Customer Reviews

Even Closer

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I used to be a music editor and I'm a musician myself, so I think I have a pretty discerning ear. I saw this lovely South African sistah featured in Vibe's Next section. I decided to check her out because she had a cool look and she came correct in the interview. But I was not prepared for what I heard coming out of my speakers! Baby girl is phenomenal. She weaves melodies and moods singularly. Her voice is as thick and smooth as Grandma's gravy! Calling her neo-soul just puts her in a box that's already too full of soulster wannabes. She's beyond that. Sister Goapele is the real thing. When I heard her voice,it sounded familiar and come to find out, I have her doing spoken word on an underground CD from 1999. You've got to cop this album. It's well worth the paper! I put it in my player and I haven't stopped listening! I can't. My faves: Closer, Catch 22, and Butterflykisses. Every song is worth it. Do your thing sis, do your thing...

Goapele has one of those extremely addicting voices. She could sing Mary Had a Little Lamb, and one would be intrigued. While her chops aren't the best in the business, they're definetely the most mesmerizing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about her voice that makes you want to listen to it over and over again. If you don't believe me, go to [website]. You can listen to samples of the entire CD before you purchase it. Just listening to her on her website made me yearn for more Goapele. I'm sure this lady is amazing live. The songs are perfect for her voice and the lyrics are a bit thought provoking. The songs, however, are never preachy, they'll just cause you to think a bit. She gets 4 stars instead of 5 because the production is not too great and because I think the addition of the guest rappers (2 songs) is unnecessary. She really could have carried the songs on her own. "Even Closer" is a nice CD that'll give you a good vibe and have you singing Goapele's songs in the shower!

I bought this album on a magazine recommendation last year, before the hype of this year so I had time to listen to the album before "Closer" became popular. I was pleasantly pleased that I went on a notion and bought it. This CD is great! Goapele's voice, beats, lyrics and content is refreshing. She is a unique soul that brings her thoughts and life lessons to the album. I highly recommend it!

"In an industry that advocates monotony, Goapele, perhaps because of her cultural heritage, is a non-conformist. Her New York-born Jewish mother and exiled South African political activist father met and married while in Nairobi, Kenya. For a woman whose name means 'to go forward' in Setswana, the South African language of her grandmother, Goapele lives by her name. The Bay Area native's upcoming effort, Even Closer is a 14-track album she co-wrote and co-produced on RED/Sony Music. King Magazine says that "Goapele is a sista with a throat full of molasses and a timbre touched with the greatness of Ella, Phyllis and Sade." While Mugshot Magazine recognizes that " Urban soul is being redefined by a gorgeous, intelligent and down to earth new voice....Goapele's range is extensive...She innovates a vocal vessel, drawing on the breathlessness of Sade and the soul of Nina Simone to tell the story of a new breed of diva." -eurweb.com

Can you just do yourself a favor and add it to your cart and purchase this gem! sheesh!! lol...breath of fresh aaaiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

All of my friends who have heard Even Closer agree that it is at the least pretty good. That is a testament in itself as I live in LA where people are too cool to get excited about much and will sit at a concert by an artist they like with an "impress me" expression on their faces. With that said, my friends who think Sade is too depressing, or that Lauryn Hill is too preachy, Or India.Aire is too earthy (none-of these opinions are mine) all seem to like Goapele's brand of soul. Perhaps it is her unique vocal style that sounds like no one else. Perhaps it is her versatility that allows her to go from the bumping R&B bass of songs like Closer, the hip hop laced Ease Your Mind, the west-coast boogie of Got It, the bluesy Romantic, to the smooth piano jazz of Too Much The Same all within the first five tracks of the album. Or perhaps it is the songs like Catch 22, Salvation, and Things Don't Exist that really defy categorization that make this album such a pleasure for so many varied musical tastes. It is all these things but something much more. Call it "je ne sais quoi", but whatever it is Even Closer is bursting at the seams with something real, artistic, and accessible. The most amazing part of the story is that this album is independent and not the product of LA Reid, Kedar Masenburg or Clive Davis pulling strings in the background to engineer a hit album. No, this is a more sincere effort, all the more impressive because Goapele is only 24 years old with her own label and her own vision, and there is hopefully a whole lot more music left in her.

Lyrically, Goapele is a utility fielder. She seems comfortable ranging from the political cry, to the inspirational new age hymn, to the sensual love song, or the introspective tone poem. Even the most discerning of tastes will recognize that more than anything Goapele has a penchant for capturing the essence of her feelings and thoughts in a manner that is ORIGINAL, in both sweeping dramatic terms and in more subtle phrasing as well. (e.g. "you and me, revolving, angel wings, fluttering, orange gold, sunsets bold, star filled nights, sweet as fantasia" - back to you). One feels not like they are witnessing someone else's, love-making, demons being exorcised or sermons being preached, but that Goapele is very familiar with the forces that play out in all of us. (e.g. "sometimes it feels like I'll never go past here, sometimes it feels like i am stuck forever" - closer) Her lyrics hit home but not in a way that makes the listener uncomfortable, but in a way that simply puts one in a state that feels familiar. (e.g. 'how many times does it take to learn just one thing, because i keep ending up here' - catch 22)

