Customer Reviews

House of Music

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album, musically, is the most soulful and purest form of R&B and soul music that came out in the '90s. It has everything from smooth mid-tempo jams to hot, club-ready dance numbers and then on to the most lavish and tender ballads I've ever heard in my entire life. And it's all from the heart of a man. To this day, I have yet to hear an album that pleases my ears, toys with my emotions, brings a smile to face and a tear to my eye the way 'House of Music' did, and still does. What Raphael Saadiq, D'wayne Wiggins and Timothy Christian Riley put together back in late '96 was something heartfelt that means more to me than words can really explain. But I will try my best to. The recurring theme of this album is what makes a man a man and a woman a woman, explored with both frankness and slyness. Since that's what we all are trying to figure out, there is not one person who would not be able to relate to some song on this album. True to the wonderful black and white cover photo of the trio sitting around in what appears to be a studio jam session with several other musicians, this album has the looseness and feel of just that: a jam session. As if they all sat and down and recorded these songs live in the studio, no mixing, no overdubbing, just pure, uninhibited music.

Now, let's get to the music itself. The album opens with 'Thinking of You', a classic song that really sounds like something Al Green would have recorded. Far from a cheap imitation though, this is still all their own work. With beautiful guitar work and a backbeat that sounds like its in the borroughs of ghetto soul, this is a perfect way to start off this album. From there, it moves into the lightweight and sweet-sounding 'Top Notch' which is incidently my least favorite number, but still far from bad. Now on to 'Let's Get Down', the album's first single featuring Compton rapper DJ Quik. This is just an effortlessly funky dance song about the fast lane and clubbin' life. The beat sways and slides as the two perfectly compliment each other, jumping between Quik's witty and wonderfully funny raps to Saadiq's excellent vocals. After that uptempo club song comes the honey-dripped 'Til Last Summer', an achingly beautiful ballad with Saadiq turning in one of his most impressive falsetto vocal performances. His passionate moaning 'ohhhh-oh-oh-ohhh' on the final vamp of the song is breathtaking. Up next is 'Lovin' You', a more uptempo song with a nice horn arrangements and vocals, looking at the more positive side of finding love. Anyone who has at one time known a strong love in their life will feel this song on every level, the responsibility, the addiction, the trust, the kinda love thats almost a spiritual thang. Even at nearly six minutes long, I'm always kind of sad when the song ends. Those last two numbers 'Til Last Summer' and 'Lovin' You', odes to unbrideled and uncompromising love, are the set up for the bar-none BEST song on the album. 'Still a Man' is an achingly beautiful ballad and my personal favorite song of ALL TIME. It gradually builds from a languid slow-pace to heart-breaking dramatic pleas. It's a story I know all too well, and Saadiq imprints a personal passion in it like I've never in my life heard. Stretching over seven minutes long, it never once wavers from the initial feeling. It only gets stronger. Saadiq's cries and pleas for understanding and love are just breathtaking. Even after the song seems to have hit its emotional peak and then dies down, the vibe is just too strong to leave at that, so the group keeps it going as Saadiq sings and sings and sings over the instrumental until there is nothing left to say. This album is worth the price for that song ALONE. The bouncy and upbeat sounds of 'Don't Fall in Love' come in next, although musically pleasant, the lyrics are a warning to those who fall in love easily. A quiet piano solo and a monologue from Saadiq murmuring that "Love, true love makes no sense at all.... it just is, what it is" leads into 'Holy Smokes & Gee Whiz', another brilliant and touching song. The title may sound a little corny, but you've really just got to ease into his vibe here, and you will definitely feel it. Just as you had closed your eyes and eased yourself into a nice little nook with that last song, suddenly the uptempo partyin' mood of 'Annie May' kicks in and jolts you back up. This song is not nearly as meaningful as the rest, but it is incredibly infectious, all about a sexy, fast-living girl, something of a gold-digger, who aims to make it in life, but can't make up her mind about anything. Next up is 'Let Me Know', another incredibly tender ballad of filled with longing and tears. That beautiful number is followed by 'Tossin' and Turnin', a hypnotic and sensual song for the bedroom that has the aura of real love, not just lust. Next up is 'Wild Child', my second least favorite song, but still a confident and carefree jam and a nice precursor to the final song 'Party Don't Cry', which is actually a very deep and uplifting number. In my darkest hours, this song has really inspired me to push forward, and, maybe I'm laying it on a little thick, but it has helped me to almost conquer my fear of death. It is the perfect finale to an album that covered every base, nook and cranny of love and life, men and women, laughter and tears, all the day-to-day things that us people who live for love are dealing with. 'House of Music' closes with a final interlude of a solo piano reprise of 'Lovin' You', a sunny, spirited instrumental, leaving the listener with a cool, swaying, and reflective ending to a perfect album.

