Customer Reviews

Wines & Spirits

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It would've been so easy for Rahsaan Patterson to make a run-of-the-mill neo-soul album, full of cosy ballads with smooth edges (he has the voice and the songwriting ability for it), and laden with "do me, do me, please, baby, please" lyrics but, (surprise, surprise and goody, goody), that's not what he's done.

I think the man has stepped to the left outside of his comfort zone and tries a couple of new tricks here. With a mix of soul, hip-hop and electronica & rock edged beats, he serves up an eclectic but cohesive set of very pleasing songs. "Delirium (Comes and Goes)", "No Danger", "Time" with a solid (but clean) rap by Johnny Onyx, are all very unusual but filled with foot tapping, head nodding excitement. The ballads are sweet too: "Feels Good", "Stop Breaking My Heart", and most especially, the closer track "Stars". Some of the tunes, like the spacey "Pitch Black" the stop-and-go "Deliver Me" might not be to everyone's taste but I find their very quirkiness is what makes them interesting.

One tune that I keep coming back to and playing over and over again though, is "Water", with its wonderful trumpet solo by Michael Hunter. I love it; the CD gets five stars from me for that song alone. Although Van Hunt - a man I have huge respect for - doesn't seem to be involved in this particular project, there are still traces of the man to be heard on "Oh Lord (Take Me Back)", another tune I'm really feeling. There are a variety of producers on this project, including Patterson himself, Jamey Jaz, Keith Crouch, SugaBeat Rush Company and Timothy Bailey, Jr and I think they've done a worthwhile job overall.

Most importantly though, the man actually SINGS! (Something that seems increasingly rare among black male singers in the 21st century).

Thanks, Rahsaan, for giving us something new and (excitingly) different.

Each sample had me moving. I think sometimes we get used to an artist sounding a certain way and we don't want them to change. I felt the same listening to Jill Scott's "hate on me". But you keep on listening. This cd is totally different for Rahsaan and I am actually totally feeling it.

Different can be good.

Rahsaan Patterson's latest project, Wines & Spirits, is more musically diverse than any of his previous three studio LPs. With W&S, Rah manages to juxtapose his trademark brand of soulful r&b with genres that he is less associated: funk, rock, hip hop, and even flourishes of electronica. And although Rah capably weaves through disparate styles, it is the songs that boast his mastery of buttery "neo-soul" which remain his trump cards.

"Delirium (Comes & Goes)" is one of the more atypical kind of Rahsaan songs found here. A loungey, quasi-house beat, ala Peven Everett, lays the foundation as he scats and croons his way through this uptempo track.

Rah the Rock Star emerges on "Pitch Black". His cold, somewhat detached vocal delivery complements the omnipresent electric guitar and the corresponding undulating drum beat, effectively conveying the song's dour message of hopelessness.

Musically, "Cloud 9" & "Oh Lord (Take Me Back)" pay homage to 70s-era funkmeister Stevie Wonder. And because Rah's voice has always reminded me of a male version of Chaka Khan, such tunes would blend nicely into any Rufus album from the same timeframe.

The hip hop-influenced "Time" provides the album's only cringe-worthy moments when the featured rapper Johnny Onyx spits embarrassingly puerile lyrics over an otherwise decent track.

Meanwhile, "Feels Good" is the comparison-worthy, yet more subdued musical cousin to the joyous "You Make Life So Good" from 2004's After Hours.

But my favorite tracks on this project are the ones that allow Rah to stay in his musical comfort zone: "No Danger", first single "Stop Breaking My Heart", and especially "Water". All three songs will surely become classics amongst Rah's ever-growing repertoire. Like many of his other fan faves (i.e., "My Sweetheart", "It's Alright", and the aforementioned "You Make Life So Good"), all three stellar songs effortlessly evoke raw emotion the way only great songs can do.

And "Stars", an observation on the fickle state of the music industry & its players, commences sparsely, but crescendos into an album-closer that is hardly anti-climactic.

The beauty of W&S is not that it showcases Rah as a supremely gifted soul singer (which he had already proven with his debut); it is that it establishes him as a legitimate, relevant artist, able to satisfyingly leap musical genres in a single bound.

Since his introduction to the masses as a solo artist in 1997, Rahsaan has eluded commercial success, but it's not his fault. Wines & Spirits tells those at the helm of determining what we will like or dislike, that they need to re-examine this boy from The Bronx. Those who are just hearing his vocal prowess for the first time are asking themselves, "Where did this dude come from?" If they'd truly been paying attention they wouldn't have to ask.

