Customer Reviews

Enter My Mind

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think that Marlon Saunders' voice is mighty fine. He just may be the next "Eprhriam Lewis". Ephriam Lewis was an artist from the 90's, who'd remind you of Seal. Unfortunately, he passed away tragically.

Both Marlon and Ephriam Lewis' style of singing is the same.

I found a bit of jazz, lots of R&B and Soul. It's soothing to say that "Enter my mind" has lots of voices. I enjoy CDs like this. There's nothing too repetitious, or loud. All rythm and vocals. The background vocals are fine too! The only reason why I rated "Enter my mind" 4 stars is because the first track and some others, seemed to have a tinny, enclosed sound. Like they were singing into a cheap microphone. That's my only complaint.
Mind you, the vocals are amazing. These people really feel their music!

Marlon has a lot of talent, both as a solo artist and as a contributing artist on my 2 Jazzhole CDs. I don't buy very much R&B or Soul CDs, because I wouldn't know what to choose. But this is a great addition to my collection.
Normally, I'll buy lots of female artist's CDs, but not look further into the male artists, because they're more or less all the same to me.
Marlon's voice is different. He can SING. And, he has a good range. A man who can sing like this deserves to be heard. That's why I compare him to Ephriam Lewis or Seal. These 3 men all have talent, and are not afraid to let it out.

On "Enter my mind", I don't have a favourite song. They're all good. Right from the start! Track 1 already has a beat, right from when you start the CD. Some albums start out really slow, and you have to scan the album to find rythm.

NOT ON THIS ONE!!!

As a matter of fact, "Enter my mind" seems to go on forever. It's a long album, and worth every penny. It's good to listen to when you have work to do, and need something to keep you on the right track (A spirit booster).

This is the tracklisting:
Enter my mind
You move me
Keep doin' what ya do
For Love

Premonition
Love serenade
Inspiration
Who will go
Afro blue my mind
Coolin'
Given a chance
Stone out of hope
If it's magic (My Favourite track...if there has to be one).
The beginning of never

All artwork on the CD inserts is nice. Marlon's eyes are less visible on the front cover compared to inside. On the front, they look like blackened out. Inside, you can see the finer details. I dig his fur coat! Looks quite good with the hat, for a cover shot.

Well, that's it for the review. I hope this is enough information to help you in your decision to buy it or not.

A fascinating solo recording from Jazzhole member Marlon Saunders. This solo release is more soul and hip hop flavored than Jazzhole's Circle of the Sun. However the slight shift in style does not make this CD any bit inferior to the pleasing aforementioned Jazzhole recording.

If anything this release seems to utilize a varied approach. There is a good balance of fast and slow tunes. Especially touching is the cover version of Stevie Wonder's If It's Magic. However, I find the grooves on Enter My Mind, Love Serenade, and Afro Blue My Mind very captivating.

This CD may not be a ground breaking event. However, it certainly can be classified as pleasing music that can be both soothing and grooving.

This is a CD that finally defines what true soul music is and should be. This brother weaves sensuality along with soulful grooves that make you never want to stop dancing,loving, singing, and just having a good ole time. I never want the CD to end!!!! Keep Doin What Ya Do Baby...We Love It!!!!! My favorites are For love, Premonition, and of course The Beginning of Never...This Soulful Diva says is ya don't know him ya better ask somebody.

If I hadn't been "introduced" to Jazzhole, it's likely that Marlon Saunders would've remained an unknown to me. Thankfully, the front man for the jazz group is now a mainstay in my musical library and his debut disc is a joy to behold. His voice, at times, sounds like Prince, Maxwell, Stevie, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Sylvester, respectively, but there's enough of his own style/sound that makes him distinctive. Radio station programmers are in error if they haven't added him to their play list.

The album starts with what is arguably the strongest track, the title cut "Enter My Mind", a superb composition with an in-your-face background accompaniment provided by Saunders, Rosa Russ, Billy Baker, and B. David Whitworth. Saunder's lead vocals on this one and all others are a musical meal, satisfying any and all "appetites".

Other stellar selections are the Sade-sounding "You Move Me", "Premonition", "Inspiration", "Who Will Go", the funky "Afro Blue My Mind", "Coolin'", the remake of "If It's Magic", and "The Beginning of Never".

Why not FIVE STARS? Like the earlier reviewer, I did have some difficulty making out some of the words, possibly due to the equipment used to record the vocals. Hopefully, on his sophomore effort, this "problem" will be corrected.

