Customer Reviews

Music Fan First

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've followed Roberson's largely underground career, Christmas comes early for you this year. This album, 15 years into his professional career and delivering his sixth studio recording, is hands-down his best record.

I say the above acknowledging that Roberson has never put out a wholly bad record. He is a frighteningly consistent musician, releasing music that is earnest, fun, danceable and should be on R&B radio save that it's too good. He sounds better than half the field of any given year, has better grooves, and this record still beats all previous efforts. Roberson packs more lyrical content into one song than many artists do in five, owed in great part to a rap-metered style of singing that requires more words to fill the same space as a typical crooner. You'd think with that kind of space to fill he'd resort to the kind of lyrics that radio is filled with now: trite, club-easy verbal assaults on your intelligence. On the contrary, Roberson is an extremely good storyteller, and while almost all of his songs cater to the drama of the nightlife and love they never dip into trifling territory and sometimes elevate the game entirely. The persona-like lyrics of "The Hunger" is some serious narrative skill, and Roberson does this sort of thing for 17 tracks. This is R&B for grown folks that will still move the backs of your kids without offending either of you. Even a clear attempt at catering like "Howard Girls" manages to groove so hard you can't help but to enroll in the premise. Roberson's effort here is refreshing and, most importantly, good music. It's probably the best R&B record I've heard all year. It's at least the best R&B record I've heard since Foreign Exchange's "Leave It All Behind".

It does bear mentioning that the record starts off strong and starts to thin at the end. If this record were only 12 or 13 tracks long instead of 17, you wouldn't skip a single song on this album.

Standout tracks include "The Newness", "The Hunger", "A Tale of Two", "Still" and "How Could She Do It".

I've been shopping on Amazon for years and very rarely write a review. However, this CD is a gem. Eric Roberson is an artist I've been meaning to pick up for years, but never got around to doing so. Once I caught the "Dealing" video on VH1 Soul, I immediately ordered this CD. I love this CD so much, that I just placed an order for everything else in Roberson's catalog. From the opening track, The Newness to the end, this CD doesn't have a bad track on it. If you like R&B, Neo-Soul, or just plain good music, pick up this CD and listen. Love your work Erro!

I'm not one for writing reviews, since I have better things to do with my time, but I felt compelled to right one for this. Mainly, because he is an independent artist that is better than anything on the radio right now. 17 tracks of pure goodness, Usually there is always some weak links on an album, but this is an exception. Most of his songs would be 5 star, while a handful would be a 4. My personal favs are "Howard Girls", I love to reminisce over this one. "Borrow You" and "The Newness" and tracks you can groove too...I won't go over all 17 tracks, but I have listened to this CD numerous times and have never skipped a track. My only grip is that I took so long to discover this man's talent, but thats my own fault. Enough with the jibba jabba, go ahead and add this to your cart, you won't regret it.

This @#$% is FRESH, or maybe I'm caught up in the "Newness". Right when you think all hope is lost for authentic artists, someone like Eric Roberson comes along. I have one of Eric's previous projects, "...Left" which I thoroughly enjoy, but I think this is his best by FAR!!! If you're looking for the real deal, this is it. Erro has the vocal delivery of Musiq, with complex and intricate lyrics of Prince with a Marvin Gaye vibe.... Plain and simple, this is THE CD to own....

Eric consistently keeps our minds and hearts in the right place with his lyrical clarity and musical melodies. So innovative and introspective, who could ask for more. This brother has really got it together in the music department and I'm sure his gifts spill overflowingly into his personal life.

Much Love & Peace to you & yours from an earth supporter & fan.

I concur with Jill Scott who said, "Eric Roberson's voice is like a piece of red velvet cake." I hear the growth lyrically and musically, and his voice remains of supreme quality. I am a fan forever.

...and I've listened to a hell of a lot of records!

I had the pleasure of seeing Erro live not too long ago at the Time Lounge in Norfolk, VA. He performed as part of the weekly "Fuzzy Wednesdays", which is held by the local The Fuzz Band. (Fuzz Band member Nakia Madry informed me that E.R. wrote some songs for the band's album). He turned the house out! Excellent performance. I also had the added bonus of speaking with him at the end of the night, snapping a picture with him and having him autograph a copy of Music Fan First for me. Not only is Erro a great artist but he's a great guy as well.

When Eric says he is a music fan first, he's not lying! MMF ranks one as his strongest works from an extremely strong career (one that's been completely independent, by the way). Eleven of the album's seventeen-song program are killer. "The Newness", "The Hunger", the brilliant "Tale of Two", "Borrow You", "Dealing" (featuring the beautiful, deep honey-brown vocals of Lalah Hathaway), "Still", "How She Could She Do It", "Further" (featuring T3 from Slum Village), "Howard Girls" (although I could have done without the fellas 'testifying' at the end), "Weekend Getaway", and the hypnotic "She" would have made a perfect album; it would have made for a soul album that no one in 2009 (or any recent year) could have touched. The additional of the six other tracks cloud MMF and keep it from earning a complete five stars. While none of them are terrible, they don't hold the same magic that the aforementioned eleven do. Yet the eleven highlights are so strong that MMF remains a must-buy for anybody who craves music that is soulful and original.

MMF is definitely grown-folks music. This ain't a milk mustache, bird-chested, young boy "boyfriend #2-birthday-sex-rockin'-that-thang-I-invented-sex" payola urban radio mainstream R&B party. Hence why someone as brilliant and skilled as Erro isn't played on Clear Channel radio. Not to sound arrogant but Erro and most of MMF is too good for the mainstream. It would be too much for that segment of the listening population to handle.

I wish Eric continued success. I definitely suggest going to see him in concert. His live show takes his already-excellent recordings to another level! The man is a beast!

So, I'm a new fan of Eric Roberson but I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Music Fan First. I was on the road coming back from my trip back home and listened to this CD for the ENTIRE 8 HOUR RIDE!!!! And I never got tired of listening to this genious NOT ONE TIME!!! Sorry for all the caps, but his music is very inspiring, intriguing, and always leaving me to listen to any of the songs just one more time!!! Keep doing your thang Eric!!!! I will be getting your other CD's and I am certain that I will LOVE them as much as I do this one!!!

What a great effort by Eric Roberson. I've never heard this dude's music until last Thursday. I heard 1/2 of "Borrow You" and I had to have "Music Fan First". I've been listening to this NONSTOP since last Thursday. I don't see myself not listening to this classic. I can't believe I didn't know this dude and what great music he puts out. Every song is great in it's own right. The album as a whole is so enjoyable, so relatable, so GENIUS.

So I searched Eric Roberson on MSN and it gives account to all the artists he's sang background and programmed vocal arrangement for. From Will Downing to Jill Scott to Musiq (which I can recognize now being a huge Musiq fan) to Vivian Green. This dude's been behind the scenes on great albums and artists, so his shot is too overdue.

I will be looking in to this dude's previous music for sure, and I'm now offcially hooked on "Erro". I'll look forward to seeing him in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia).

I've been a fan of Erro aka Eric Roberson since he came out with the New Jack flavored "The Moon" back in 1994. Since then, I have a been a collector of his music. I have enjoyed all of his albums, but there's something about this album that makes you say "Ok, he did his thing!" As a result of bringing the FIYAH to this album, he has been nominated for a Grammy for his song "A Tale of Two." From being "Caught Up in the Newness" to "Can't Get Enough" (bonus track), this album is a definitely one you can listen to from beginning to end without skipping tracks. I would highly recommend adding Music Fan First to your collection! You will NOT be disappointed!