"Has GD discussed this recently released Bilal album?"
Bilal is finally making straight-ahead soul again. Really good album. My only real "gripe" is that the album should have started at track #3 and put those first two tracks elsewhere in the mix. Other than that, it's a great listen.
1. "its a solid album..but i almost prefer the avant garde Bilal sound" In response to Reply # 0
Adrian Younge handled all the production on this one so it was bound to be a retro soul/funk type affair.
I like it as a body of work.. Its a great addition to Bilal's catalogue. But in the big scheme.. Love Surreal, Airtights Revenge, and Love for Sale are all superior albums.
Bilal's off kilter writing, & his meandering range of vocals would only be caged/stifled if he stuck with this head-nod groove-centered style of production.
To me, Bilal is best when he's free to genre-hop.. He's one of the few that can do it without sounding contrived... (see "Lost for Now" and tell me that aint one of the best country songs made in years..)
Bottom line... In Another Life is dope.. But I need Bilal to push on to the next project and production team that inspires him.
5. "I ain't mad at that assessment..." In response to Reply # 3
I actually took off 3 songs and moved one to create what I think is a perfect listen. The songs weren't bad... just didn't fit into the flow for me. Some of his best work to date is on this album imo.
4. "His weakest, and the fault lies with Younge" In response to Reply # 0
The production is stilted and muddy. Analog doesn't have to mean shitty-sounding!
The album plays like Younge made the tracks and Bilal wrote to them, as a rapper would, rather than having an organic, "built together", feel. The album rarely breathes, and largely forces Bilal to stay boxed in.
That said, it's still Bilal so there is plenty to still like, and it's still better than 80% of what's out there. But I like when Bilal gets loose, and look forward to a record where he gets to play...
Let me get full albums produced by Glasper, Thundercat/Brainfeeder crew, and/or Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
Then let's really let him get raw and introduce him to Serj Tankian and Mike Patton. Talk about a "3 Tenors" for a new generation...
>The production is stilted and muddy. Analog doesn't have to >mean shitty-sounding!
I kinda know what you mean there... it's just sounds like instruments are being played in a room with no digital touch-up. That works for most of the songs, but I do think 'Lunatic' needed more digitizing or something
>The album plays like Younge made the tracks and Bilal wrote to >them, as a rapper would, rather than having an organic, "built >together", feel.
Yeah I didn't get that from the album at all. I actually said elsewhere that I love the way Young built the music around Bilal lol. I happen to think Bilal needs to be boxed in a bit tho, because he gets too silly when he's not. This album contains the cleanest melodies he's ever written... or at least since the Love 4 Sale sale. 'Open Up The Door' <---this especially 'I Really Don't Care' 'Pleasure Toy' 'Love Child' 'Satellites' etc It's like a dream come true to FINALLY hear Bilal just write some clean, straight-forward songs.
>That said, it's still Bilal so there is plenty to still like, >and it's still better than 80% of what's out there. But I like >when Bilal gets loose, and look forward to a record where he >gets to play...
He did it on the last album, Love Surreal. I think with this new album he manages to showcase his voice while maintaining some nice groove and melodies for once.
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