I have three of the Jazzhole recordings and I am a huge fan!!!!! When I heard that Marlon released a solo CD, I was curious to hear what he would do. I am very happy to hear a side of him that is not on the Jazzhole recordings. This man really has soul! His lyrics are fresh and thought provoking, and his vocal ability is like Marvin Gaye, very subtle but raw at the same time. Finally we get to hear good soul singing again. I just hope this doesn't mean he will no longer record with Jazzhole because I love what he does there too. I think he is one the greatest singers of our time.

Like others, I first learned of Marlon Saunders through two of the Jazzhole recordings.

Now, I don't consider myself a true R&B fan although there's much I like in the genre. I'm more of a fan of world music. However, this debut album has energy as well as soul. He seems less restrained here than he was on the two recordings I have of his with Jazzhole. In fact, there's a bit of a roughness here, a bit more of baring himself rather than abiding to a group's standard.

As such, I highly recommend it. Have the joy of having discovered this talent while he's still being discovered. Listen and enjoy.

check out this great new release by one of R'n'B's greatest voices . Marlon Saunders has the voice of an angel combined with the songwriting skills of a real pro !!! don't sleep on this album !!!!!!

I bought this CD last weekend after hearing it at a dinner party. The CD was on repeat because the hostess is in love with the CD. This young man displays singing like the greats, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Al Green it is filled with soul from the very beginning!!! I am now just getting in to the lyrics and it is refreshing to hear poetry over soulful grooves. His voice is sweet and soulful, and you have to pay attention to all the subtle things that are going on in the music, for me that is good because I am so tired of that nonsense posing as R&B today. I just hope he can pull it off live because if he can he is going to be a star!

Ahhh, yeah, is this what I been lookin' for? Homeboy Marlon here has got the goods fa'sho when it comes to layin' some smooth vocals an' some good harmonizing. What he's workin' with here is nothin' new, nothin' you've never heard before; he's inchin' around that whole D'Angelo/Maxwell vibe in the harmonies an' arrangements an' is' clear that he was heavily influenced by Stevie, Donny, etc. an' the rest'a the masterful ilk whose names're gettin' thrown around nowadays. So his style is not any different than most out there. But, BUT the one thang he's got on the rest of'em is that he's BETTER than most at what he's doin'. His songs can be hypnotic an' brisk as on 'You Move Me' as well as laid-back an' jazzy as on 'For Love' an' 'Premonition'. He keeps things rooted in wisdom with an' underlyin' sense'a spirituality as on 'Inspiration' an' 'Who Will Go'. Oh, an' I'm really feelin' the lush an' breezy 'Coolin', fa'real, this track prob'ly ranks as my favorite, good vibes an' a good mood, sumpin' that'll keep 'ya in a state'a mind where NOTHIN' affects you. Is' become one'a my favorite chillin' songs, perfect for the warm n' windy Spring ahead an' them Sunday mornings that I can spend at the park or at home drinkin' a beer, or impressin' my dates with my smooth musical sophistication ('Ay, it works!). Oh, an' jus' LISTEN to the quiet, subtle an' pure SOUL Marlon cranks out on 'If it's Magic' an' 'The Beginning of Never', jus' beautiful.

This ain't quite what I'd call a must-have; a few'a the songs don't meet my ridiculously high standards (trust me, I ain't got no place havin' musical standards THAT high, so that shouldn't e'en affect your decision at all). There are NO songs that're rough n' rugged like you're used 'ta seein' from most young R&B artists on the come-up tryin'ta develop a dangerous image. He don't e'en need that, an' THAS' refreshing. He knows what he's good at; that smooth n' lush rhythm an' blues mysic, an' he does it as close to perfection as he can. But, anyways, the point is that if the mood I'm tryin' so desperately to describe even TOUCHES on the type'a musical tastes you lean toward, then this album is a worthy addition to your collection, showcasing a talented singer an' artist, who I think will get EVEN better over time. I'm'a be lookin' out for this one. An' is' ABOUT TIME!

OK, so I bought this CD based on the reviews and all I can say is WHERE HAS MARLON BEEN ALL THIS TIME! This is a great CD folks! If you're into REAL soul music, look no further than "Enter My Mind". Marlon is a great singer/songwriter. Very much of the Curtis/Marvin vibe. The songs take me back to when I was growing up in the '70's, where music had much more substance than it does today. I'm VERY happy I bought this CD and you will too (especially if you love REAL SOUL MUSIC)!