Customer Reviews

Red Clay Chronicles (Dig)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, so I bought both of Mr. David's CDs a couple of weeks ago and I haven't stopped listening to them yet. In fact, I have told other friends to check him out as well. I am a true soul music lover and he just fits exactly into the kind of sound that sings to me. Keep up the grand work, Mr. David, and I hope that your following continues to grow.

Is it really the best R&B/Soul album of 2006? It may be. I just got finished going through the album and it is a really strong sophomore effort. Anthony managed to move a little bit from the acoustic sound of his previous album while keeping the unique sound that makes him stand out from the crowd. If you are a R&B fan, take a chance with this one. You'll find it to be a great addition to your collection.

Anthony David is an amazing singer, his voice is a mixture of old school R & B, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye and the neo-soul sounds of today. He is the epitome of "SMOOTH"

I am new to this artist. Excuse me for living in an abyss! I heard him for the first time at the Urban Music Festival in Austin TX, and MAN...I was blown away, along with my cousin who came to hang out with me for the fest. He, of all of the artists, impressed me the most. So much so that I bought both of his cds, and bought both for my sister. I also have turned 6 others onto him (and counting). I LOVE THIS MAN'S SOUND AND MUSIC. He is smooth, reminiscent of the older R&B artists. The rasp in his vocals and his poetry has him on repeat in my cd changer. It's like meth to a meth-addict. Get both cds. You won't be disappointed in the slightest. Mr. David, thanks for taking me way back and keep it coming!

I got this UK version of Anthony David's second album and (as you can just about make them out on the image of the back cover), it has three more tracks than the ones listed: the reggae infused "50/50 Love" (featuring Julie Dexter), "GA Peach (Remix)" and a live version of "Spittin' Game". I'm told all three songs are from his debut album "3 Chords & the Truth". I don't have that album. Yet.

I'm definitely liking this one though. I love David's voice and I particularly appreciate the maturity and depth of his lyrics. On the opener, "Stop Playin'" for instance, he pleads with men to stop playing with women's hearts: "You think that just because you told her from the get go/ Now that it's over she can be like you and let go/ But when she laid with you she broke you off a piece of her spirit..." he sings.

Wow. It's been a while since I heard a man put it quite like that.

Sure, on the whole, he treads the same path on subject matter as many of his peers but he does it in a way that makes me stop, listen and think. And when he does social commentary like on the Gil Scott Heron-esque title track, (one of my favourites), it's as exciting to listen to as it is refreshing. I don't see the Bill Withers similarities myself but I can see where people are coming from when they allude to them. Personally, I see him as more somewhere between Dwele and Anthony Hamilton.

Other personal standout tracks are "Lady" with Keisha Jackson, which sounds really old school - always a winner with this listener - and "Words", featuring India.Arie. It's such a nice song and is definitely single material. I also really like his cover of the 1985 Level 42 hit, "Something About You". I was hooked on that song (and the group) back in the day and it's nice to hear another person's take on it.

"Smoke One" is also a nice song and I love the version with Earl Klugh, "Smoke One with Earl". I think that's the first time I've heard the jazz legend play on a non-jazz song. "Sho Nuff" and "Better Than" are also songs I'm really growing to like.

All in all, while not wall-to-wall excitement, (I wasn't too keen on the rap on ATL Sunshine and Kin Folk, for instance) it's better than a lot of the stuff out there today and well worth a listen. I'm glad I bought it.

One more thing: he sounds like he'd be really good live. His UK tour was over by the time I heard about it (and him) earlier this year but I'll definitely be looking out for him in the future.

I read a review of Anthony David's first album that compared him to Usher. Quite frankly, that's ridiculous. If you have to make comparisons, pull out Anthony Hamilton. The two Anthony's share a down south twang in their voices and a very similar musical sensibility.

David has been around the Atlanta music scene since I've been in the city which makes him at least 10 years deep. His name was always floating around. He was that guy that you knew about even if you hadn't caught him performing. By the time I actually saw him play, he was one of those artists who I gave props to simply because of the company they kept. Giving credit before it was necessarily due has burnt me in the past, but Anthony was at least as good as I expected him to be. Revolving around the same Atlanta circles that produced India Arie and Donnie, Anthony David has that classic ATL soul sound. It's relaxed, it's unpretentious, and it's incredible.

By the time you get to "Smoke One" you get the first hint of the kind of artist you're facing. He's not going to neo your soul. The song is about indulging vice and it's irresistible. Trying to convince a tightly wound friend to partake in some wine, women, and song? This is the soundtrack.

Anthony is a master of the love song. There are wonderful tunes like the almost acoustic "Lady", but then there's also another level. That other level is "Words." The duet with India Arie is the kind of soul music that lasts forever. Assuming Brash can get this record the kind of attention it deserves, "Words" will be Anthony's calling card. It's the kind of soul anthem that kids used to record over and over on a cassette tape to give their girlfriends. Powerful stuff.

The comparison with Anthony Hamilton is apt in one other unfortunate way. The Red Clay Chronicles suffers in the same places that Hamilton's records sometimes flounder. When the naturally charismatic singers get too slick and over-produced they fall a bit flat. That is evident with this album on songs like "Something About You." The reason is simple. There's an essential grittiness to singers like David that they need to be at the top of their game. An excess of production polishes the round edges to a dull sheen.

Fortunately, there's more of the rough than of the smooth on Red Clay Chronicles. Anthony David lives up to the billing that he's enjoyed in Atlanta for so long. Hopefully, the rest of the nation will catch on to what we all already know.

I bought this CD a month ago and have been playing it to death ever since. I absolutely love this CD. Its a shame you don't hear music like this on the radio.

Anthony David is from my hometown of Savannah,Ga. He did an excellent remake of Something About You by Level 42. I also love hearing Lady. It has the one of the smoothest soul sounds that I have ever heard. This CD is something to ride to or just listen with your someone special.

This katt is not brand new...This cd is jammin just like the first one..Don't hesitate...GET IT!! Call your radio stations...get these artist' on the air!!!

He's got vocals that remind you the old school soul crooners set to modern but not too technical beats. So it's not acoustic as the first CD but still smooth enough and shows mega talent. It just shows he can switch up and be diverse, It would be cool to hear him do something set to a reggae beat.... I love hearing him sing about (likle) Little Five Points in Atlanta on "ATL Sunshine". "Smoke One" and "Words" featuring India Arie are stand outs and "Something About You" is tight on the harmony with a kickin' sweet melody.