Customer Reviews

Soulshine

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

 

 

almost all of the reviews on this album are negative. Probably becuase they're mostly by hardcore hip-hop/trip-hop fans. I can see that these people are wanting to hear the mad breakbeats and crazy turntable tricks that we'de usually hear from dj cam, the hip-hop aspect. However, many people are so ONE-SIDED and IGNORANT that they don't even know the roots of the hip-hop we hear today, good or bad (exm. lil' john & the eastside boyz=bad, the roots=good.) Hip-hop came from r&b/soul, r&b/soul came from blues, blues is a form of jazz. So, all dj cam is doing is tracing his roots, trying to open peoples heads to jazz and other music, but we are so preoccupied with 50cent and G-unit on mtv that we won't even open our ears. All i'm saying is that the people who think this album is "completely worthless" should listen to it again and try to understand what what he's doing, his chords changes are getting more complicated and that makes it harder for people without true love for music to hear. If you still don't like, that's your opinion but people need to have and open mind and learn abouts roots before saying they know everyting about the tree. I thought this album was great

Great album in the typical smooth DJ Cam style less hip hop and more souljazz flavors with special guests Cameo, anggun, afu ra, and more; warmer and more mature sounding than previous album go buy it now

Mmmmmmmm, so wonderfully constructed and smooth. This delivers exactly what it says on the label, SOULSHINE!! A fine piece by DJ Cam and something that will appeal to everyone. It starts off in fine form with a smooth jazzy two step "Summer in Paris" with some fine vocals by Anggun and some lovely keyboards work by Eric Legnini reminding me of some of the fine Bob James CTI stuff of the 70's.

Interspersed throughout are little interludes which probably aren't necessary but they don't detract from the album too much. It is common practice today so I live with it, but some of these interludes deserve to be longer as you just start rocking when they finish. Mr. Cameo Larry Blackmon also gets a feature on "Love Junkee" and he doesn't let us down but again it is the groove that holds the track together. There are echoes of Roy Ayers and some early Cameo (their better stuff). Guru pops up on "Condor (espionage)", although not his best lyrically, the track is still mellow and smooth and maintains the album's tempo.

I could go on and review every track but I think that this is something for yourselves to do. Suffice to say the mellow soulful grooves are maintained throughout. What more can you ask for? There are flutes, jazzy/soulful vibes and this is something you would be either cruising to or just chilling to on the beach or whatever your favourite chilling location is.

This isn't a return to form this is a step in a new direction that fires on all cylinders.

I can see why some fans of dj cam may be disappointed with soulshine, as it is something quite different from his earlier albums. Instead of dark trippy soundscapes and twisted scratches you get 60's souljazz influenced music for those warm summer nights. I simply loved it, it sort of reminded me of incognito, but with more jazz in it. So, if you're a fan of dj cam's previous work you may not like soulshine, but if you're into deep, soulful and jazzy music go buy this album, you won't be disappointed.

you gotta have this cd.wonder why CAM wants anggun to work with him?heres what he say in this interview..
Q:One of the surprise guest artists on your new album is ANGGUN, a singer who's generally categorised as a mainstream pop and 'variété' act...

CAM:I love taking people out of their usual context and causing a few surprises. And I have to say that as far as ANGGUN's concerned I'm really happy with the result. In fact, it's been chosen as the first single and video release from the album. ANGGUN and Cam - yeah, it's true, I guess no-one saw that coming!

Q:So, now that you're working with mainstream 'variété' acts, when are you planning to do something with Lara Fabian?

CAM:Well, I don't know about that. I'm scared Lara would end up bursting my eardrums! (Laughs). The thing with ANGGUN was it was me who got in touch with her and invited her to guest on the album not the other way round. What matters to me is that the person's authentic and sincere...

This is a smooth down tempo and more Cd. I still listen to this and I bought it years ago. You will be down with this.

Soulshine is DJ Cam's return to greatness. Starting off with the bright and sunny (and housey!) "Summer in Paris," Cam manages to reintegrate his loves: hip-hop, jazz, and soul. The sultry "Welcome to Soulshine" gives you an idea of what's coming. This album seems more soul-oriented than hip-hop: "Love Junkee" or "He's Gone" are perfect example. "Child's Play" is a beautiful track, full of sweeping horns and warm feeling. "Bounce" is an extended jam, and "Soulshine" is shimmering and red-hot. This US edition also includes a disc of remixes and interviews, with the standout being the Kid Loco remix -- his stoned attitude putting a different spin on the nu-soul "He's Gone." Definitely worth examining.

