven. Let us not even go further than that...what of you growing up? How did you learn to walk? To talk? To eat? You were taught, you emulated. In time you developed your own style, yet still and in fact, even with your "own" style, there are parts of you that are still like your parents, why? Because you become what you behold! How can you choose to villify Donnie because he "sounds" like Stevie? You mean he sounds like a master! We human beings grab inspiration from what is around us, from the things we see, hear, feel and touch each day. The only true Originator is the Creator, all of us just work off of the material he provided. Even Stevie tapped into the invisble beauty of the Universe that was already there and gave us a glimpse of the beauty and power and purity of it. Here we have a new and emerging Master, a young One, who, as a child that is about to leave training wheels depends on the parent to hold onto them until they get their balance, may be doing the same thing, by manifesting what he has placed in his heart all the while growing up. How dare you belittle this man of greatness that chooses to speak lyrics that question us as a people, that challenges us, that inspires us, that tells us we are beautiful, that we are unique? How many musicians can speak truth throughout an entire album, and not just one "truth" token song? The young ones of his generation have no one that has delieverd the meassge of yesteryear that their forebears enjoyed and knew. This generation needs prophets and seers that speak in this generational tongue that will make them stand up and listen, that will make them stop and think. Maybe then, with those who will otherwise be inspired to speak and live truth, can a new dawning of our people begin. Maybe then those who have been in the dungeon of the demons of their past will have light shining through, that will give them hope and show them a way out. I ask you, do you remember those songs that uplifted you, that made you stand up and be counted, that gave you resolve, that gave you strength to go on? Do you remember? Then how can you deny this generation its prophets? Stand beside him and take comfort in the fact that the torch has been passed and the torch bearer is carrying it very high and very strong, just like his forebear taught him, just like his forebear taught him.

I was first hipped to Donnie when he was singing with the band Sirius B at the Ying Yang cafe in Atlanta. Donnie is what might be easily classified as one of soul music's best kept secrets.

One listen, and you'll clearly hear his musical influences (Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway), but unlike other artists whose claims to fame lay in exploiting those styles primarily in the "love music" genre (e.g., Glenn Lewis), Donnie has sought to capitalize on the complete canons of those great soul singers by using his amazing vocal and songwriting abilities to tell his experience as a Black man in this age and time. Serious parallels can be drawn between this album and Stevie's pre-Musiquarium work. Donnie doesn't shy away from expressing his views through his music, and this album serves as a refreshing reminder that soul music used to have more diverse messages.

I would probably classify this album's musical style as old school soul. The songs have been musically arranged in a very timely fashion as well, and as a result, one could listen to this album years from now and not know when the songs were written. It blends in with more traditional soul seamlessly (Kind of like Remy Shand, as opposed to a more futuristic psychadelic Lewis Taylor). There is nothing in the way of the production that would mark it as "neo" or anywhere near the class of questionable R&B that runs the pop radio formats (e.g., programmed beats that drown out the other instruments and vocalist).

"Colored Section" was a long time in the making, but I'm glad that it has finally arrived. If you've been feeding your musical soul with radio R&B, you might have to train your ears to hear the messages expressed here. And for those who delight in finding the next great talent (e.g., those who caught Me'Shell Ndegeocello's "Plantation Lullabies" before she became popular), you will not be disappointed with Donnie. This is pure soul, and I think "Colored Section" will prove to be a seminal work for the soul renaissance.

Following the release of the lead single "Do You Know?" in 2001, I was so anticipating this 2002 CD that when it finally came out, I'd have paid any amount to get my hands on a copy. Donnie was then and remains now, a refreshing change from the myriad of one-dimensional singers out there, whatever it is that they claim to be singing, be it soul, r&b or neo-soul. He sings of things like being proud to be black, about self-righteous hypocrisy, racism, homophobia, pure love and friendship. Not the usual "urban" music fare. None of the usual (and tired) 'Do me baby, Do me baby' or 'I want to do you baby' rubbish here.

It works for me. The man sings with earnestness and an honesty that just melts the heart and warms the soul. He's obviously influenced by Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway but show me a true soul singer who isn't. Donnie still has his own voice though and his songs (he wrote/co-wrote all the songs on the album) are full of passion, richness and multi-layered meaning. He's definitely one of my unsung heroes.

I call him an unsung hero because I don't think he's gone on to get the level of success and recognition that he deserves. The world is changing - though not necessarily progressing - and that is one of the main reasons why we don't hear more music like this today and will probably go on to hear less and less of it. If this album had come out back in the 70s or even the 80s, it would've made Donnie a huge star. But in today's climate it would seem that if you're a black singer, male or female, in order to get adequate support and promotion from your record label and then from radio and music television, all in order to have mass appeal in the market, you have to present yourself in a certain way.

