Customer Reviews

Pink Elephant

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

N'Dambi is one of the most creative and talented singers/musicians of our time. She seems to be ever-changing, still, each and every song, each note is tastefully chosen. Her songs are not ruminative, compulsive or dragging, she's flexible, brilliant, her voice raw, full of emotion. Her blue notes are incredible, the songcraft on the album is exceptional. This cd is a definite milestone in soul and blues history, you'll see that. N'Dambi doesn't do "retro", this is fresh and genuinely satisfying. The songs are no nonsense, they don't imitate others, they avoid the major label industry characteristics.
There is no song titled "Pink elephant" on it - the album as a whole is the pink elephant, that is, the thing that you try to suppress but cannot, it keeps popping up in your mind. And the music on this painfully beautiful album is just like that - you cannot get it off your mind.
And no filler, guys - that's very rare.
A cohesive effort but versatile enough to be stimulating, not a safe one, though it may easily appeal to anyone interested in all the depths of good music. Her soul and blues is organic, unusual, complex and anxious, still, the melodies are sophisticated and catchy and not awkward. No impersonation, no "let's be ultrahip" sweat, no Winehouse- or Ledisi- or Badu- complexes, this is a truly great and highly musical album.
I feel like this is the album I've been waiting for for ages.

I'm a huge fan of N'Dambi and I hope that with this album she finally gets recognition that she deserves. N'Dambi is definitely very talented artist and this album is very soulful and sounds very refreshing when compared to the same formula songs that we keep hearing these days. For me, this is the best album I've heard this year and I'm sure I'll keep listening to it for years. There are no fillers and it's difficult to choose my favorite songs as all of them are great, but I'll try - Nobody Jones, Mind Blowing, Take It Out, Can't Hardly Wait, The World Is A Beat, Imitator. I highly recommend this album to all lovers of soul music, you won't be disappointed.

I recently stumbled across D'Ambi on the internet on another site that features independent artists. I had NEVER heard of her, but was pleasantly surprised when I heard her sing. I immediately fell in love with her voice. Now, here I am ten days later with her new CD added to my collection.

This album is truly one of the best albums out on the market. This is a nice CD to drive to, or to cuddle up with someone special and just enjoy the music of D'Ambi. This CD is SOLID from start to finish. Her vocal delivery is superb on EACH AND EVERY song.

Here are a few of my favorites: (1) L.I.E. (great funky tune), (2) Can't Hardly Wait (captivating groove), and (3) Nobody Jones; the whole CD is slammin, but these are the songs that continuously play in my head after the CD has stopped. If you like good R&B (not the stuff on radio today by the clones), this is the CD for you. You will not be disappointed.

For those of you that don't know, N'Dambi is not really a new artist. She has had two prior indie CDs that she self-produced while being one of Erykah Badu's background singers. Her Stax label release
was one I couldn't hardly wait to hear. It is fresh, mellow and tastefully naughty R & B without sounding like another mirror of Beyonce' or whomever else gets way too much radio airplay. N'Dambi is the full package. A true talent with natural beauty. I love her Angela Davis inspired afro. This throwback sistah has got pipes! Her voice is unique. It is smooth, sassy and one not easy to imitate. Being original is a rarity. N'Dambi will get to be a household name soon enough. This outing is just her first major indication of greatest to come.

This is one of the best R&B albums to come down the pike in a decade. No electronic slides of the voice, and none of the annoying vocal olympics that are so prominent in today's pop music. This is just straight ahead, soulful R&B, updated for the 21st century. N'Dambi ingeniously combines soul-deep inspiration and a sensual style of elegance and power. She is a name to be watched on the music scene.

Album was produced by the legendary Leon F. Sylvers, III, and features a couple of tracks that he co-wrote with another up and comer: Leon F. Sylvers, IV. The result is a most excellent album.

Best cuts: "L.I.E.," "Nobody Jones," "Can't Hardly Wait," "The World Is a Beat"

N'Dambi Pink Elephant is a superb listening pleasure. 12 tracks of funky soul music. Thanks to the production of Leon F Sylvers III. Love the live instrumentation feel of the Cd wish more artist would adopt this wonderful technique. Real drums,bass,keys,and guitar. Outstanding tracks are L.I.E,The One,Take It Out,Can't Hardly Wait and my fav The World Is A Beat. Please support real soul music by real soul artist.

AS A LONG TIME FAN & FOLLOWER OF N'DAMBI'S MUSIC , I MUST SAY EACH ALBUM BRINGS IT'S OWN UNIQUE VIBE ! THIS IS AN ARTIST WHO'S DOWNRIGHT EARNED HER RIGHT OF PASSAGE IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC . THERE'S NOTHING LIKE AN ALBUM THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SKIP ANY TRACK AND YOU GET INTO IT AND BECOME A PART OF THE FEELING THAT YOU HEAR UNDER THAT NEEDLE ! PEACE TO N'DAMBI ... SHE DOES IT AGAIN ! I NEVER EXPECTED ANYTHING LESS ! ANOTHER GREAT MASTERPIECE !

DJ KING JAMES
RHYTHM-N-SOUL RADIO
90.3 FM WHCR , NYC
every TUES from MIDNIGHT - 2AM
[...]

This is a really enjoyable set from N'Dambi that I wish would get more exposure but given the current state of r&b music (especially for females) it's doubtful that a wider audience will be introduced to this soulful artist through radio. As a whole, the musical arrangements & production are stellar and when coupled with N'Dambi's warm vocal styling, I truly enjoy listening to this entire album.

My favorite tracks:

L.I.E. - interesting metaphor used to detail a cheating husband using the L.I.E. to travel back & forth between his home and his mistress' place

THE WORLD IS A BEAT - excellent track, could not stay in my seat while this track played

OOO BABY - love the bass line playing throughout

THE ONE - think I like this more for the Isaac Hayes sample used but hey, it's still an enjoyable track

FREE FALLIN - manages to sound old school & nu school at the same time

MIND BLOWIN' - danceable mid tempo track

Overall this is a really accessible collection of songs by an artist whose voice I fell in love with while she performed as one of Erykah Badu's backing singers - I certainly hope that those who haven't heard of her give this disc a chance.

This lady reminds me a lot of Betty Wright with her no-nonsense sass and vocal delivery. Some may consider Betty a second-tier diva to her contemporaries like Aretha, Chaka, and Diana; yet her music was just as influentual. Likewise with N'ambi, her music isn't flashy like Beyonce, Rihanna, or even Alicia Keys. Nevertheless, it is what its supposed to be...good soul music. L.I.E., Nobody Jones, Can't Hardly Wait and Take it Out are pure urban groove and grit. I also like the downhome Southern Soul feel of Daisy Chain... playful and satiric, but real all the same. And having the old Solar Records tandem of Leon Sylvers III and Steven Shockley handling the production was a pleasant surprise...I thought they were kicking back in their retirement chairs collecting royalties from those old Lakeside/Shalamar records! Nice. I hope she gets an opportunity to make a more records like this. The fluff and spit-shine of crossover R&B is doing mad damage the legacy of pure uncut Soul Music. Folks, please support the second and third tier Soul musicians, they are keeping our music alive. And thank you N'ambi, you've done well.

I had never heard of N'Dambi until Baisden after Dark on TV1 and I wasn't that impressed initially but once I began to research her music and really listen to her vocals! A-tothe-Ma-andyes-Zing! She's hot and this album is really smoking! Numbers 1 & 9 are my all time favorites! Great for any body who really appreciates musc and a great vocalist!