Customer Reviews

Pot of Gold (Dig)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the 1st Alice Russell CD I've bought, and it is phenomenal. I bought it after hearing a snippet of her cover of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, and the purchase was worth it for that song alone. She delivers across the board, though, with classic soul, neo-soul, jazz and pop. I highly recommend this CD is you like Amy Winehouse, Jill Scott, Lauren Hill or just good music.

Alice has an incredibly soulful voice. Her arrangement on "Crazy" was remarkable. I love the song from Gnarls Barkley; so I was surprised to find her remake of it, in a completely different style, equally pleasing. I've never heard of this group before, but after listening to it on AOL Free CD Listening Party, I had to buy it.

The former First Lady of Tru Thoughts has re-emerged after much touring and shopping her new record around. Alice Russell is finally sharing her "Pot of Gold". A fine sophomore effort on her own label Little Poppet/Six Degrees. Alice rides out the live set for us this time reminding us of her Quantic Soul Orchestra work with Will "Quantic" Holland. You may be used to Alice singing over tracks that have glitches of futurism and programming but this time out it's straight live funk and it holds your attention mainly because of that set of pipes she unleashes on us. The opening two funk stormers lead the herd out the gate as strings and tight drum snares set the tempo for upbeat 4/4 rhythms reminiscent of Stax soul- "Turn and Run" and "Two Steps". From there she jumps to a bit of Afrobeat on "Living the Life of a Dreamer". This is where you realize that Alice Russell is not just Alice Russell but her ensemble who each, from the horn section, to the bassist- Alex Cowen, to violinist- Mike Simmons truly feel what they are putting down on tape. Let me just say that it's the voice ultimately that really is incomparable no matter how many Amy Whinhouse-Duffy-Joss Stone comparisons are out there. No one but NO ONE can fake what Miss Russell so easily shares. There is nothing tragic, nothing dramatic about her life it's all in the voice, music and phrasing of lyrics she shares with us. "Let us be Loving" is one of the other highlights that simmers with slow building funk that finally explodes on each chorus. Then there's the smoldering Gnarls Barkley cover of "Crazy" that is just as classic for it's approach in arrangement. She revisits samba on "Universe" and the album closer "All Alone" seems to sum up her views on us and society..."Look the city streets are burning. Everyone of us looks on. Seems our minds were meant for turning...Turning on." If you ever read this Miss Russell Thank you and please don't stop. For the rest you let this be your starting point to delve into her back catalog and check out what you've been sleeping on.

If there was a 6th star to select, I would for Alice. I ran across this artist a week ago (by luck) and I just love this artist. It's unfortunate that she isn't that known in the United States. I mean, we now have heard of Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele, but what about Alice. Yes what about her, which she is on a different level than the artist I mentioned above. My hand went up when I heard her vison of "Crazy". When my hand goes up, it is a good sign. You can say I'm sort of a music critic and if you get good ratings from me, it means a lot to my other music listeners. Her voice is so soulful and I love the jazz style of some of her songs. If other US fans read my review, please spread the word about Alice because we have been missing out!

I have really been enjoying this CD. She has a great voice and some of the songs are already classics in my world.

This album is just crazy. Alice russell has to be one of the most soulful, funky and satisfying singers of our generation for sure, anything she's on is just pure bliss. Seeing her live recently ws just stupidly inspirational, both alice and her band seem have really stepped up their game this year and pot of gold certainly reflects that.

Get this is you love musaq with pure SOUL

5 star

Alice Russell is simply one of the best soul and funk singers of our generation and very few have heard her music. This album is her best album because her band is smoking as well. I've seen her live twice and yes, she backs it up with pure energy and no gimmicks. I also recommend Pushin' On by the Quantic Soul Orchestra and going to one of her shows.