Customer Reviews

Connected

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sometimes, I honestly believe that a great deal of these young artists today still don't get it. What made this kind of music thrive back in the day (I consider the late-60's to mid-70's period the "golden age" for that matter) was not solely on account of strong songwriting or experimenting with various styles and ideas, but LIVE INSTRUMENTATION AND ACTUAL SINGING ABILITY AS WELL. In this case, there are really only a handful of albums that were released this past decade which truly lived up to those standards. Not surprisingly, a good number of them were done by artists outside this country.

That brings us to this finely crafted album by the NY-based Family Stand. Connected serves as a painful example of how far the music industry has gone off the deep end in terms of not promoting legitimate musical talent on a more consistent basis, especially when the timing couldn't have been more perfect for this particular group. Compared to other albums in its genre that were released the very same year, NONE of them in my honest opinion could truly compete with Connected in terms of overall content. There is an abundance of solid, at-times brilliant, songwriting, live instrumentation (a band laying out killer grooves on all but ONE track), and well-honed singing chops found here which easily places it a notch or two above its peers. Only the one track in question (You Don't Have To Worry) has any hint of the kind of electronic programming that would normally be found on more mainstream releases. Fortunately, it was wisely done in a manner so as to not deviate from the song's main intent of telling an emotional story of racism and single parenting in today's society.

It's quite unfortunate to find Connected out of print now, but there should be some copies lying around in used cd bins if one knows where to look. Call it "retro" or "dated" or whatever (I'm 21 so that really says a lot about what I find acceptable in music these days), I sincerely believe that good music is good music no matter what way, shape, or form it is done in. And Connected remains an album loaded with GOOD MUSIC. What more is there to say???

Highlights:

When Heaven Calls (shades of the Isley Brothers, circa early to mid-70's)

Title track (wonderfully orchestrated soul number; goes to prove the old school sounds of yesteryear will never truly die)

It Should've Been Me That Loved You (eat your heart out, Stevie!)

What Must I Do Now? (two-part song that remains the album's centerpiece; check out the latter half devoted to the late Tupac Shakur)

You Don't Have To Worry (eat your heart out, Sly!)

Fienin' (should've gotten some radio play at the time because it seems funk like this just isn't done anymore; vocalist Jacci McGhee really turns it out on this cut)

More and More (sexy, late-night soul number that probably would've made even Rufus & Chaka Khan take notice)

I absolutly loved this album..i heard the single on the radio when it first came out and searched and searched til I found this cd. you know when u purchase a cd and go straight to the song that is on the radio..with this cd u did not have to do that all the tracks before and after "You don't have to worry" were hittin it. I just wish more artists could sound the way they do on record as they do live. Hope u enjoy!

I love this album! I believe that it is one of the best albums to come out of 1998. With their new female lead vocalist (Jacci McGhee of Keith Sweat's "Make it Last Forever" fame), the Family Stand have matured into a band to be reckoned with. There is not a song on this album that I do not enjoy, and I am hard pressed to say which songs are my favorites. I feel that in "Connected", a perfect chord has been struck between R & B, Rock, and Funk, mixing together into a big ball of great music. If you enjoy N'Dea Davenport, Sly and the Family Stone, or Dionne Farris (Where is she, anyway?) I think that you will definitely enjoy the Family Stand's most recent release, "Connected".

This CD is made the way R&B is done best with ilve instruments and with lyrics and vocalists who don't sound like they came from a Jr. High talent show. This music is some of the funkiest of the 90s, especially the title track, You don't have to worry, and the sizzling Fienin'. Jacci Magee and Peter Lord both have terrific voices and its a sin and a shame no one has heard and enjoyed this. This is for fans of Marvin and Prince and Stevie.

Remember when The Family Stand was mostly a synthesizer, 808 studio band? Remember how you listened to SSV and felt lost in the power of her voice? I have to admit I have been down with the Family since I heard their first single `Ghetto Heaven' on Kiss FM in NYC in the late 80's. When Sandra left I thought, well there goes the band. At least we will have two great producers. Imagine my surprise to hear this live album. Yeah there are still synthesizer and a couple of tracks might have 808's but I had no idea this group is a band. Songs like the orchestrated `Connected' and the Rufus inspired `More and More' and the Stevie Wonder influenced funk ballad `Butter' takes you to the next level. Who does their A&R, anyway? They should be shot because there are some bonafied hits on this. The album is some revolutionary stuff and rare in the US. If you like music that you can rock at the BBQ, or the bedroom, the car or the living room, this is a must get for those who are hungry for some deep fried soul with a side of funk. My hat is off to The Family Stand for making the best Album of the decade. If you like Lauryn Hill's hip hop influenced neo soul, you have to check this out. Bon appetite and please remeber your napkin...

