Customer Reviews

Saturday Night Experience 1

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

 

 

I am so sorry that Jody Watley's music (as well as a seemingly increasing number of top notch artists) is not being made available in the US. I loved Watley's first album but then felt she fell off until she reinvigorated herself on "Intimacy" one of the best R&B albums of the 90s. Since then, she has been releasing classic CDs one after another. This CD is no exception.

Jody embraces techno and drum & bass stylings into her sound with convincing results. The songs are sultry and hit a mellow, danceable groove along the lines of "Still a Thrill" but with a sleek 21st century update. Her vocals are a bit subdued as one reviewer noted but I didn't mind it. Her vocals are much like they were on "Still a Thrill" - kind of whispery and seductive rather than soaring and emotive. She sings this way to fit with the overall ambience of the music. Hats off to Watley for letting her musical direction dictate her vocal performance rather than any diva-like ego trips.

I think most Watley fans would like this CD. However, if you are looking for "Intimacy Part 2" or "Affection Part 2" rather than a more dance/techno oriented exploration then you might not want this. If you're open to new sounds and interested in hearing Watley successfully stretch her creative wings into some new territory that builds on her developed musical style, then this is a great purchase!

Oh my God -this is fantastic! Jody I love you! Calling all Jody Watley fans -BUY THIS NOW -YOU WILL NOT REGRET SPENDING THE EXTRA $S. Ok it's my duty to give you as much information as I can. Tracklist: Saturday Night Experience -4:49/ Another Chapter -7:46/ Timeless -5:40/ The Love (the Angel remix) -6:21/ Pure Joy 5:25/ After Hours -3:45/ The Lonely -4:29/ The Love -4:54/ Saturday (reprise) -0:50 + Another Chapter (DJ Soma grow sound mix) -5:34/ (S&T ball room mix) -9:19. Forget the unfortunately forgotten "Flower" and dwell on the past no more. As described on the sleeve the SNE is "Atmospheric, aural cosmic renderings and superfly utilisation of smooth vocalization over software and hardware systems. Head-bobbing and vibalicious improvisation over harmonic foundations. dance. music. romance.". This set is 100% brand new Jody material, written by the woman herself along with longtime writing partner Derrick Edmundson and Producer Extraordinaire Rodney Lee. Moving on from her very own "Affection", the tracks maintain Jody's integrity and soul but swap the laid back RnB grooves for more contemporary, electronic beats. Don't think Madonna or Cher. The legendary voice is set against alternating soundscapes of drum n bass, dubby trip hop a-la Olive and subtle house grooves similar to Sonique. All I can say is it's about time. Left to her own devices, Jody always delivers something special. Pure class, this CD radiates with the wondeful, intelligent and positive lyrics. The woman has seen and done it all and still inspires with her positivity and healthy attitude to life. Like "Affection" there is a free, spacious, jazz-like structure to the songs giving the set a late night feel. The bonus remixes are housed-up versions of the lead single, the fabulous stand out cut -Another Chapter. I could go on forever but I'll stop. If you love Jody Watley, don't sit and wait -BUY THIS NOW! This is new and exciting yet there are traces of early Jody like the saxophone playing in The Love that reminds me of Still A Thrill. Only available in Japan, so I presume the mess with the Atlantic USA contract is holding up an international release, which is a huge shame. The good news is that this is "Volume 1", so sit back and relax, fork out the extra $s and love this as much as I do.

This experimental EP by Jody Watley successfully broadens her already-outstanding artistic palette. Released in 1999, this set preceded her current full-length, "Midnight Lounge". SNE is a colorful and ecclectic affair, running the gamut from house to drums n' bass to lounge.

The dark, bass-heavy title track opens the set (an apparent, yet successful attempt at trip-hop). From there, Watley raises the tempo on the ponderous rave-up, "Another Chapter". The next track is arguably the most danceable; "Timeless" is a novelty progressive track featuring Watley's own sensual vocals over deep house beats, which successfully incorporate xylophone, of all things.