DJ Cam, has had something of a tough time of it, since producing his landmark release "Mad Blunted Jazz", a Trip-Hop /Turntable/Jazz, inspired album, that brilliantly moved through slow Cerebral and Restrained Breakbeat, Hip-Hop, Trip-hop & Jazz, that it immediately won him, a whole load of New fans, as his stunning amalgamation of Druggy Beats, and Ambient moods, set him apart for other similar DJ's. And as such, he's virtually spent the remaining years trying to live up to his (exceptional) former glories. (similar in a way to DJ Shadow, with his "Entroducing" album). Fortunately (or Unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), Dj Cam, hasn't seemed preoccupied with trying to replicate "Mad Blunted Jazz", and has gone on his own increasingly erratic path, releasing a multitude of differently themed albums (although all largely fall under the Trip-Hop/Hip-Hop genre), to an increasingly indifferent general public, eager to see him follow up "Mad Blunted...".

For Soulshine.....Cam has decided that a radical change of musical direction is needed, and he's shifted his production, and Djing skills into something more related to Acid Jazz / European Jazz. So most of the beats, and Hip-Hop of previous work is (Mostly) out, and in comes a much smoother and more intimate sound, that pays tribute to the British acid jazz scene, of the Mid 90's. This means employing a live band to bring his sound into focus, and utilizing a variety of Vocalists to express these ideas into some sort of crossover of sensual, breezy groove-laded music.

This is music that feels like it's being performed at a slightly pretentious club, full of musical scenesters. With the performances virtually immaculate throughout, and with Cam's direction and involvement smooth and unhurried....he's skilfully able to make hip hop sound like jazz, jazz sound like R&B, and R&B sound like Jazz. turntablism, rapping, singing are all beautifully woven into each other, with each perfectly complementing each other. And it's here that, DJ Cam brings together selections, that sound tighter and more focused than some of his other work, as well as being varied in length and style, perfectly showcases the broad diversity of his influences and articulation of music. Admittedly, these nothing here this is as immediately `head-bobbing' as some of his more Hip-hop produced work, but then you have to understand that this album is going after a completely different mood (or indeed Crowd), and the Neo-soul flourishes, the restrained instrumentation, and the almost ambient feel, brings this far more into line with something like the sublime "Guru's - Jazzmattazz", than someone like "Dj Krush" or "DJ Shadow".

This is a beautifully constructed and performed album, that on occasion can seem a little preoccupied with maintaining a cool image. But to mark the music down on those terms seems foolish, as what is delivered here is a stunning example of Cam's ability to not pigeon-hole himself in re-making the same albums over-&-over again. And has instead choose to explore his other musical interests, and has done so with such an impressive and organic feel, that he certainly has a lot more to offer than many initially thought. And this is going to be the main stumbling block for most listeners.....the presence of "Mad Blunted..." looms large over everything that Dj Cam has produced, (and indeed will ever produce), and will always be lovingly referred to, in reference to Cam's best work. And the classic mistake most will make with this album (Soulshine), is that they'll be expecting something akin to his trip-hop/Hip-Hop work, and instead of the dusty beats and blunted sounds of yesteryear, what they'll hear is smooth Soul/Jazz/downtempo fusions (with a little trip-hop), and immediately reject this album as garbage. Such is the brilliance of "Mad Blunted...." That Cam is literally handicapped by his former glories. Sure, this album (Soulshine) couldn't hope to stand with "Mad Blunted..." as his best work, but if Dj Cam's name wasn't on the Cd Case, and this was the work of some unknown artist, we'd all be hailing this is a fantastic debut, by a very promising new (jazz-orientated) downtempo talent. So before you consider trying this, banish all thoughts of "Mad Blunted...", and approach this with an open-mind (ear?), and tell me that this isn't a 4-5 star worthy album??

looks as if cam has stirred up some spirits with his piece...undoubtably an artist has the right to defy the gravity provided by his fans, and sometimes does tricks. Where is the trickery the all too well known magic attributed to dj-ing, i was also troubled by the slow pace- evidently classy- on this album broken only by condor a reminisce of the older cam. as i aqm not an old cam listener, i can only point out, that whatever this guy is doing on this jazzy, apparently swampy terrain, he is doing a hell of good job.......

if u happen to be so into trance, hip hop, housey music that blarring to our stereo for the moment.dont buy this album. this is an acid jazz album. which is the main backbone for the whole sound of the album.DJ Cam might have his own opinion about being off place from his other DJ collegue. Cam try to be on his own.and this album prove that. I recommend this album only for ppl who are into experimental music,anggun-dj cam fans,and ppl who can accept any type of music.if ur not in one of those criteria...fuugggeedboutittt....u better get deep forest's new album-'music detected' instead.