It's true that the mid to late 90's could be seen as not only a revival of classic R&B,soul and funk but an interest in more recent artists embracing a similar revival musically. Mint Condition, as well as Jamiroquai,Incognito and Brand New Heavies overseas as well as solo artists such as D'Angelo and Erykah Badu were making a kind of hybrid music that was difficult to classify because it often relayed on live instrumentation as it's basis. Some called it neo-soul,acid jazz,retro rare groove or the like and everyone involved was looking to have a sound very much it's own. The Family Stand are among the oldest groups in this area,going back as far as Swing Out Sister and already having successful production credits as far back as Paul Abdul's Spellbound. This New York musical collective,even for it's time had a very diverse musical pallete. One of the things that helped The Family Stand stand out is much as with Jamiroquai at that time they were able to successfully produce the live band sound they used,especially on vibrant uptempo funk/soul tracks such as "Keepin' You Satisfied",the wah wah and sexually charged "Butter" as well as the title song feature multi tracked vocal harmonies and guitar/bass solos as well as some tasty use of reverb. One thing that is unique about this band is that influencially they've dipped into a territory somewhat atypical of most music of this type. Where most looked to people such as Roy Ayers for inspiration The Family Stand looked more to people like Betty (Maybre) Davis and people with a heaver,harder crunch to their groove. Also there is a strong affinity for some of the exotic and difficult chord progressions of Stevie Wonder,a flavor that many in this era aspired to but couldn't always pull of well but this band seem to specialize in that. That comes on strongly in the exotically arranged "You're Mine" that seems to come from the same funk subgenre one might here on Stevie's Music of My Mind. The bands rockier backround comes into effect on the edgier "More And More" which exists very comfortably,even though it has a little more bite than one might expect in a world with the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Living Color. This is an album I liked from when it came out but had to wait twelve years before actually picking it used to the expense of the new CD upon it's release. In this day and age where the people involved in the idea of creating music with live instrumentation are often obsessed with an au' naturel approch with minimal production the future would be wise to take a few pointers from The Family Stand in moving live musicianship forward into the next generation.

More refined talent with great lyrics, arrangements and meaning. From high-powered rock to cool soul to simmering ballads, Family Stand has the be the most genuinely versatile band I've ever heard. They don't just do multiple genres. They do them better than the people who spend all their time in that particular one. The Best album you never heard 4 sure!

A shame, shame, shame that more music of this time lacks the quality of what this band produced. But lesser bands have benefitted from more mainstream exposure. If you've read this far, you pretty much understand the niche The Family Stand put themselves in. It's not too much more that can be said about the LACK of marketing of this band. Their music is exceptional. After owning their first two albums, this last one transforms them from an ecclectic colletion to serious Neo-Soul listening pleasure. Every song was good. Real Instruments, Real (Meaningful) Lyrics, Real Producing, and Real Talent (singing).

1. Keepin' You Satisfied - Sounds like a true Soul song of the 70's. Ms. McGhee's voice makes the song.

2. Butter - Makes you think you are listening to Sly and the Family Stone. Excellent vocals, guitar, bass. One of my favorites.

3. When Heaven Calls - Very nice. Could easily be mistaken for a Chaka Khan song.

4. Connected - Ms. McGhee once again turns out a sultry impassioned plea. Another one of my favorites.

5. It Should've Been Me (That Loved You) - Wonderful. Stevie would be proud.

6. What Must I Do Now? - The best song lyrically with their uncompromising social commentary. Most folks have to listen to these songs several times to get the Tupac references and meaning.

7. You Don't Have to Worry - The ONLY song that got any airplay. And that was miniscule! More social commentary.

8. Fienin - stirs up passion and the lyrics are dangerous.

9. You're Mine - Has a little Mid-tempo Middle Eastern feel to it. Gets catchy after several listens.

10. Don't Ask Why - Decent lyrics and melody.

11. More and More - Like an earlier reviewer, reminds me of Rufus and Chaka Khan.

12. What Must I Do Now? (Reprise) - Mostly intrumental version of this song.

I bought this album after hearing just one song, "Butter." That song had me hooked and I was definately not disappointed. All I have to say is the album is perfect, sexy, tight, delicious....BUY IT!

This is a good variety of music although most of it is pretty much retro-soul. It still gives funk, rock, even a little acid jazz. Their first CD was O.K.. I look forward hearing more from this talented family.....