Brady Delivers

It's a little retro, very soulful, and definitely one for your collection. Wayne Brady has finally put out his solo CD, and frankly I wish he could outsell Jamie Foxx's double platinum effort about sex, sex, and more sex with a few rappers thrown in. Well Wayne's CD, "A Long Time Coming," is justly titled, has no rappers (except Wayne on the party stomper "Back in the Day" (one of my favorites), and is about love...sometimes, about love that has come to an end, like "You and Me," clearly about his recent divorce.

Nonetheless, Wayne's refreshing takes on the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" (turned into a ballad and a true gem on this CD), Stevie Wonder's "All I Do" (well done, Wayne!) and Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" are alone worth buying this CD. And yes, he actually puts his own stank on these songs and does not try to imitate the originators, unlike a lot of artists doing cover songs today. (I won't name names, but you know who you are, fakers!) The lead song, "Ordinary," isn't bad either. Loveliness can be found on "Sweetest Berry." That should get radio play. Kudos to Wayne, a man with a great voice.

My only hope is Concord Music Group will support this album and help put it on the charts in a good spot. Wayne needs to open up for some folks on tour, Maxwell perhaps?

It's been "a long time coming" since some really nice music not focused on the booty has been recorded by a man. Is the face of R&B starting to change?

Anthony's Got Flavor and Something to Savor

You could put Anthony David in the company of Southern vocalist Anthony Hamilton, but I think this brother can hold his own. "Acey Duecy" is a fine compilation of Southern Soul at its best, with lyrics that will give its listeners something to savor.

Anthony's not all about infidelity like so many other R&B singers. He's actually about getting his freak on with that one special Georgia Peach and trying to make a relationship last, as is evident on the song "Words" with India.Arie. You've gotta love this video, so check it out and let me know what you think. It is music and a visual for the soul.

And if your relationship isn't working out these days, give this song a listen and get creative and patch things up! Tell your mate "Pagebu" and Anthony David influenced that truce.

And Anthony, I'm loving that nose ring! Retro never goes out of style...or beautiful male voices for that matter.

video.umrg.com/anthonydavid/words/quicktime.asp

Loving This Woman

Finally! Chante Moore has a new solo project! And this one is for the heart. "Love the Woman" is Chante as we all know and love her, a songstress who sings about love, but what makes this project special is that this CD cuts to the core of some REAL issues in love - and they're not all pretty. (Hmmm. Are Kenny and Chante having marital problems? Stop prying, Pagebu!)

One of my personal favorites is a song called "My Eyes." For anyone who has ever been in a relationship with someone that possesses eyes that cannot lie, this song reveals what they mean at critical times in the relationship. "Always Gonna Be Something" urges couples to stay together because, the truth is, if we don't get it right with our present mates, we're gonna come face to face with them again in a new relationship. They'll just have a different name but will act the same. "It Ain't Supposed to Be This Way" is about when love starts looking like pain.

So Chante fans, if you're ready to face love head on, this is the album for you. And for Chante's exploration in honesty and singing songs that cut to the core of when relationships go wrong, I have to say, I'm loving this woman.

Lalah, Lalah, Lalah!!!

It is always refreshing when a talented artist makes a thought-provoking CD that is beautiful in content, vocal delivery, and lyrical and musical composition. Eulaulah's (yes, that's her given name) latest offering, "Self Portrait," introduces each listener to her soul.

My wish for Lalah is this: Can a real man come along so this woman's heart won't remain broken? While poignant with each note she sings from her divine gift, I hope that one day, just like Mary J. Blige and Chante Moore, Lalah will be able to sing songs about finding love and keeping it.

Then again, aren't we all searching for that, or am I the only one?

Check out www.germuse.com soon for a Lalah Hathaway page. In the meantime, get to iTunes or Best Buy or wherever you buy your music legitimately and support this amazing vocalist. Show Lalah the love she deserves!

Lyfe Sucks. Period.

I hate to say this, but Lyfe Jennings' new CD, "Change," sucks. I am very disappointed in his (or perhaps his label's?) decision to "assimilate" his sound. What is up with soul singers? Why is that after a few albums, they start making pop songs that are so demeaning to their beautiful, soulful voices and degrade their sounds? I've seen this happen time and time again. Hell, even Usher's doing it on "Here I Stand" (and if "Love in This Club" is not pop, I don't know what is). Nonetheless, I think this is Lyfe's worse CD, and wish this soulful man would have continued telling his life story and made more songs like "Never Never Land" instead of opting for "change."

Madonna, Come On!!!

I am thoroughly convinced that some of the veterans making music today are losing their minds. Maybe it has something to do with age. First Janet needs "discipline" like she hasn't been out of control long enough, and now Madonna teams with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland on one of the wackest so-called dance records I've ever heard. (Can someone tell me why they only have 4 minutes to save the world 'cause I really don't get the madness.)

Crotch open, something in your mouth, and more atrocious songs for the kiddies at 49. Madonna, come on already!!! I thought you were evolving so nicely with "Ray of Light" and "Confessions on a Dance Floor." Now you put out this? Why didn't you hire one of those great foreign producers like you have in recent years to give you a distinctive sound and not a Timbaland and Neptunes sound?

Madonna, come on!!!

Mariah, Retire!!!

Okay, so "E=MC2" is out, and frankly, I'm not impressed. I mean, how gullible are fans nowadays? Don't they know rehashed material when they hear it? "Touch My Body" is not original. It sounds like something I've heard before but can't put my finger on. It probably has something to do with the fact that it was produced by Jermaine Dupri, whose sound, when it comes to ballads is sooooo predictable and repetitive at this point in his career. Sorry Janet!

I've been tired of Mariah ever since I realized that her breasts got awfully big over the years, and she insists on trying to play the cute role and wear tight things when she, in my opinion, is not sexy. She's not really that cute, either. But it is the voice that I admired, back when "Vision of Love" brought her to the public realm.

Nonetheless, she is the last of the Mohigans, the last of the superstars with clout and quality albums behind their name. (The Mohigans also includes Madonna, Janet, and Whitney, although, the latter may already be in the pasture.)

Despite the fact that she can still go multi-platinum and currently holds the record for having the most number one singles, let's face it, the pipes ain't the same. (She doesn't hit those high notes anymore. Am I the only one taking notice?) I also believe that Mariah needs to take a break. Hell, between her and Beyonce, they are two people who don't know how to go somewhere and sit down so that fans can miss them awhile.

So unless the voice comes back full blast, the breast confession is rendered, and she stops having cheesy hit songs under Jermaine Dupri's production hand, I have one recommendation: MARIAH, RETIRE!!!