Customer Reviews

Everything's Ok

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When they recorded their comeback "I Can't Stop" in 2003, Al Green and Willie Mitchell pulled off a difficult trick: they made an album that recalled their legendary 70's work, but without falling into self-imitation. It was a fresh, wonderful record, and track for track it nearly measured up to their classics.

Now, in 2005, they set themselves an even harder task. "Everything's OK" wants to be a serious hit on the contemporary r&b charts, but not alienate the longtime Al Green fanbase. It doesn't work.

The album has two major flaws. The songwriting is timid and uninspired, and the production is annoyingly thick. Personally, I don't mind if the material is weak: most of Green's albums in the mid to late 70's featured lazy songwriting, but remain classics because of that laidback, minimalist Hi sound, and, of course, Green's beseeching, barely-above-a-whisper vocals. And then there was the Hi band, consisting of the Hodges brothers and Al Jackson--they knew when to play, and, perhaps more importantly, when not to.

Here, however, the arrangements are busy, busy, busy. There isn't a crack on the album that hasn't been slathered over with horns, strings, or a million kinds of percussion. It doesn't matter how good the band is, since so much is going on that you can't pick any single player out. And it certainly doesn't help that Green himself is low in the mix, or that his singing occasionally sounds a bit hoarse and grasping.

To be fair, there are some nice moments. Perhaps only Green could remake the sodden "You Are So Beautiful" and turn it into a genuinely moving soul ballad. "I Can Make Music" recalls, in a minor way, slow burning classics like "Take Me to the River." "Magic Road" is also fun, marking the first time I've ever heard Green attempt socially relevant lyrics. The rest isn't bad, just unmemorable.

In summary, "Everything's OK" is the commercially ambitious, artistically unexceptional album I was pleasantly surprised "I Can't Stop" turned out not to be. If this album had come out first, it would have made more sense. Hopefully, it will get enough bad reviews to convince Green and Mitchell that they're barking up the wrong tree. I'm fine with artists trying to remain current; I just don't want them to sacrifice their originality for a bit of airplay.

If you enjoyed Al Green's last CD, "I Can't Stop," you should pick this up as well. The 1st single "Perfect to Me" is good, but "Build Me Up" and the title track are great. These three songs sound much like the tracks on the previous CD, but the Reverend takes more chances on this release which pays off on songs like "Nobody But You" and "Real Love." With his voice as awesome as it was 30 years ago on song after song and Willie Mitchell on production, only his all-time classic albums ("Let's Stay Together," "Call Me" & "I'm Still in Love With You") surpass the quality of "Everything's Ok." It's great to hear this legendary soul singer still at his peak. Highly recommended.

Al Green returns with one of the best soul albums I heard in a long time. His voice sounds like it is still the seventies and the music is beautiful. His version of You Are So Beautiful grips to me and Green makes it his own. Magic Road is a great song that has some funk in it. This is a true soul album done by the one and only Reverend Al Green. I can't wait till the next album because I'm wanting more. Favorites include Everything's OK, You Are So Beautiful, Build Me Up, Nobody But You, Real Love, I Can Make Music, Be My Baby, Magic Road, I Wanna Hold You, and All The Time. Highly Highly Recommended.

This cd is truly Al Green in true form. 'Perfect To Me' is my favorite song from the cd and it takes you back to the days when you would hear an Al Green record and no one had to say, "who sings that song" you knew it was Al Green. The same goes for Everything's Ok, this cd sounds like the Al Green I grew up on. It's good to hear some real music. The cd is a must have.

Ok, I confess to being a long-time Rev. Al fanatic. That out of the way, I will confess to being mildly disappointed with the good reverend's last effort, I Can't Stop. It had it's moments as any Al Green CD would, but I didn't think it was up to his earlier classics, which I had worn down to the proverbial nub! I am now listening to Rev's Everything's OK for the first time--and you know what? Everything IS OK!! These people who are dissing this CD either a) aren't long-time fans, b) have some kind of problem with the classic soul genre, or c) are COMPLETE IDIOTS!! Don't waste one minute, buy this fabulous CD and BELIEVE!!!

I'm 22 years old, and for that reason, most people would probably expect me to empathize with contemporary R&B-ers. I rarely do, however. Their handiwork often sounds artificial and formulaic, and so I turn to classic soul for the music that truly moves and inspires me. I consider Al Green's Greatest Hits CD to be perhaps the finest album ever produced from that genre -- or any other genre, for that matter. Green's 2005 effort, "Everything's OK," isn't up to that incredible standard, but it's pretty unbelievable to hear it come as close as it does.

Make no mistake, "Everything's OK" contains Green's strongest vocal performances since he was in his prime roughly 30 years ago. Granted, his voice has clearly lost some of its magic and luster over the past three decades, but it has still retained far more than it has any natural right to. Green sounds simply fantastic throughout OK's 12 tracks, especially as he wails and whines in his peerless falsetto voice.

