My Soul

Leela James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Stax
• ASIN: B0034BW938
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the very first track on her 2005 debut album Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back - pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music's deep and powerful roots. My Soul, set for release on May 25, 2010, marks Leela James' debut on Stax Records. The move to Stax - the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half century - is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition. The new album comes on the heels of high praise from soultracks.com, the online source for all things soul and R&B, who recently bestowed a 2009 Readers' Choice Awards to James in the category of Female Vocalist of the Year. Indeed, James has come to own the music that has inspired her since her teenage years. Her commanding live performances have become can't-miss thrillers, placing her among today's most electrifying international concert draws.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw, impassioned, beautiful!, May 25, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: My Soul (Audio CD)

Leela James' new CD "My Soul" perfectly showcases her raw and fiery vocals. Upbeat Retro Funk/Soul songs (no remakes this time) with some given a contemporary Hip Hop sheen. Songs like the churning "I ain't new to this", "So cold", "I want it all" (on which she passionately tells us she wants 40 acres and a mule, a platinum record, free education, to kill all disease and the war to cease, among other desires), and the bouncy pair of the horn-sprinkled "Party all night", and "Let it roll".

Everything else ranges from midtempo to slow; the beautiful ballad "Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgetable" (with the creamy vocals of Raheem DeVaughn), the Staple Singers-style "Tell me you love me" (on which she reminds me of Joss Stone, it has a great guitar solo) the lulling "Supa luva", the groovy Prince-style "If it's wrong", and the stunning "It's over" (with some helium-filled vocal flourishes).

Highlight though has got to be "The fact is", a lush ballad with sporadic bursts of bass and a seventies-style spoken bridge. Absolutely fabulous, as is the whole album.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leela James delivers yet another great album, May 30, 2010

By 

Lucky Sevens "music aficianado" (Tiger Town, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Soul (Audio CD)

Leela James released her new album "My Soul" a year after her all-covers album "Let's Do It Again". She does the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary- not bad for someone who is still in her mid-20's. The album starts off with "I Ain't New To This" in which she fancies herself as a music industry veteran, while taking a brief swipe at her former label Warner Bros. Records for their lack of promotion of her 2005 debut "A Change Is Gonna Come". Speaking of her debut album, one of the producers that worked on it appears on "My Soul"- Chucky Thompson, who produced the Raheem DeVaughn assisted "Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgettable" and the two 60's inspired tracks "Party All Night" and "Let It Roll". Andrea Martin, who also wrote Melanie Fiona's "Give It To Me Right" pens the first single "Tell Me You Love Me". Ray Murray (one-third of the production team Organized Noize) produces "I Want It All" which sounds a lot like N.E.R.D.'s song "Don't Worry About It" from their 2004 album "Fly Or Die". Orthodox & Ransum close the album with the songs "If It's Wrong" and "It's Over". This album is heavily rooted in retro soul, with the exception of "Supa Lova" and "So Cold" which sound like obvious attempts for commercial radio. In a nutshell, Leela's new album is pretty good, albeit rather brief. This album is a must own for this year.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A (Got to add this to my collection) Album, May 27, 2010

By 

James Powell "Jp Soul" (Mission, KS, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Soul (Audio CD)

This is my first time writing a review on any album, but just knew I had to do this one. The woman is incredible. Incredible voice, style, stage presents. Do I sound like a fan, I am for sure. Ever since I heard her first album, and then the live show on video, I've been in love with her music and voice. This album for sure puts her over the top in the solid gold ones. From "I Ain't New To This", to the last track "It's Over". Wish there was more of her. (I mean her Music). Get this; a must have.

Jp soul
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