Sequencing and tracks aside, SNE includes some outstanding remixes. One of the great remix talents of the ever-morphing Ibiza club culture, the Angel, creates an ecclectic drums-n'-bass rendering of the skeptical "The Love". Anyone familiar with the Angels remixes for Towa Tei or Brand New Heavies will find this new direction surprising, but ultimately to their liking.

Also, DJ Soma remixes "Another Chapter" in two very different environments; the "DJ Soma Grow Sound Mix" is a mid-tempo funk arrangement, whereas the S&T ballroom mix is a fun and melodic exercise in Eurobeat.

Though it could be argued that Watley's new sound becomes more effectively utilized on "Midnight Lounge", "Saturday Night Experience" should be seen as an essential companion piece to "'Lounge". It would be simply unfair to dismiss SNE as just an EP because, as the track sequencing suggests, it is indeed an EXPERIENCE.

This album is fabulous and deserves to be bought and promoted. Jody continues to evolve as an artist, and this album proves that. The album has totally different musical style, she goes funky electronica which suits her well. Her sultry voice blends well with the music. Her collaborators for this album certainly did an excellent job. I only wish there are more songs to the album instead of adding more mixes of the same song. The lyrics are quite simple in their structure but very deep in meaning, however, it suits that musical style just fine. I can't wait for Volume 2

Even though Jody Watley has been off the mainstream celebrity radar for some time, she's been rather busy during the last few years. After the Atlantic Records incident (where they refused to release her "Flower" album domestically in the US), some fans feared that Ms Watley would've turned her back on the music business for good. Thankfully, and to her credit, she stuck in there and found her way.

Jody returned to her own label (Avitone) and signed a distribution deal with Universal Victor in Japan. This gave her the freedom she wanted to create a more organic album. I was in Japan when this album was released, and it was really something. Saturday Night Experience was unlike anything Ms Watley has released before. Never had the diva taken such a hard left turn.

In a nutshell, Saturday Night Experience is an atmospheric dance classic and an experimental album. The title track has a cool futuristic feel to it that grows on you the more you listen to it. Other tracks worth noting are:

Another Chapter - a solid dance track with an urgent beat and interesting lyrics.

Pure Joy - a dance track with a sharp bass line and melody - it's awesome!

After Hours - a jazzy, funky track that sounds great while driving.

The Love - this is the only track with a hint of the vintage Jody Watley dance trait that her fans have grown to love over the years. It's a fresh, percussive ditty that's superb.

Don't expect the same vocal performance of old, as this album isn't about that at all - it you do that, you've missed the whole point! It's worth shelling out the extra and buying the Japanese released album with the extra tracks.

"Saturday Night Experience" demonstrated Jody Watley's resilience and entrepreneurial talents. The lady has proved herself to be the ultimate survivor and that she's a trend setter - not a follower!

Good record... but "Timeless" is simply GREAT ! Thanks Jody !

If you like electronica dance... You MUST have it...

Ciao Mario

I bought this CD around 2-3 years ago and I still love it. It's smooth, atmospheric, and just plain fabulous. It's too bad it didn't get a release in the U.S. It could've started a new trend if it had. I especially love "Another Chapter", "Saturday Night Experience", and "Timeless". All the other tracks (& remixes) are truly wonderful as well. Please support a truly talented artiste and buy these kickin' CDs (SNE and Midnight Lounge).

Okay... The other reviews are raving about this CD, and it aint terrible... But its just alright in my humble opinion. Aside from a couple, overall the tracks are very mechanical. The beats more or less looped over and over again with limited progression/chord changes and that gets *so* boring after too long. The voice Jody chose to use on most tracks wasnt the best choice either... She spends most of the time talking, cooing and whispering as opposed to doing any real singing. The lyrics, though overall positive and optimistic, delivered with the detached voice comes across as if she's some self help guru spouting rehearsed words of upliftment.

I give props to Jody for being bold enough to experiment, but what this CD lacks is soulfulness. Its nice to see Jody hasnt been discouraged by the less than warm response the record label gave to her great "Flower"(not released in the US), but it would be nice to feel some warmth and soulfulness from her again.

Length:: 1:29 Mins