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House/Electronic, Pop, R&B

Random Ish: Sharon Jones, Kelis

Sharon Jones - 100 Days, 100 Nights

Sharon Jones dropped her new video for 100 Days, 100 Nights, and I’m diggin’ it. Word is that it was directed by Adam Elias Buncher and the cameras used were actually from the 50s and were bought off eBay for $50 each. Word.

All of y’all who hate Amy Winehouse because she stole from Black music or whatever, should do yourselves a favor and cop Ms. Jones’ album or see her when she comes to your town (they share the same backing band). The live show is downright incredible. I’ve seen her twice (in DC and LA) and both times I was the only Black person in the audience. Check out our Sharon Jones interview from last year, while you’re at it.

Kelis Dropped from her Jive

Kelis - 80’s Joint

So sad. I really think that America never really “got” Kelis. Even though her third album, Tasty, catapulted her to a household name, I think she was never “mainstream” enough for radio and labels to back her and she . Plus, since she was a pet project for the Neptunes, I never thought she was able to find her true voice. Here second album, Wanderland never even dropped in the US, and even though she tried to drop a radio single (”Bossy”) for her last album, Kelis Was Here, has sold less than 150,000 copies to date. I’ve like Kelis from day one because she always seemed to want to redefine the concept of R&B every chance she could get. She still can sell like crazy in the UK and Europe though, so I’m sure that some label will pick her up soon.

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Hip-Hop, Negroclash!, New Music, Rock/Alternative

Review: Kenna - Make Sure They See My Face

Kenna
Make Sure They See My Face

“Why did they call it Make Sure They See My Face if they don’t have the damn face on the album cover?” my friend said as he thumbed through the liner notes of Kenna’s new album.

Unfortunately, Kenna has been getting reactions like that for a hot minute now. It almost seems like he’s been fighting off the haters since day one of his career. On first glance, most people won’t ”get” him. Even with this new seemingly multicultural music scene–with groups like the Black Eyed Peas looking like a Benneton commercial, acts like Justin Timberlake and Amy Winehouse taking over R&B, and rappers spitting over Daft Punk and Radiohead beats–a black guy singing like Bono of U2 STILL turns heads.

Not that it matters though. Kenna has gone above and beyond with his latest album. Production was headed by Chad Hugo of the Neptunes (a childhood friend), and the album sounds much more fresh and consistent than New Sacred Cow, his previous effort. Upbeat tunes like “Face the Gun” and “Say Goodbye to Love” manage to sound pop accessible ans still maintain that Kennaedge. songs like “Sun Red, Sky Blue,” and “Daylight” are powerful and soulful–almost sounding like Kenna has something to prove. The train does derail slightly, with “Loose Wires” sounding too eclectic for its own good and “Better Wise Up,” sounding more like Thom Yorke for comfort.

All in all though, Make Sure They See My Face is a powerful album. Off the bat you see Kenna’s vision for music in the 21st century. Haters be dammed.

Extra Credit
Kenna Interview with Malcom Gladwell, author of Blink.
Lady Glock’s Kenna Interview

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