Through my ups and downs and pitfalls in my relationship, this has been the music that has provided me with an ease to my tension and pain. It's kind of odd, but none of the other three albums that Tony Toni Tone recorded even come close to the musical and artistic greatness of this, which was their last album. They were one of the groups that evolved into something much better with time. You always knew they had greatness deep within them, and it was just screaming to get out during those first few albums. Then, finally, with 'House of Music', it was just all unleashed. And, oh, whatta experience it was. Hmmm, well, I think that's all I have to say. Get in touch with your emotions an' pick up this album.

Tony Toni Toné's last album was great. Some listeners might have been a little bewildered because the music doesn't sound quite the same as their previous work. That is, this album has more pure soul songs and less straight R&B songs. But it's a great collective regardless.

This album never runs out of highlights. There are funky tracks like "Let's Get Down" (which still bumps today), "Lovin' You", and "Annie May". And the midtempo songs aren't bad either, like "Top Notch", which cleverly interpolates a line from Ice Cube's "It Was A Good Day". They can even turn the simplest lyrics into jams, as evidenced by "Thinking Of You".

And what would a Tony Toni Toné album be without some dope ballads? "Still A Man" is definitely worth mentioning, but "Holy Smokes & Gee Whiz" is my favorite song on the album. "Til Last Summer", where Dwayne Wiggins' falsetto really delivers, is also great.

Looking at this album in retrospect, though, I'm not exactly surprised that the group disbanded after it, because if you pay close attention, it didn't really sound like they were working well together for the most part. If Dwayne wrote and sang lead on a song, for example, it appeared that Raphael was nowhere to be found. Also, with the exception of "Thinking Of You", most of the rest of the songs are written by Raphael OR Tim and Dwayne.

Oh well, at least they went out on a good record. And if you like this, you should pick up Dwayne Wiggins' solo debut Eyes Never Lie. Although this album deserves five stars, that album beats it.

Yeah, "Sons of Soul" was probably the most bally-hooed album they ever recorded, but THIS album is Triple-T at their creative peak. It's just sad that no sooner than they released the album that they broke up. They did go out on a high note.

I can actually listen to this album in its entirety. While I love songs like "Let's Get Down" and "Lovin' You", I always preferred D'Wayne Wiggins' voice over Saadiq's. Hence my favorite songs are "Holy Smokes and Gee Whiz", "Annie Mae" and "Party Don't Cry."

Regardless of my preferences, though, one thing is clear. D'Wayne and Saadiq need each other. I liked D'Wayne's solo album, but I can't say the same for Saadiq's work. When these two guys are together, though, the chemistry is explosive.
This is their crowing achievement.

Loved "Sons of Soul" but I still wasn't expecting anything quite this good on the next album. Tony! Toni! Tone! had a good run and I figured they wouldn't have much left to offer in the late 90's because frankly not many groups did. You can put this album on and allow the music to seep into the crevices of your soul.

20 years from now, people will look back and there will be a demand for this type of music. They'll still be asking for Tony Toni Tone.

Everything that has been said about "House of Music" is correct. That it was one of the better albums of the 1990's. And it may be one of the most well played, well produced albums of the last 20 years.

As a musician, I can tell you that one of the hardest types of music to play is the ballad. It can be any type of ballad, whether in 4/4 or in 6/8, due to having to stay on time of a slow song, and players have a tendence to "rush it". Studio cats in Detroit, Philadelphia and Memphis made a name for themselves mastering the ballads thoughout the 1960s and 70s.

It is easy to believe that cuts like "Wholly Smokes...", "Still A Man", "Let Me Know" and "Wild Child" were done by 60s session players. But it is more amazing that these tunes were actually done by modern day musicians, due to the fact that with synth and sample heavy R&B, there's not a lot of musicianship to learn from these days (sorry, but I have be real!). The horn arrangements are well done, the rhythym section is tight, the guitar work is great and vocals are on point. A must have for modern-day musicianship.

