Conscious

Julie Dexter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2004)
• Original Release Date: November 1, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ketch A Vibe Records
• ASIN: B0006PWJHG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,203 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Birmingham, England of Jamaican parents, Julie Dexter is a world-renowned singer / songwriter who has won numerous international awards. A classically trained musician who writes, arranges, composes and produces, Julie is considered by many to be one of the most important female vocalists of her generation. Deeply influenced by legends such as Abbey Lincoln, Billie Holiday and Nancy Wilson, as well as popular icons such as Omar and Sade, Julie takes classic soul to the heart of artistry. Julie Dexter's artistic passion flows through her latest recording, Conscious, which reflects upon what she perceives as the highest principle of life. While consciousness provides us with our perception of the world and our relationship to it, Conscious conveys Julie's insightful musings on love, trust, and the plight of perserverance. Within this disc Julie addresses the superficial limits of "life", trancending its biological definition by acknowledging its spiritual essence. "Its not enough for us to walk the earth day by day without questioning our purpose for being." Julie asserts, furthermore, that as human beings our blood keeps us alive, yet it is through  consciousness that we thrive. As such she compels us in the disc's title track to re-evaluate ourselves as she rhetorically asks,  "How you're living?." Julie Dexter's myriad musical manifestations have astounded fans and critics across the globe.  Over the past seven years Julie's career has taken her through the circles of jazz, broken-beat, bossa-nova, and soul. The dynamic voice of Julie Dexter was first heard in 1997 on Dune Records' release of J-Life, a UK group led by Jason Yarde, that sought to invigorate the public concept of Jazz as a dying tradition. While this debut recording showcased original instrumental compositions and stirring renditions of jazz standards, it also contained a swinging cover of Loose Ends' hit song "Gonna Make You Mine," which amply featured the soulful croon of Julie Dexter.  Julie gained her "chops" for cutting her vocals on this record by touring several continents with jazz wunderkind Courtney Pine as a lead vocalist of his ensemble. This musical school of tough-love learning would also give her the confidence to begin to perform and record as a solo artist, garnering the seven song EP, ! Peace of Mind (2000) and then later the full-length recording, Dexterity (2002), both of which were independently released on her own label, Ketch A Vibe.  These two recordings gained international acclaim for Julie's talents in addition to her collaborations with broken-beat innovator IG Culture ("The Plan" & "Free As") and bossa nova composer Thomas Naim ("Like Ours"). For the past four years Julie Dexter has spent the millenium sharing the stage with this generation's cutting-edge soul artists, including Jill Scott, Bilal, Amel Larrieux, Donnie, Omar, Jaguar, Rachelle Ferrell, and Fertile Ground, to name a few.  While Julie Dexter is more than able to hold up against her peers, her music has also been praised by them. In time the world will hold Julie Dexter in the same regards as those stellar artists who regard her well.

Product Description

Conscious is the long awaited follow up to Julie Dexter’s Peace of Mind and Dexterity which combined have sold over  40,000 copies in their limited release. A dynamic singer/songwriter /composer and producer hailing from Birmingham, England, Julie’s artistic passions flow in her latest effort, an insight to her muse on love, trust, and the plight of perseverance. Blending the signature brand of meditative funk and soul from label mate Michael Johnson with  her jazzy reggae vocal stylings,   together they have produced Conscious.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed., September 12, 2008

By 

Sharon Donovan (Hampton, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conscious (Audio CD)

After listened to the samples of the songs I was not that excited about the music. I still purchase this CD anyway based on Amazon reviewers that gave rave remarks. I thought maybe there was much more to this music than the samples would allow me to hear, so I purchased it and was very disappointed. Every song sounds the same, showing no creativity.

I should have just listened to the samples to make my decission and never made the purchase.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DISAPPOINTMENT!!, September 21, 2008

By 

Brian Stewart (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conscious (Audio CD)

I purchased this CD for my girlfriend who loves neo-soul and we both disliked this CD. The songs are flat and not well delivered. I went on the advice of positive reviews which was a mistake because I should have also read the negative reviews before making my purchase. I would recommend Ledisi-Lost & Found, she has a song entitled "In the Morning" a real chart making hit for neo-soul. All tracks on that CD are excellent.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not as good as the first, August 16, 2005

By 

Reader746 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Conscious (Audio CD)

I listened to "Piece of Mind" religiously for almost two years. It never left my disc changer. "Concious" has two or three notable songs. But it does not have the consistency of "Piece of Mind." She seems to be aiming for commercial success. She does not take as many risks with this one and there is too much filler.