Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ray Ray does it again, October 7, 2004
Raphael Saadiq - As Ray Ray (Pookie, 2004)
This album is a good follow up to his last album, Instant Vintage, which I liked and hated at the same time. It was probably because I expected more from the man who wrote classics like D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel" and Erykah Badu's "Love of My Life". Well, here's another album where you won't find any songs that top those two (why don't Raphael keep the great songs for himself?), but that doesn't mean that this album isn't good.
Songs like the Curtis Mayfield-esque "Grown Folks" (which plays well with the album's blaxploitation theme) and the two Teedra Moses duets, "Chic" and "I Want You Back", will have you constantly pressing the rewind button. Another surprise is the song with Babyface, "Not a Game" (I don't remember if they worked together in the past, but they make a great combination!). As Ray Ray does have its moments of filler ("Ray Ray Theme" featuring Joi) and "Rifle Love" sounds more like cut-and-paste performances than a reunion with Lucy Pearl (Dawn only) and Tony Toni Toné (Dwayne only). This album probably won't win Raphael any new fans but it'll sure keep his current ones like myself happy. -EJR
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
We're Getting There!!!!!!!!, October 18, 2004
Raphael, affectionately referred to as Ray,Ray, is quite simply a force to be reckoned with. He is indeed one of R&B's premiere male vocalists and his writing talent is legendary. He has carved out his own niche and does not copy anyone. You only need to hear a few notes and you immediately recognize Oaktown representing. I have appreciated Raphael's vocal prowess since his days with Tony Toni Tone, later with Lucy Pearl, and certainly as a solo artist.
However, I was NOT well with his first solo outing Instant Vintage. While there were memorable performances, instant vintage it was not. But Raphael is one of those artists who is entirely too musically entrenched/established to be relegated to "this cut" or "that cut."
His second solo outing is infinitely better than Instant Vintage. While there are moments where it appears his experimentation with melodies and rhythms don't necessarily mesh well with R&B/hip hop, he blows you away with what is undoubtedly the highlight of this project "Detroit Girl." Interestingly enough, everything AFTER this cut is far superior to the ones before it. (Unfortunately, Detroit Love is Track 7!) Dawn Robinson lends her hot voice to "Rifle Love" which easily is another highlight (also after track 7.) An unusual Save Us at the end is haunting.
Raphael's previous solo project suffered mostly because it was too ambitious. He was all over the place and unfortunately seemed to have run out of the best ideas when it came to his solo work while writing nice tunes for everybody else.
While this is by no means a stellar production, there are indeed flashes of Raphael's brilliance that enusres his place as a musical trailblazer and therefore makes any new product of his worth consideration.
At this rate, his next solo project should be the bomb!!!!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
3.5 stars, January 20, 2007
After an unnecessary intro, the album begins with the enjoyable groove of "Ray Ray Theme." The rest of the album is hit and miss. Some of the songs sound, well... thrown together. This project is somewhat self indulgent on Ray Ray's part. Saadiq does a social commentary on how "Grown Folks" need more help than the children these days. (Amen!) The weird metaphor of "Rifle Love" works somehow, and is a reunion of his two previous groups. "I Know Shuggie Otis" is great, too. (If Raphael insisted on the blaxploitation theme, it should have continued throughout. The little story in the liner notes is entertaining, though.) So overall, this album is a little above average. It is cool and enjoyable overall. I would recommend buying it, but it's nothing to rush to the store for.
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by Raphael Saadiq 
