Customer Reviews

Love Stories

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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?

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.....

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 !

I remember going to a Record store to purchase a CD. When I purchased it, they gave me a sample CD with a whole bunch of Misc. songs on it. I went home and listen to the Misc. CD to see if I needed to throw it away. He was one of the Artists on the CD. I thought it was a Donny Hathaway song I never heard of before. I looked on the back cover of the CD, and there it was....."Frank McComb" Then, at the bottom of his name it said, "In stores now." Shooooooot.......I put back on my clothes and immediately rushed back to the record store. I've been a fan since then.

Frank McComb has brought the best of both worlds together on this album - he successfully mixes jazz and R&B together to create a wonderful blend of tracks. I'm not a big jazz fan myself, but I love R&B/Soul. Frank's vocals and lyrics are thrilling, I just can't enough. Obviously, the guy grew up listening to Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway. When you listen to him, you almost wonder if Donnie's back or something. He's incredibly smooth and has a tasty luscious tone throughout the album.

I have had this album since it came out - and I'm ready for another one from him. There's no one out there really like him, except maybe Buckshot LeFonque - who doesn't have nearly as many good tracks as Frank.

Great purchase for jazz fans, good purchase for R&B fans.

I purchased Frank McComb's Love Stories last week and I have keep it rotating in my cd player since. McComb's a first rate artist of the highest caliber -- a talent lyricst, a moving vocalist, a sensitive key board player. Love Stories has the strenght to endure beyond the years.

All that I can say is that I have been a fan of Frank McComb for the past three years. The Love Stories Album does not get the recognition which is so heavily deserved. Anyone who does not own this album in their collection, do NOT have a collection. I absolutely admire his talent. He is truly a passionate accomplished artist. He deserves the highest recognition possible. I only pray that one day he gets what he deserves. This album should have made Grammy status. Shame on Sony for not putting him #1 on their list of priorities.

If you like Kenny Latimore and Brian McKnight, then you'll love this album. I heard it in the CD store and I fell in love with his voice. I think he sounds like Stevie Wonder, but my fiance said he sounds like Donnie Hathaway. I think this album should have be in the Smooth Jazz vocal catergory, but R&B lovers will like it just the same.

I know it may sound kind of funny, but it's really not. In this day and age, most people just buy an album from a particular artist for maybe 2 or 3 songs that they either heard on the radio or through music videos while discarding the rest of the material within. Well you certainly won't get that here with Frank McComb's refreshing debut (which, oddly enough, was shelved by Sony a FULL YEAR before its release). Though each song carries its own weight, all of them are expertly woven together through McComb's impeccable vocals and keyboard work. One can easily sense he's a HUGE Donny Hathaway fan at heart, which is not such a bad thing at all. The lyrics are also well-done, giving a non-abrasive feeling to the listener who may have had enough of the usual vulgar language that's running rampant right now. The rest of the music is provided by real musicians, something that today's music (R&B especially) COULD USE A LOT MORE OF!

For those reasons, you really should buy Frank McComb's album FOR THE ALBUM. Music like this just isn't done in the same capacity anymore. So please show the music industy how much you've grown tired of those cookie-cutter, producer-driven flash-in-the-pans and lazy, hackneyed artists that cut corners by neglecting talented musicians in favor of beat machines, samples, and oversynthesized production by picking up this worthwhile effort. Trust me, they'll listen (in spite of their short attention spans, lol).

The best artist i have heard for years kicks all those
wannabees why have those crak-head record companies not pushed
this guy through i can not think of 1 artist apart from
D'angelo who even comes close to Frank McComb.
Can not wait for new material
Hurry up Frank i'm missing Quality music right now