Love Stories

Frank McComb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: March 14, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004RD0X
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,092 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Now that the genetic code of life has been broken, Frank McComb offers a glimpse of how that scientific breakthrough may affect the music world. With the musical DNA from Donny Hathaway's Fender Rhodes piano and Stevie Wonder's mini-Moog synthesizer, McComb's debut comes off as a romantic mutation of those famous musical genes. He's nowhere near the songwriter that they are just yet, but McComb's vocal texture is so eerily similar to those giants that his debut shouldn't qualify for what is being called "neo-soul" music. This is the real '70s thing--à la Hathaway's Extension of a Man period and Wonder's Music of My Mind. McComb obviously relishes his influences, and he benefits from the guiding production hand of his former boss in Buckshot LeFonque, Branford Marsalis. It also helps that he uses one core all-star jazz group throughout the 14-song set, including Marsalis's sax, Cameroonian Richard Bona's bass, and Russell Gunn's trumpet. The synth pieces have more spirit than the piano pieces, or, said another way, he does Stevie better than he does Donny, with "Love Natural" and "Wasting Your Time" among the best of the 12 originals that McComb displays. And he's not completely stuck in the past--"(They're Gonna Be) Looking at You" and "Listen to Your Heart" have trip-hop's drum & bass feel. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Era, April 3, 2000

By 

Michael Bowen "cobb_at_mdcbowen_dot_org" (Redondo Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Stories (Audio CD)

I have been waiting for this album for years. Why? Because I've been grooving to Buckshot LeFonque all this time, and Frank McComb is the brother behind all those slammin vocals. He was definitely the bomb on 'Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters' for me to take notice on the first Buckshot. But the three cuts on the second album? Amazing.

So two months ago, I'm in the Fry's in Manhattan Beach and this old dude tells me about the new Jeffrey Osborne album. I'm psyched about it and so I pick it up, but not before we commiserate about how it would have been so much better to get a new Peabo Bryson. Since I hang out on Amazon, I knew that McComb was going to hit soon. So I tell him to watch for it, and I find myself saying that McComb writes like Stevie Wonder and sings like Donny Hathaway. He tells me no way, and I have to check myself. Is McComb really all that? Two months ago, there was no way for me to tell.

Now I've finally got the album and I see that I got it backwards. On 'Love Songs' he mostly writes like Donny Hathaway and sings like Stevie Wonder. I'd rather have it mostly the other way around, and on several cuts he delivers just that, but I understand the commercial appeal needed on a debut solo album. Since he frames this LP with a couple of incredible vocal performances I have got to give the man five stars, even though 4 and a half is more like it.

So, do you remember the first time you heard Anita Baker? That is the impact this man is going to have on you. 'Love Songs' totally rearranges the floor plan for male R&B vocalists. But unlike Anita, Frank is not shy about showing some real gospel and jazz roots, and have no doubt, the man can blow. And guess what, he plays the piano too.

When you wish D'Angelo could write about grownup situations, Frank is the man. When you wish Eric Benet could stretch out some really serious vocal improvisations, Frank is right on it. When you wish Bobby McFerrin would throw down some serious love ballads for a change, McComb is belting it out. And if that's not enough, McComb has got the nerve to write a wedding ballad in the third person so that both men and women can sing the words. (and mark my words, you are going to hear THAT song forEVER)

If there is one flaw in 'Love Songs' it's that it's a little too formulaic as compared to McComb's Buckshot material. If you, like I, expected all piercing lyrics like, 'Better Than I Am', you will be 3/4 disappointed. Even with 14 tracks, I get the distinct impression that he could have done something deeper. I understand that he has got to be approachable and popular and I give him that, but every time I hear that Stevie Wonder flavor in his arrangement, I wish that he was a little more Donny Hathaway. So basically, you know that I'm trippin' because I'm doggin' the brother for being too much like one of the greatest pop songwriters in history. Then again, I have been waiting for years, and so have you. You just won't realize it until you hear this music.

Seeing as I only have 1,000 words, I make the following brief suggestions. Clear out a space where you used to have Sade. Or maybe put away those Luther Vandross CDs. Check your bank account and go buy 3 of these CDs, plus get the Buckshots just in case you slept on that. I guarantee you are going to wear it out. Plus, you are going to want to give one to someone you love. Then you'll want to keep one in your car and one in the house so you don't accidently scratch it moving back and forth. So maybe you'll even have to buy four.

'Love Songs' is not quite the monument of Lauren Hill's 'Education' and there is not a bomb track that absolutely floors you like Me'Shell Ndege O.'s first, but it's every bit as good as Tracy Chapman's debut, and better than Anita Baker's. I'd say it's about as good as 'Diamond Life'. Now the only question is, how long do I have to wait for the next Frank McComb album?

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Stories, June 2, 2000

By 

Vickie Beene Beavers "vbeene" (Atlanta, Ga. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Stories (Audio CD)

I have to admit I did sleep on McComb's vocals on Buckshot LeFonque but I'm awake now! This solo project is WONDERFUL! It takes me back to my childhood where I listened to love ballads that were TENDER, INVITING and SINCERE. Nothing forced or crass which unfortunately happens to be the theme for many of today's R&B.

Although there will be many comparisions to Hathaway & Stevie, with contemporary guest artists such as Brandford, Ray Fuller and others Frank still has his own style-very spiritual and jazzy. McComb's music expresses love naturally--pretty much as it happens. As he says "Friendship is the main ingredient for Love Natural". I expect to be friends with Frank McComb's music for a long time. And yes ladies....he definitely ain't hard to look at.

Thanks Brandford for producing Brother McComb's album and allowing us to share his music. This music reminds me of why I married my wonderful husband. He's a breath of fresh air.....

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Champagne, s'il vous plait !, August 27, 2000

By 

Torquemada "dunlopilo" (Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love Stories (Audio CD)

I am guilty for having ignored this cd too long ! What happened here is that I had heard a couple of tracks at a record store and I thought to myself "not bad, I'll have to listen to it again". And time went by until a couple of friends wrote to me saying that this album was really too much.

I ordered this on Amazon, grouping it with a couple of other cds, and I am stunned ! This cd is delightful, splendid, a must have in any respectable collection... The style on this cd, well you already read it through other reviewers : Wonder, Hathaway, at times Benson, but also Ronnie Foster or Herbie Hancock (on the caressing "If this is love" and "Love natural"). But don't think he is copying anything or anyone, which is what I like : he has his style. It is excellent pop-soul (more soul than pop though), finely balanced (upbeat songs such as "Looking at you", "Wasting your time", or sensual ones such as "Gotta find a way" should satisfy all moods) and technically impeccable (not a reproach can be made to how it sounds). Besides, the man is an artist because he composes, sings and plays instruments. So, who can ask for more ? The track I prefer is "Listen to your heart". Just close your eyes and tell me what you feel... I simply levitate.

This will probably not be a number one seller on the charts, for the reasons I mentioned at the beginning : very small, not to say NO promotion (have you seen it advertised ? Do you hear it a lot on the radios ? have you read a lot of critics in the press ?). I said "later", and many people just might never hear of this cd. But trust me, if you have good taste, you will love this cd, which is to me one of the releases of the year in its genre. Will "they" be consistent enough to nominate it for a Grammy (let's not dream of the award, see my review of Rashaan Patterson, Love in stereo)?

I want more of this. In the meantime, bon appetit !