Rewind [Enhanced]

Ricky Fante | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B0001XAOR0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,927 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With neo-soul not all that neo these days, Ricky Fanté foregoes the genre's reliance on Philadelphia and blaxploitation markers. Instead, on his full-length debut, Rewind, the singer pays homage to '60s touchstones like Otis Redding. The result is sometimes less gritty than might be hoped for, but at the very least, Fanté's voice--at times a ringer for a past revivalist, Terence Trent D'Arby--makes the disc a worthy listen. At his best, Fanté tackles more than the expected; too few artists have dealt with realities like domestic violence (and September 11) as he does on the straightforward "Why." Such moments make for harbingers of greater reach to come. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Southern Soul Lite, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Rewind (Audio CD)

On the surface, this debut album by Ricky Fante is a breath of fresh air in an era of synthesized sampled soul, but upon several listens, there's nothing that digs deep enough to be memorable. All the poses are there -- the raspy voice, the Memphis-sounding horns, the call-and response background vocals, but imitation is not necessarily the foundation of a lasting career. Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Al Green, all of whom are echoed here, are originals and innovators, and had better written songs to work with. I suspect this album will become a crossover staple and Grammy favorite -- it is very easy to digest. But there's really nothing to stir the soul and rock the foundation of the listener. I prefer more spirit and danger in my soul music.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible- Buy it now if you haven't already!, July 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Rewind (Audio CD)

I had no clue who Ricky Fante was until I heard him on NPR, and now I pledge to buy everything he releases. This album is incredible, and if he isn't nominated for a grammy...... well, then, the grammy voters are sniffing something reminiscent of glue.
Do yourself a favor and buy this album. I hesitate to call it an album, though, really. It's more of an experience in soul music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great throwback to the Golden Era of Soul, July 26, 2005

By 

Motownphilly "Music lover" (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rewind (Audio CD)

I can't understand why some people gave this cd only 2 stars. This album is not creative by any means, and what? Good music is not necessarily creative. Ricky Fanté just makes soul that sounds exactly back, way back in the days, when soul music was just irresistibly organic, earthy and gave you big chills.
Is there anything wrong with that?
In these times where R&B we hear at the radio has often lost the signification of its letters, it's really enjoyable to listen to a cd like that. I wouldn't call this album neo-soul because you won't find any hip hop beats incorporated in it and it's not an experimental record with poetic lyrics either. It's just retro-soul, and very well-done retro-soul, which reminds the likes of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke or Al Green.
Ricky Fanté won't make you forget about them (and nobody will) but thanks to him the legacy of this kind of great classic soul singers can continue.
Many tracks from this album sound like instant classics, which is inarguably a quality proof.
My personal favorite are the 1st five tracks, I find the other ones a notch behind, which doesn't mean they are bad of course.
I highly recommend this album to everyone into soul music (whatever it is classic or contemporary), as well as the ones from Donnie and Jacksoul