Mahogany Soul

Angie Stone

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 16, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B00005PJFV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,986 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Mahogany Soul perfectly describes the rich, deep, and lived-in music Angie Stone makes. This veteran singer/songwriter, who was one-third of rap trio Sequence, led acid-jazz combo Vertical Hold, and had a major hand in creating D'Angelo's Brown Sugar, follows up 1999's critically acclaimed Black Diamond with another collection of grown-up R&B that's sexy, satisfying, and smart. Along with (wo)manning the helm herself, Stone links up with like-minded visionaries. Chief among them are Raphael Saadiq, who produced the single "Brotha," which moves with a purposeful, rugged, old-soul swagger, and Andrea Martin, coproducer with Swizz Beatz on the vibrant and aching "Wish I Didn't Miss You," which features a dope "Backstabbers" loop and Stone's husky vocals. At 17 cuts, there's a bit of drag, but not enough to deter you from Stone's wise and determined ease, and on the gritty "Twenty Dollars," Stone gives all those R&B princesses something to really chew on. --Amy Linden

Product Description
Japanese release featuirng a bonus track: 'Makin Me Feel'. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Mahogany Neo Soul, March 13, 2002

By	J. Highsmith (Mitchellville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

First of all, I would like to apologize to all of the Angie Stone fans that told me that this CD was definitely one that was worth being in heavy rotation. Ladies and gentlemen, when I first bought "Mahogany Soul", the CD stayed on Track #17. I am not going to tell you how many times I played the "Brotha" Remix and then put the CD back in the case. I enjoyed the original version but the remix definitely caught my attention more than the original. With Alicia Keys and Eve joinging in to help make this remix one to remember, that's all I could find myself playing. About a month ago, I started playing this CD in it's entirety and let's just say that I am glad that I did. "Mahogany Soul" is definitely more than just the "Brotha" (Remix). The 1st song on the CD, "Soul Insurance" get this CD off to a good start and it sets the pace for what is yet to come on the CD. There are several songs that are in the running for the best song and they all for the most part fall in line with her debut CD "Black Diamond". I have been reading a few reviews on different websites and it seems that Angie isn't getting the props that she deserves. Believe me, this is definitely a CD that should be in your collection. My current favorite song on the CD is "Wish I Didn't Miss You" which takes the beat from The O' Jays' "Backstabbers" and Angie rips it with her vocals. I am a huge fan of 70s music so once I heard this song I was hooked. "The Ingredients Of Love" w/Musiq Soulchild is also another tight song and a nice collaboration between the Neo Soul artists. "What U Dyin' For" has Angie letting a man know that it is basically "time to move on" with your life because the woman that was in your life is gone. Ali Shaheed Muhammad, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest and Lucy pearl, lays down a nice track on this song. Other noteworthy tracks include "Soul Insurance", "Bottles And Cans", "20 Dollars", "Snowflakes", "Mad Issues" and "More Than A Woman" w/Calvin. When Angie sings you can tell that she is a seasoned veteran in the game eventhough she has just been getting recognized over the past few years. Her switch to J Records was a smart move though and you know Clive Davis will make sure her career stays on the right track. If you are an Angie Stone finatic make sure that you check out the Disappearing Acts soundtrack. She has a track on there called "Got To Get To Know You Better". It is classic Angie Stone. "Mahogany Soul" is a step up from "Black Diamond" if you ask me. I would recommend this CD to all of the Neo Soul fans out there. Here is the correct track listing:

1) Soul Insurance
2) Brotha (Original Version)
3) Pissed Off
4) More Than A Woman w/Calvin
5) Snowflakes
6) Wish I Didn't Miss You
7) Easier Said Than Done
8) Bottles & Cans
9) The Ingredients Of Love w/Musiq
10) What U Dyin' For
11) Makings Of You (Interlude)
12) Mad Issues
13) If It Wasn't
14) 20 Dollars
15) Life Goes On
16) The Heat (Outro)
17) Brotha (Remix) w/Alicia Keys & Eve
18) Time Of The Month (Bonus Track)

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature Soul, November 6, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Angie Stone is not a young ingénue and she isn't afraid to sing from an experienced point of view. Ms. Stone's second album, Mahogany Soul, full of songs with mature lyrics and some of the best grooves to come out this year. She samples some familiar beats into her songs, but reworks them to make them sound fresh and original. The best song on the album, "Wish I Didn't Miss You" takes the beat from The O'Jays' classic "Backstabbers", but totally reworks it into a taut groove. She takes a bit from "Lady Marmalade" in the album's opener "Soul Assurance" and gets into an Isley Brothers' early 70's soul-folk sound on "Bottles & Cans". Ms. Stone falls into the neo-soul category, but she has a much more expansive sound that most artists in that genre. "Easier Said Than Done" has a pop sound and "Brotha" is laced with a funk guitar. Songs like "Mad Issues", "Time Of The Month", "Life Goes On" and "Make Love" showcase her mature lyrics as she deals with relationships. Mahogany Soul continues the tradition of the greats like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mahogany Soul is a thankful con-soulation, December 8, 2001

By	Desmond Chan (Bishan North Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

MAHOGANY SOUL as Angie Stone's sophomore album after Black Diamond continues her own personalized grasp of neo-soul. With the influx of rhetoric hip-hop tracks from the likes of Destiny's Child, Enimem, LFO, Angie Stone stays true to her roots to give a unique 70s sound with textured themes. Just her first single "Brotha" on racism and xenophobia against black males is enough to justify her talents; her take on Al Green's " 20 Dollars" describes a tragic story on poverty, "So pissed off" has enough angst to drive the frustrations of her life and man. Teamed with sterling producers including Gerald Issacs on the love soul ballad "Bottles and Cans", Raphael Saadiq, Curtis Mayfield et al, Angie Stone puts her husky vocals to sublime effect. Her duet with Musiq Soulchild on "Ingredients of love" a soul-drenched love ballad that is worth a spin, catchy soul pop like What U dying for - are what makes Mahogany Soul more accessible. Yet it never erases the fact that Angie Stone is a class of her own when it comes to being a soul sista. It is a refreshing soundvibe and a deep con-soulation to what soul music is truly all about.