Customer Reviews

Voodoo

5 star:		(242)
4 star:		(51)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I could never be an artist, I simply don't have the temper for it. As an example, I spent the last 10 minutes sitting here at 1 in the morning, the steady melodic thumping of this very album coursing through the background with my head in my hand, nodding back and forth in disbelief, and frustration with some of the negative reviews of this album.

I wanted to lash out, to say bad things about those that disparaged this masterpiece. But I'll abstain. I guess I had to come to the conclusion that music is a very personal thing; certain rhythms, styles, and lyrical content have natural appeal to some, not others. Speaking nothing of the memories associated with certain albums. Ahhhh, when I think about the summer of 2000, D'angelo brought his soulful delicious voice to most every passion drenched night. Sorry, I could ramble on forever about Voodoo's personal meaning to me. But for everyone else...trust that this album is objectively beautiful. There is a seductive cadence in his rhythm, and delicious instramental accompaniments that is unique to him.

There isn't a song I don't really love on this album, although I think he's at his best when moving at a slower pace, it amplifies the sultry, nonchalant, almost "half here, half gone" style he's such a deliberate master of.

I hope this in some way prompts you to consider buying this album, it's just priceless!!!

Words cannot explain how this cd has moved me. i couldnt wait any longer for it to be released in the states, and i am so happy that i did not. the man is a genius. their arent many that can compare to the great ones like prince and marvin gaye, but mr. d'angelo has grown and VOODOO definitely let's you know! I am so happy that he is back and everyone needs to buy this cd. if you enjoyed BROWN SUGAR get ready for this one! it's a winner! ps. have you seen the video(lft&rt), need i say more!

I love this CD. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT! From the second "Playa Playa" came on (which is such an infectious jam) to "Africa," I danced around my apartment and sporadically stared at my stereo thinking, "My God, this brother is brilliant." And keep in mind, I was not that deep into D'Angelo before this album. I mean, "Brown Sugar" is okay, but it didn't rock my world. But this did. Across the board, the songs are rich ("Spanish Joint"), full of electricity ("Chicken Grease"), haunting ("One Mo Gin"), and seductive as hell (especially "Left and Right"--my favorite cut on the CD--and of course, "Untitled"). "Voodoo" proves that D'Angelo has matured as an artist, the music and his vocals are so tight (the best example is "The Root." The multi-layered harmonies and the round-robin vocal approach at the end of the song is simply SPELLBINDING). Most importantly, this album stands up as a heady, masterful contribution to the annals of R & B music. It's very easy to instantly compare D'Angelo to Prince, Marvin, Curtis Mayfield, etc. But the great thing about "Voodoo" is that he found his own groove, his own voice. Yes, those influences are obviously there, but "Voodoo" is a straight up D'ANGELO record and less of a derivative of other artists. It's early in the year, but there's no question that this CD is a frontrunner for best album of 2000. Buy it. Buy it now (And if his tour stops where you live, check out his concert as well. I recently saw him in NYC, and it's one of the best shows I've seen in a LONG TIME. You will get your money's worth, trust me)!

OK Everybody is talking about how he is good looking and can sing and all, but I'm gonna break down each song:

Playa Playa: hot, perfect track to start off the album, fast, crazy hot syncopation, jazzy, soulful, great multi-layed harmonies intertwining with each other

Devil's Pie: a hypnotic, dark but still very rewarding piece (no pun intended), a great vehicle for d'angelos low voice style. big up to DJ Premier for lacing this track.

Left and Right: seems a bit out of place on this album but it is still a hot track. Meth and Red get naughty, sexy lyrics, very good song.

The Line: one of my favs, a slow, sultry masterpiece with so many harmonies, unbelievable

Send it On: one of the most touching and incredible ballads i have ever heard! 6 minutes worth of great singing, and a great change in tempo in the middle. FYI, Dedicated to D's son.

Chicken Grease: this song is off the hook! that perfect sloppy keyboard by non other than james poyser of the roots, and a guitar that sounds just like the title of the song, a sensual and very entertaining dance song.

One Mo' Gin: a very hypnotic beginning to the song, contrasted with a very smooth, cheerful chorus led by the keyboards, a great love song.

The Root: at first i didnt like it so much, but i have learned to love it, especially the very unique chorus. probably one of the not quite as memorable tracks, but it would still be better than any sisqo ginuwine or tyrese song by far.

Spanish Joint: a great, different track, salsa mixed with r'n'b mixed with soul equals a hot song. HOT HOT HOT!

Feel Like Makin' Love: a superb remake of the Roberta Flack classic, a great beat, amazing instrumentation, and of course, D'Angelo is off the hook. Perhaps the best slow song on the CD.

Greatdayndamornin'/Booty: A very likeable song, a simple enough chorus, and D'angelo wraps his voice around the chorus, ahhhh so tight!

Untitled (How Does it Feel): the so-called "hit" song, even though it hardly got any play at all. I'm sure women love the song, especially the classic nude music video, often referred to as "the video". D'angelo imitating prince, with much better results than prince, ive never liked princes music, D'angelo is better any day. This is a true classic, up there with "Brown Sugar", "Lady", and Maxwell's "Ascension".

Africa: probably my fav slow song on the cd, with soft guitars imitating Jimi Hendrix, coco-butter moans and murmers supplied by my man D. This is one cool cat.