The musical arrangements, lyrics and vocals on OK aren't equal to Green's old masterpieces, such as "Love and Happiness," "Here I Am," "Tired of Being Alone," and "L-O-V-E," but they certaintly have reminiscient qualities. The title track, "Everything's OK" is just outstanding, and "I Can Make Music" is another uplifting gem. This album is substantially better than Green's "I Can't Stop" album from 2003. He just has the magic with him as he delivers pure, passionate and melodious tracks. Despite his age, he's still not singing. He's SANGING.

This CD will surely be appreciated by fans of Al Green, or anyone who enjoys classic soul music. No, it can't measure up to the Al Green of the past, but what the Reverend still has to offer is a whole lot better than "OK."

When Al Green cut "I Can't Stop"; his return adventure to the historic Hi-Fi studios run by Willie Mitchell, people were optimistic over its success and if it would fall on anyone's ears. That great leap of faith proved to be a dramatic triumph - putting the legendary soul singer back on the map. This time around, Al Green (labeled on the album as "The Reverend Al Green") uses the same ol' strategy to create his latest musical odyssey; "Everything's OK". That title is an understatement, if it was to sum up this album's synergy.

The album basically packs a strong amount of groovy up-tempo jams, beginning with the infectious title cut (though the lyrics might be misguided) and then flowing into the bright "Build Me Up" and "Nobody But You". The glossy strings arrangements are probably the only latest additions added to the mix this time around (heavily used on the Billy Preston arrangement of "You Are So Beautiful"); giving Al Green a much more polished and updated look for his legendary soulful catalog. Of course, most might interpret this project as being a solid blues album - since most of the songs still carry the old Hi-Fi feel, but the production is clear, slick and in most area, they are delighted with divine spirit from Green's emotional deliveries and the background singers' input.

Stand outs on "Everything's OK" include the delightful "Perfect To Me" (revealing Green's sweet personality on the strong lyrics), "All The Time" (flowing in the same vein of Green's gospel classics, perked up with a taste of southern funk) and "Be My Baby" (a wondrous musical trip filled with zesty horns; possessing the spirit of Green's 1972 hit "Look What You've Done For Me"). There's barely a dry track on this album...especially since Green gives each track the same intensity as his classics and with the same zeal he's known for on stage. Any person that fails to enjoy this project either has no heart for real soul music or is too bombarded with the overly-exposed sounds of modern pop material. Truly, this album is a better production than "I Can't Stop" and definitely proves that Green has more in his soul than we imagined.

Al Green has always been a favorite of mine.I grew up with soul music as a staple.
I slipped this CD in and I thought I was back in the 70's
His style has not changed at all,I was impressed that he can still(with a little push) hit those same high notes he did when I was a young man.If you want to go back to the better times than this CD is for you.

While EVERTHING's OK may not feature hits the caliber of "Let's Stay Together" or "Love and Happiness", it is still a very solid album that is DIFFERENT from what younger R&B stars are doing. Go out and buy most contemporary R&B albums and you will not here acoustic instruments for the most part with the exception of a piano or occasionally an acoustic guitar. Al Green was known for the horns that supported him on his early 70s hits. Today you don't hear trumpets, trombones, or saxes behind R&B artist; today has focus more on synthesizers. With that said, EVERTHING'S OK evokes the mood of the 1970, yet it sounds contemporary enough to be part of today's music. With that said, everyone knows that Al Green can't just keep remaking "Let's Stay Together"; he must produce new material. While it isn't necessarily on the same level as "Let's Stay Together", it is good material, better than some of the newer R&B artists are producing. The Three key tracks on EVERTHING'S OK are "Everything's OK", which trumps "I Can't Stop" by a mile because Green puts more of his soul into it, "You Are So Beautiful", just an excellent remake of the classic Joe Cocker number, and the infectious "Build Me Up". This album feels more relaxed than I CAN'T STOP did, and is in essence, much better than that set, which was very good itself. Rev. Al Green is really back into his element with his sophomore return to R&B with EVERYTHING'S OK. 4 stars Rev.!

I always like Al Green's music. However this one is just a little too plain. The opening track sounds great. The 2nd track sounds wonderful and really gives me kinda nostalgic feeling. After listening to 6 tracks, I am kinda lost. The songs sound too similar to one another. Let me clarify. I think the rhythm section sounds too plastic and robotic. I would not be surprised if the rhythm section was all created by the drum machine or something like that. It sounds so unnatural. He needs to create a good variety of songs. His voice still sounds great as ever and it remains the best part of the album. Instrumental arrangement sounds good and it goes along with the songs harmoniously.