Customer Reviews

Next Step

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The James Brown - Derrick Monk collaboration yields a third consecutive winner. Starting with "I'm Back" in '98, on Georgia Lina/Mercury, then "The Merry Christmas" album the following year, on Goeorgia Lina/Groove, now "The Next Step" on Fome Records, new and old fans can enjoy several Grammy-quality cuts.
The new CD has much of the same aural qualities of the Christmas album, a soft-edged chorus underlining the vital lead vocals, spare but effective instrumentation. The opener, "Automatic", is Top 10 material, a successful hip-hop/funk; an engaging melody and rhythm. Track 2, "Send Her Back To Me" is reminiscent of things like "Good-bye My Love", or "I Guess I'll Have To Cry, Cry, Cry" from 1968, an expression of a man's remorse in not following his heart and now trying to retrace the steps. "Nothing But A Jam" is another entertaining commercial cut in the same progressive groove we've witnessed since "I'm Back" - it's listenable *and* danceable. "You've Got What It Takes", with Tomi Rae, sounds like an alternate take of the same tune from the '98 effort, listed as "What It Takes". It's the well-known Pop Classic, with a fresh new fun interchange. The lady is the star on "It's Time", a Soul-retro ballad if you will. The "Please, Please" feel supports the lyric about the positive turning point in a growing relationship.
"Good And Natural" is really the only "James Brown riff" here; it's in the smooth, new groove but is an instant dance-floor motivator.
"Killing Is Out, School Is In", is the recent single, but has some variation in this take.

James Brown, although his voice isn't at it's peak, can still sing with passion and soul. Listen to "Send Her Back to Me" for proof. The production offers horn backed arrangements, excellent backing vocals, and as always, great beats. He offers music that has some of the flavor of his best work, but isn't trying to repeat himself. This is new music (except for "Baby You've Got What It Takes") that offers better music than most recent R&B. Check it out. The Godfather is alive and giving us music we can enjoy and appreciate. The more you listen to this cd, the more you'll enjoy it.

everybody that knows Me knows that I think the World of James Brown.the Man is a Walking Music Course&History all onto Himself.Arguably the Most Influential Cat in Music over the past 50 years.but His Work has been Hit&Miss for easily going on 25 Years&this Set continues in that vein."Killing is Out,School is in" reminds me of the Postive Energy&Uplift that Older JB Jams use to Bring.you get that vibe every now&then but overall not much is happening.but nevertheless whenever JB drops a Album I gotta give it a spin or two because He will always Command My Ears though Albums like this&others over the past couple of Decades don't hold my attention like His Older Albums did but still gotta give the "Godfather" a Roll Call.

james brown is god so he always gets five stars, but ever since he left polydor records his musicians were always trying to get all cliche hip hop rap gay style instead of raw dirty funk and it just does not work well at all.

First of all I want to say that I am a true JB fan. I have learned all his horn lines ( trumpet ). Any band I play with, must play some James. This cd has lost the "fat sound" that he carried for years. His bass player, Fred Thomas, told me that he suggested to James to keep the music in the pocket but James didn't listen. Well this cd proves it. The sound is very thin and not the typical James Brown. I must be critical because I started listening to James in 1959. I always wanted to play in his band but the Air Force got me first.

Respectfully,
Chuck King

it's James Brown in raw form. updated beat with the new hip-hop beat with James Brown own funk added to create the James Brown sound - only like he can do it. Shamefully this album "The Next Step" is not being promoted and play on the radio air waves. I, have played various songs and people ask me when did that come out and where can i get it. I call the radio stations to play a song off the album and they say they don't have the album - same with the record shop. overall I like it and people that have listen to it. James Brown still doing it - Godfather of Soul. go buy it and hear it for yourself.

it's James Brown in raw form. updated beat with the new hip-hop beat with James Brown own funk added to create the James Brown sound - only like he can do it. Shamefully this album "The Next Step" is not being promoted and play on the radio air waves. I, have played various songs and people ask me when did that come out and where can i get it. I call the radio stations to play a song off the album and they say they don't have the album - same with the record shop. overall I like it and people that have listen to it. James Brown still doing it - Godfather of Soul. go buy it and hear it for yourself.

This cd sounds nothing like the true style and down home, groovy,funk of James Brown. Hip Hop music is not his style. Killing is out School is in, is about the best cut on the cd. His band which is the best in all the land is not heard or reconized. I recently attended his New Years Eve concert in Atlantic City, NJ Trump Marina, He turned the house out! Performed from 10:30 pm until 1:50 am. The Soul Brother is Truly The Hardest Working Man In Show Business (even at 69 years young)