Well thanks for reading my review, I appreciate it. Do yourself a favor and get this album. I'm out.

I love this CD, but there are no extra tracks. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS ONE!

This album can almost be classified as jazz. It can also be classified as soul..and there's even a space for R&B, Urban, and Rock. You might as well mix them all up into one word: "Voodoo." D'Angelo managed to do that, and create one of the best albums in a long time. His smooth soulful voice, daringly spicy lyrics, and smoky melodic tracks can literally captivate the listener.

I guess the only fallback D'Angelo expressed on this album was the elongation of many tracks. A lot of these songs go on and on, though the melody is sweet, trumpets and guitars seem to be never-ending on a few songs.

Now for the goods: "Send It On," "One Mo' Gen," and "The Root," all contain catchy hooks and smooth instrumentals. "Greatdayinthemornin" is a great track, co-written by new-comer Angie Stone. "Afrika" closes the album out nicely with a slow tempo'd african groove feel...

Though most were expecting the Brown Sugar formula, D'Angelo's sophomore effort actually creates it's own new formula. If I had to guess, I would say his 3rd album will follow a WHOLE NEW formula also. D'Angelo is not just another artist who is going to find what works, and then drive it into the ground until we are sick of hearing it...he's all about making the listener think. He wants you to find new likes and dislikes, and to explore different styles, and new worlds of music. Once he stunned the youthful crowd of R&B listeners, he managed to pull them into a jazzy old fashioned world of music. Now he's pulling them again, this time into another galaxy and hopefully stunning them once again.

I know he has stunned me.

There aren't enough complete artists in today's music, especially in R&B and hip hop, where someone else writes the music, someone else lays down the tracks, someone else arranges the music, someone else produces the tracks, and then the so-called "artist" steps in and chats or sings pure irrelavance on tape. D'Angelo made us wait too long for this, true, but there is much depth here - and that is refreshing. Why do most music cosumers (as opposed to music listeners) always settle for less? D'Angelo, Maxwell, Rahaan Paterson, Angie Stone, even Q-Tip, The Roots, Mos Def, etc., are all blazing new paths in the direction Prince laid out from his study of the motown, funk, jazz, rock and r&b masters. (Yes, STUDY). This is what ART is all about. This is what inspires the mind and moves the soul. This is what will be remembered and celebrated. To the critics who say D'Angelo's stuff all sounds the same: you probably think all Asians look alike too. To the critics who say they don't understand what he's talking about: that's the point of mystery - use your brain to try to discover truths. To the critics who say D'Angelo is not original, he's just a Prince clone: thanks for the complement. The artist who copies a Prince song verbatum is 100 times more original than 99.9% of the jokers out there today, who mass-produce prefabricated, preformulated junk. Prince is name-brand. D'Angelo is name-brand. Listen and live.

This album is extremely tight, a level above anything else out right now. The sound is unique yet reminiscient of those glory days when all his inspirations, Marvin, Al, and Prince, ruled our ears. The duality of the Voodoo sound, the soft coupled with the hard, slow with the fast, creates an atmosphere seperate from reality that draws you in and never lets go even when the album is seemingly over (you will see?). The first song, Playa, Playa, starts off the album like smoke seeping into your room and each song melts into the next. Before totally sweating him, I must give some criticisms like his basic and sometimes repetitive lyrics. D'Angelo is definitely an artist because he has grown musically from his last album Brown Sugar. But his voice works well with his musical arrangements. Some songs are not as good as others but like I said before, are better than anything out except for maybe Maxwell, D'Angelo's worthy peer. If you cannot tell by now, I think you should pick it up and be prepared to be intoxicated.

Voodoo is a great sophomore effort by D'Angelo. I thought he took more risks, took his time with developing each song, and - what I like the most - he employs a lot of acoustic instruments (especially the bass and drums)which add texture and life to his songs. There's a lot of soul missing in R&B right now, and D'Angelo is just the artist to bring a soul revival to the industry. I loved "Worked a Root," "Spanish Joint," "How Does it Feel" (of course the video might have had a tiny influence there *smile*) and especially "Africa."

I could have done without some of the tacky profanity (especially in track 3), but other than that, I thought this CD was a great investment. I'd recommend it whole-heartedly to those who are tired of the unimaginative, formulaic "songs" they're hearing on the radio.

It honestly took my breath away when I heard that last track. Utterly entrancing and hypnotic were the beats & melody. Voodoo is truly on a different plane than Brown Sugar. "Send it On" is gorgeous. "GreatDayInDaMornin" is funkier than an NBA player's socks after a championship game. "One Mo Gin" is super sensual as well as "Untitled" with that silky falsetto-- a la 'The Artist'. "Spanish Joint" will have you moving and shakin' like Ricky Ricardo! But seriously folks. If you are a lover of incredible drumming (crisp rimshots and intense cymbal splashes) and the kind of bass that makes your heart race...GET THIS ALBUM! You won't be sorry. There is a live flow to this one ("Chicken Grease"/"Left & Right") and at times you feel as if you are actually in the studio sitting in on a jam session. It is that surreal. Only reason I didn't give it the full 5 stars is because the intro scared the Suga Honey Ice Tea outta me! I wasn't expectin' that at all but I guess that lends to the title. I hope to catch this cat live in concert really soon because I've got to see track 11 live and in living color (loved the breakdown and fade-out towards the end) Peace*respect. CLB.