Rahsaan is known for pushing the musical envelope. A tenor with a 3-4 octave range who sings about love, tenderness and finding yourself, cannot and should not be measured by the standards of those mentioned above. Wines & Spirits reminds us of why we love RP in the first place -- absolute genius!!

From the wonderful lows of "Stars" to the outstanding highs of "No Danger" you embark on a journey that touches various musical genres, and never disappoints. From start to finish, Wines & Spirits is packed full of what I want from an artist -- true artistry!! Rahsaan is boundless!! He goes everywhere he needs to be, especially to the epicenter of our souls.

If you want to hear an album of quality -- where you hear the voice of the artist singing -- and -- IT'S REALLY THE VOICE OF THE ARTIST WHO'S SINGING, then pick up Wines & Spirits. If you want an album of cookie-cutter tracks and vocals, then maybe Wines & Spirits is not the album for you, but isn't it time you stopped listening to that garbage anyway. :-)

Wines & Spirits is as good as they come. Peace and Blessings.

There are not enough words to express the level of appreciation and fondness that I have for this man's music. His words can tell a great story and his voice can express a lifetimes worth of experience. For those who are saying that this album is not on par with his previous releases, I don't know what you are listening to.

With this cd Rahsaan is completely stepping out of the box that we (yes us fan can put him in a box too) have put him in and speaking his soul like never before. Songs such as "Pitch Black", "Stop Breaking My Heart" and "Higher Love" exudes such emotion and truly pulls you into his world. If you want to hear some real sanging and connect with a true artist's soul, then you need to put on some good headphones and have a glass of each one of these delicious wines and spirits that Rahsaan is serving.

Oh and in response to the quality of "Stronger Than Pride"...It is supposed to sound that way because it is from a LIVE show and was included as a bonus cut because of overwhelming fan requests for this song.

This boy keeps on giving his soul and it keeps on paying off. "Wines & Spirits", takes us on a journey through a style like only Rahsaan can do. Two of my favorites are "Stop Breaking My Heart", which I listen to at least 15 times in a row, and "Oh Lord(Take Me Back)". This boy is bad!!! So please add this to your collection. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Let's toast shall we to real soul music. Cheers!!!

Now this is what I'm talking about. An Artist that's willing to take risks and not go with the road well traveled. Isn't it ironic that to do this Mr. Patterson had to step out of the major league area, and go the independent route. My advice, as many have stated in their reviews, is to give this CD some time. I can now listen to this Cd and be moved by an artist at ease with himself. 3 years in the making, this CD is well worth the wait. My favorites are: 'Cloud 9','Delirium (Comes And Goes)'Feels Good', 'No Danger', 'Water', 'Stop Breaking My Heart',Deliver Me, and 'Time', which I have this discovered. And that's the thing; repeated listening really does bring its own rewards. An artist at ease with himself, and his craft.

I own all of Rahsaan's CDs and this is by far my favorite. I love the variety of tempo, style and lyrical imagery. He really seems to be growing as a human and as a songwriter. "Cloud 9" kicks it off with a retro-funk vibe, a bit like Chaka Khan meets Sly Stone, ethereal and bouncy. The second track, "Delirium," reminds me of OutKast mashed up with Rahsaan's swooping vocals...it has a great hook and should be a dancefloor hit. Other faves of mine from the CD are "Pitch Black" which is like nothing else...goth-tinged and bubbling like a dark sinister brew; "Feels Good" which is more like a classic Rahsaan tune, sweet and sensual; and "Time" which again calls to mind OutKast with its blend of R&B and straight-up rap. I could go on because nearly all the tracks are great and special in their own way. I'll just say I think this is by far Rahsaan's most interesting and welcoming CD -- there's absolutely something for everyone who likes soulful music.

Mr Patterson, twisted it up on this one..he could have just been the same ole, same ole..but he took it to another level. Bravo my friend I am riding this cloud with you...keep it coming!

I will say if you are a fan, and were looking for the same stuff..you may be a little put off...but don't be too quick to judge...put it in and take the journey with him..when it's all said and done you will be pleased!!

This is straight up old skool neo-soul. If a genre this young can have an old skool. The beats are funky enough to nod to but you can still have a conversation over it if necessary. Think smoky lounge good wine and friends.

I think some of the disappointed purchasers may not have heard this cd over the right sound system. The track samples do it no justice.