If ever there were an album that you could play over and over without ever getting tired of it, this is it! 'House Of Music' is a classic. Every song will move you in some way. "Thinking Of You" is smooth, Al Green-flavored R&B that'll have you tapping your foot and singing along. "Top Notch" is laid back Funk with a unique rhythm. "Let's Get Down" is a lively dance tune with P-Funk style hand-claps and a guest rap by DJ Quik. "Til Last Summer" is a beautiful ballad with falsetto vocals by D'Wayne Wiggins, not Raphael Saadiq as another reviewer said. This song reminded me of the mid-seventies ballads that the Ohio Players put out. "Lovin' You" is a great Raphael Saadiq tribute to Earth, Wind, & Fire. The lyrics on this tune are simple, yet magnificent in context with the music. The next song, "Still a Man", shows how Saadiq has grown not only as a songwriter, but as an arranger and producer. This song should've gotten some airplay, 'cause it's a classic. "Don't Fall In Love" takes us back to the days of Motown and the Temptations. D'Wayne Wiggins out-did himself with "Holy Smokes & Gee Whiz", an achingly beautiful ballad that has the Stylistics written all over it. A third Wiggins brother, Randall, makes an appearance on this tune singing the falsetto vocals. "Annie May" is an uptempo D'Wayne Wiggins tune that'll make you move. "Let Me Know" is another Saadiq classic that puts anything by Babyface to shame. The next two songs, "Tossin' & Turnin'" and "Wild Child", put TTT in a whole 'nother league from other R&B acts. "Tossin' & Turnin'", by D'Wayne Wiggins, has a slow, infectious groove coupled with surreal harmony vocals that accentuate D'Wayne's crooning to a T.
This is another song that should've gotten massive airplay. "Wild Child" is beautiful beyond words, with it's jazz-like arrangement, plus the great horn arrangements. If you want to let a woman know that you ARE her man, play this song to her. It was nice to hear both Saadiq and Wiggins sharing lead vocals on this one. This song is another example of Saadiq's growth as a songwriter. "Party Don't Cry" is a mellow Wiggins tune with a message of encouragement. The CD ends with a "Lovin' You" piano solo that almost builds into an overture. In my opinion, this was the best Tony Toni Tone LP of all. By listening to it, you'd never know that there was massive internal strife going on between the Tonies during the recording of this LP that led to the break-up of the group. I love the work that Saadiq and Wiggins did seperately, but I really hope that they get back together soon.

I'll keep it short because the ones before me have got it goin' on. Read their reviews as well, because they are very insightful commentaries on one of the greatest R&B bands that put their toonz on a disc. TTT are remarkable musicians, songwriters and arrangers. House of Music has a great 70s sound for those like me who are into classic soul styles. I would disagree with anyone who says this is a rehashing of old styles. If anything, it builds and imporves upon it. Besides, I have had enough of soul simplicity, let's get to the bomb, and this one covers it easily.

R&B fans don't wait. BUY IT NOW !!!!!

Hé Frenchies, achetez-le tout de suite et découvrez TTT, un vrai maître de SOUL. Arrêtez d'écouter des trucs superficiels. Paix à tous.

The trio has put together a fitting tribute to the soul sounds of the past 30 years. Every cut is reminiscent of the best from Al Green to Earth, Wind, & Fire to the Dramatics. It is obvious that these guys know their "roots." Although three years old, the disc, like its musical heritage, is timeless.

This was one of those rare birds that I could play it from beginning to end and not skip! It had good dance music (Let's Get Down, Annie Mae) but its strength is the ballads like "I've Been Thinking Of You", "Last Summer","Party Don't Cry" and "Still A Man."

Put it this way, my own mom who HATES nearly everything that is put out today music-wise, even liked this album! She listened to my copy back when it first came out and got one of her own that she still plays here and there!

Tony, Toni, Tone was one of the greatest groups ever! Not just R & B but groups PERIOD! I would put them in nearly the same category as The Isley Brothers, The Eagles, Prince and his various groups, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and KISS. Though they are from different walks of music, they influenced many groups and artists of their respective eras and even now their impact is still felt. I wish they were still together but let's be glad we still have their music even if the group is no more.

Back to the review, this one is essential R & B and worth the money!

But I wish the good one's didn't break-up. I wish the good one's stayed around forever. I wish we all grew old together. Unfortunately, that's not reality, in the real world, good bands break-up. In the real world great bands break up too! TTT was one of those great bands that will be forever missed. 'House of Music,' was probably the single most complete work they ever produced. It's edgy, funkie and original. It's sounds better now than it did when it was first released; which, in my opinion, is the mark of a classic piece of musical work.