Lost & Found

Ledisi | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: August 28, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve Forecast
• ASIN: B000RO8UAQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,826 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > Jazz > Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ledisi, whose name does not rhyme with "release me" (it's LED-duh-see), nevertheless sounds like she's hit upon freedom and sweet salvation on Lost And Found, her third CD and the first on a major label (Verve). And it's not just a matter of the third time being the charm: Though she's long been the object of love from critics--2002's jazz-themed Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue earned props for its depth and nuance, and her contribution to 2004's Luther Vandross tribute, Forever, For Always, For Luther, also prompted breathlessness--her focus this time out is less on music that'll win her respect and more on the kind that'll render her a mainstream R&B favorite. Which is to say it's a much different and more accessible record than its predecessors, the kind that comes first from the heart, then from the head. First single "Alright" grooves insistently and with deep reserves of attitude; "I Tried"--a tell-all about a doomed relationship--packs a rhythmic wallop as well as an excellent set of lyrics; and "Upside Down" gets fuel from fierce, infectious guitar funk. Those are just a sampling of what makes this an instantly diggable (and, at 16 tracks, likably long) set. Straight up is sometimes a hard road for artists who value more than their sales rank or chart position to follow, but for Ledisi it's the way to go--what turns up in this particular Lost And Found is her groove; her ticket to stardom is likely in there with it. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

Named by Billboard Magazine as one of the Top 10 Faces to Watch in 2007, the acclaimed Bay Area-based vocalist and songwriter makes her major label debut on Verve Forecast with a show-stopping blend of soul, funk, gospel, jazz and R&B on Lost and Found.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ledisi's breakout?, September 23, 2007

By 

Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost & Found (Audio CD)

I was really looking forward to this one by one of my 'Unsung Heroes' of modern soul. Ledisi's last album Soul Singer, was nothing short of a masterpiece if you ask me, and is now difficult (not to mention expensive) to lay hands on by all accounts. My best friend prepared me for this new one though by playing me "Alright", from her MySpace page a month or so ago. I was sold on the album on the strength of that song alone.

The album kicks off with the banging 1min 44sec intro, "Been Here" and it's so good, I so wish they had made it into a full song. The next few tunes are nothing special. They're not bad, just nothing special. "You And Me" sounds like something Angie Stone might have recorded (and that's NOT meant a compliment). As for "Best Friend", I've lost count of the number of times I've heard the I'm-in-love-with-my-best-friend thing done before. I yawned literally, the first time I heard it and it hasn't grown on me yet.

Things finally get cooking with "Alright" though; already a firm favourite of mine on this album and an instant classic in my view. "Think Of You", "Today" (bouncing with positivity, that one), "Get To Know You" (a great late summer nodder), "Upside Down", "In The Morning", "I Tried", and the simple yet beautiful title ballad "Lost & Found" (with an inspired violin solo by Karen Briggs), are all standout tracks. The only problem I have with "We Are One", the duet with Rahsaan Patterson, (look out for his upcoming album Wines & Spirits), was that at 1min 48secs, it was way too short. "The One" falls back into Okay But Nothing Special territory but "Someday" pulls the proceedings right back up to stellar quality. The album closes with the outro version of "Been Here" and once again, this desperately needs to be made into a full-length song somewhere along the line. Maybe if/when Ledisi performs it live?

On balance this is a great set and it should propel Ledisi clear from the underground or 'best kept secret' status right into the mainstream. Verve is a label with a solid reputation so it's fingers crossed. Here's a real singer, doing real music. Great production by the lady herself, alongside Rex Rideout, Luther Hanes, Lorenzo Johnson, Jamey Jaz and Sundra Manning. I really hope this turns out to be the breakout album for Ledisi that it deserves to be.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Woman Needs To Be Heard, Ya'll!!!! - (SHE IS WORKIN' ME!!), August 28, 2007

By 

Raider Jack "Jackie D Gray-Romeyn" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lost & Found (Audio CD)

Since "Soulsinger", her first studio project, the Bay Area's own Ledisi has shown up in a variety of different places giving wondrous performances and is already amassing an impressive body of work. Her work on the Luther tribute album, with Miguel Migs in various house mixes, a guest spot with the Braxton Brothers, and a blistering cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Devotion" more than made me ready for her next project.

While I agree with the first reviewer that this is by no means her best work to date, I do submit it is a continuation of noteworthy work from an incomparable vocalist and lyricist equally at home with R&B, dance, and smoky jazz (see her second project - simply phenomenal)

Ledisi has already evolved into one of the those artists where it is simply futile to put a finger on "the best this or the best that." She is definitely one where you simply learn to revel in the next level of her aritistry.

This is indeed a lighter set than her introductory one where she tackled such poignant subjects as friendship, domestic abuse, seuxual abuse, and even, yes, snoring (a stitch..)

But there is no mistaking her unbelievable vocal abilities - she simply breathes life into her music and has crafted an individual styling like no other.

While I give this particular project a 4, simply because she does have better work currently out there, as an emerging and important voice, I give Miss Ledisi a resounding TWELVE!!!!

Have already ordered my copy and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.
I hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiihgly recommend!!!!!!!


**September 1 - CD arrived!!!! Hearing for the first time on a REAL sound system - I changed my mind!!! BEST WORK TO DATE!!! I AM NOT WELL! - MIss Thang is OFF THE HOOK. Shades of Sarah, Ella, Dinah, and a WHOLE LOTTA LEDISI! - simpy wondrous - excellent artistry!!!!!....oh yeah, (system wouldn't let me change it) FIVE STARS....IN A BIG WAY!!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She will turn you Upside Down..., February 7, 2008

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lost & Found (Audio CD)

Ledisi Anibade Young (known professionally by the moniker Ledisi) is up for 2 Grammys this Sunday; best newcomer, and best R&B album. "Lost and found" is her major label debut (she'd released 2 CDs independently previously) and while fans of those (jazzier) CDs have stated that this isn't quite up to those, it's still a very good CD, far superior to most R&B out today. The mood is mellow and jazzy (some scatting, and jazz piano) with lovely harmonies.

The CD opens with crowd sounds and a soulful intro "Been here", replete with James Brown style yelps. "Joy" is a groovy mid tempo song, "You and me" with its scratchy bass line wouldn't sound out of place on a D'Angelo CD, and scat sprinkled "Best friend" is also nice. More songs along these lines are "Alright", "Get to know you" (with a gently pulsing bass line), the quiet storm feel of "In the morning", the melodramatic piano title track (lovely violin flourishes, and an impassioned vocal delivery), the all too brief "we are one" (with Rahsaan Patterson), and "Someday".

Upping the tempo a wee bit are the piano laced "Think of you" (with scratches, awesome song!), "Today" (with funky horns), "Upside down" (great percussion, some scatting, groovy bass line; another favourite of mine), the more sparse "I tried", and the acoustic "The one" (breezy harmonies). Closing the CD is an outro "Been here", which is a continuation of the intro, with her thanking us for coming (to the show, I guess). The pleasure is all ours Ledisi.

This CD reminds me of "I am" by Chrisette Michele; groovy jazzy soul with a live sound, performed by a superb vocalist.