The album is not perfect though. Occasionally the lyrics do get enigmatic but that just means that as a listener I am drawn in and want to understand what she is really trying to convey. It's the same criticism you will hear of artists like D'Angelo who don't always make perfect sense, but compel you to want to make sense of what they are saying because somewhere inside you, the song is resonating anyway. Goapele has a unique voice and a distinctive way of establishing her melody vocally, which is perhaps blessing and bane at the same time. A voice like hers just doesn't need a lot of backing and she sounds a little uncertain when laying down the backing vocals. The sparse vocal arrangements often sound a little unpolished , but never dissonant. Even Closer is a revamped re-release of last year's Closer. The original version was mixed a little more consistently, although dirtier (and a really nice Herbie Hancock sample on Childhood Drama that probably couldn't be cleared for this release). In particular, this time around Romantic sounds really muddy and almost as if it was recorded live compared to the crisp Korg-ish beats found elsewhere on the album. Also that original LP was more cohesive conceptually even if it did only have 9 full length tracks. Even Closer has five new tracks, but they really go in a lot of directions and although all of the new songs are on par quality-wise with the older work, they really change the character of the album. I cannot say it is for the better or worse, but I have altered the track sequencing on my jukebox because I am partial to the sequencing on the first release. Also, like all albums that make statements, you may or may not be turned off by Goapele's politics (I certainly am not). Far from confrontational, there are still influences from her Spearhead days and proximity to UC Berkley. Plus, I hear that her parents were activists from two different worlds who met in Kenya, which means she is going to challenge the listener who is more inclined to not having to think while jamming. I don't want to focus on her ethnic lineage (as I am sure everyone else will) or any of the other things that shape her socio-political views because ultimately Goapele's music is about the soul and that shines though.

Goapele's debut album `Even Closer' is just phenomenal. All the hype and all the praise is definitely well deserved as she delivers on all aspects of this album. Her singing is perfect, in her laid back way. She never oversings or sings off key or out of tune. Speaking of tunes, the cd is straight up bangin. Every beat, every backdrop, and every bassline is nearly flawless. On some songs she gets some live bands to play and the results are magnificent. The songwriting is absolutely superb and she wrote or cowrote every song. This album is truly a listening experience. Goapele has her own style, her own vibe that you just gotta love. Her voice is captivating and her lyrics are stimulating. I can't get this cd out the changer!

Excellent songs such as `Back To You', `Closer', and `Too Much The Same' are clearly standout tracks with that extra soul vibe. Songs with the more edgier approach such as the intoxicating `Got It', `Catch 22', and `It Takes More' are definitely greatly produced and sung. She slacks off nowhere on this album. Every song has a different sound to it yet the album is so cohesive. `Things Don't Exist' is sexy in the vain of a Janet Jackson song; quiet storm song, greatness. `Salvation' has that mellow midtempo piano groove and is just jamming. I love it! But my absolute favorite song on this cd is `Romantic'. It brings such a smoky soul backdrop, provided by the band Soulive, like something you would hear at a blues club or something; and the chorus is quite infectious (you're so f*^kin romantic, I can't stand it). Extreme hotness.

Goapele's album is one of the best soul albums (of my generation) I have ever heard. Unbelievable. Right up there with Brown Sugar, Baduizm, Brainchild, and a couple others that slip my mind right now; yes it is that great. Even Closer is a must have gem; get it anyway you can. If you ever take my advice on any cd let it be this one. Strongly recommended masterpiece.

Right Now this is absolutely my favorite CD bar none! Goapele is a testiment to the fact that Big things come in small packages. This dynamic product of a Jewish mother and South African father took NYC by storm when she & her band performed at the legendary SOB club. But thanks to Amazon.com, I new way before her NY appearance that I had to own this CD. I went to Goapele.com and after my very 1st listening...I was hooked!

Goapele, pronouned (GWOP-a-lay) has a unique strong delivery. In addition, if you listen to the words, you know this petite yet prepossessing young Sista has been remarkably impacted by her unique upbringing.

Get this CD! I assure you that it'll be in your CD rotation for days and days to come!

Goapele (which means 'to go forward')is perhaps one of the most underated nu-soul singers in the world. The album, 'Even Closer' is a sonic gem and will surely become a classic for its time. If you beg for a comparision to her contemporaries, they are hard to find. The best way to describe her music is how you feel after listening (which is more like experiencing it): Her voice is full, with warmth, depth and range. Mind you, she's no towering diva. Goapele is adorably petite, yet an awe inspiring person because of her intimate candor expressing the complexities of a myriad of emotions in her music, or rather, her being.
It takes one listen to the track 'Closer' to fall in love with her brand of singing- I felt the same way when I first heard Sade's 'Smooth Operator'- hooked and desperately craving more. The best thing about Goapele is that once you experince this album, you know that she is establishing a musical legacy similiar to that of Sade, Minnie Ripperton, Phyllis Hyman, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.
I recently met her at an impromtu session in Philly @ Fluid and had the chance to hear her sing live- wow. Her voice is really amazing in person as well. After her mini-set, we spoke briefly. She is truly humble and sweet, and I felt as though I knew her well from listening to 'Even Closer'. This is a woman who is truly moving forward in every respect.
This is a must have, classic effort. You will not regret it one bit.

Goapele's vocals are smooth, real, and full o' soul. "Even Closer" will stay in your cd player a long time! It's about time the rest of the world finds out about how amazing she is. Check out where she's playing live @ www.goapele.com.

I just bought this, and all the swears are edited-although the disc wasn't labeled as being so...was this done by Columbia Records upon it's reissue??
Anyhow, it's a pleasant disc-some tracks are dull, but never bad. If your in the mood for some nice soul singin', this is a good place to look-and the hip-hop stuff adds a lil' somethin' to the mix.
Still wish mine wasn't edited, though...