Not every black singer is prepared to do anything for fame and wealth though, thank goodness and for that, Donnie has my total love and respect (and, I'm sure, the total love and respect of others who recognise good quality music). He has a new CD out, Daily News, and while it seems to only have limited availability on a UK-based independent label at the moment, and while I haven't heard it yet, and while it's taken five years coming, I hear it on good authority that he hasn't abandoned his sense of who he is and what he has to say. I hear it's a very good follow-up indeed. (A US version, The Daily News, is scheduled for release in June).

I find it impossible to choose favourite tracks; they're all brilliant in my view. And considering that this is another CD produced by Steve "The Scotsman" Harvey, one of my favourite producers of the moment, I am not at all surprised. This is a real modern soul album. Check it out.

Some people say that this talented genius, born in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Atlanta, cramps the style of Stevie Wonder; I say absolutely not. Donnie was raised in a Hebrew Pentecostal church, which he regularly attended until his early 20's. At the age of eight, his family broke the Kentucky residence legacy and moved to Altanta where his parents, both ministers, now practice at different chapels. Having the gospel background, he started directing music and created a profound presence until this day.

Though not everybody appreciated some of his southern rooted songs (Big Black Buck), he co-ordinated some of the most beautiful ballads and lyrical gems in the "game" today. Not only do most of his songs sound "pure" and "intelligent", but they flow smooth like the Mississipi River. Among my favourites: Cloud, Do You Know?, Turn Around, You Got A Friend, and Heaven Sent, his not so contemporary songs such as Welcome to the Colored Section, Big Black Buck, and Our New National Anthem are songs that portray stories and morals to be encountered with and dealt with on a daily basis for many minorities (obviously directed to my African-American brothas).

Strong yet smooth is this singer's capabilities. Though not all the songs are favourites, I highly recommend this album for the songs that seem to cleanse the soul and the others that encompass a deeper meaning to life. I'm the biggest fan of 90's R&B, but this is one CD that needs more attention in this day and age (with all that junk out there).

Maybe even in the past couple of years............ Donnie, part of the "Earthseed" artist collective along with Seek, Sirus B., Jiva, David and the beautiful, talented India.Arie, ATLANTA's OWN has FINALLY dropped a long over due debut CD. Donnie's songs deliver a message of blackness, strength, love and a passion for good music like the days of Marvin, Stevie and Marley. I've been checking for this cat every sence I first cought his and Arie's performance back in 1997 when they were the queen and king of the Atlanta soul revival at the now-defunct Yin Yang Cafe......"planting seeds of positive music in the earth" the way the slogan went from a flyer I still have. Donnie has cultivated a relatively large following considering his lack of full-length recordings, his limited promotional budget and the passionate, at times, confrontational, social messages laced through some of his songs. This cat is the truth to soul music and the way it WAS done back in the day. I've now burned a whole in my "Excerpts - Colored Section EP" CD release from all the play I gave it from over the past year. This product has reformed, reshaped the mold of soul music in 2k. Not just an artist who sings well over hip-hop beats, but a real soul singer who's production fits hand in hand with his beautiful voice. If you wasn't introduced to the EP containing "You Got A Friend", Do You Know?" & "Cloud 9", then you missed a early premiere of "SOMETHING DIFFERENT" to hit underground soul scene. This album is for any soul music head. Old or young, black or other......grab your copy quick, it's no doubt a rare soul gem.

track listing:

1.Welcome To The Colored Section
2.Beautiful Me
3.Cloud 9
4.People Person
5.Big Black Buck
6.Wildlife
7.Do You Know?
8.Turn Around
9.You Got A Friend
10.Heaven Sent
11.Rocketship
12.Masterplan
13.Our New National Anthem
14.The Colored Section

oNe

This phenomenal singer/songwriter may be new to many of us, but to many this debut release from Donnie, "The Colored Section" has been a long time coming! Those who have patiently waited, supporting Donnie's EP releases and shows around the world, feel that it has definitely been worth the wait! Donnie's inspirational courage and talent was singled out in India Arie's recent debut CD, Acoustic Soul, where she claims in the album's credits, "one day the world will know what I have known for so long". With a voice that has been compared to greats before him such as, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, Donnie holds his own! "The Colored Section" contains thought provoking, honest, heartfelt lyrics over funky, jazzy, hip, 70's reminiscent tracks. With titles such as, "The Colored Section", "Beautiful Me", "Big Black Buck", and "Our New National Anthem", ones curiosity has to be stimulated. Wonder no more, pick it up, you won't be disappointed. This one is definitely for "GOOD MUSIC" lovers.

It is the call from the soul !! I fell into Donnie's magic ever since I heard the first track -- "Welcome to the colored section". The tribal chorus is sooo beautiful ~~ Well, I am an Asian, a Taiwanese, I guess in some extense, I am "colored", too. Therefore I dived into the colored section and found out more than marveous music.
"Cloud" is soulful and had already been recuired in Banana Republic's summer soul complication. But my favorite is "Big Black Buck", which is reggae + dixieland, Jazzy and sassy. You just can not help to groove with it !!