i still need to check out the aloe blacc album
― J0rdan S., Thursday, 4 November 2010 05:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
deej, i got it off slsk, i don't have a link to a rar/zip
j0, this is my immediate fave:
― The Reverend, Thursday, 4 November 2010 05:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
Basically, anyone who likes either New Amerykah and isn't fucking with this is stuck on stupid.
― The Reverend, Thursday, 4 November 2010 02:52 (4 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
was thinking of starting a thread about the last Mos Def album with p much the same line. Will download this, never knew Bilal was still kicking around.
― gazza bale flame (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 4 November 2010 07:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
yeah straight up i thought this dude was dead and shit
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Thursday, 4 November 2010 07:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
His unreleased album Love for Sale was good too:
― The Reverend, Thursday, 4 November 2010 07:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
i like this album a lot.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Thursday, 4 November 2010 10:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
how does this compare to Love 4 Sale (which is a classic imo), from what I've read it's a lot "rockier"
― i am not a display name (The Brainwasher), Thursday, 4 November 2010 12:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Great album. Along with the Quadron album, Plug Research is A+ this year.
― Michael F Gill, Friday, 5 November 2010 18:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
COOL ON THE OUTSIDE AND HOT IN THE MIDDLE
― kkkvagz (The Reverend), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 02:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
― kkkvagz (The Reverend), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 02:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's good, but when I put this on it kind of just drifts over my head. I guess it's a bit like listening to an r'n'b Tame Impala - like, there's music there and it's ostensibly interesting,but it doesn't hold me by the lapels and shake me like New Amerykah does. Sorry, I will keep listening.
― village idiot (dog latin), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 13:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is so great on headphones
― dark side of the goon (The Reverend), Thursday, 18 November 2010 04:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
like this a lot, though i think the songwriting could be a bit stronger at times. its mostly bilals voice/phrasing/tone etc that carry it for me. the last song is quite like cody chestnutt. overall though i think i like this album cos it has a kind of resigned tone that hangs over the whole thing.
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Thursday, 18 November 2010 10:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
I finally listened to this and... don't get it. It seems so aimless and confused. There are no hooks, none of the breaks were memorable - I just don't get it. It's like Voodoo if you take all that makes the D'Angelo great. The songwriting seems like he needs someone to tell him to sharpen it up. The New Amerykah comparison doesn't even really make sense considering how TIGHT that record is, even parts like Master Teacher are so focussed.
I'll give it another go but really this guy exists for me to occasionally pull out Fastlane.
― hoy orbison (a hoy hoy), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 11:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
― smanging pumpkins (The Reverend), Friday, 28 January 2011 10:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
"Flying" works because Bilal sounds like the broken-down woman he's singing about.
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Saturday, 26 February 2011 23:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
rev did u make a best albums list last year? i remember finding some really cool shit i had missed off your 09 one (shafiq husayn, meshell ndegeocello)
― flopson, Saturday, 26 February 2011 23:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
ILM 2010 Albums Poll Ballot+Stats Fiesta
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Saturday, 26 February 2011 23:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's a lot closer to the ILX hivemind's than the previous year's list, where I was kind of carving my own little corner of the world for myself. I also listened to a lot more rap, less r&b and dance than the few years previous.
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Saturday, 26 February 2011 23:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
ya, i feel i hewed p close to it too, or at least to stuff the same stuff you were onto. will check out esperanza spalding & ramadanman tho -- bilal is dope
― flopson, Saturday, 26 February 2011 23:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
I love the reggae coda of "Who Are You"
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Really like this lp, but it's mastered so horribly I can't usually make it all the way through. It's way too harsh.
Still have much love for Levels, Restart and All Matter. Three of 2010's best songs right there.
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
Really? I haven't noticed any problem with that.
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yah man, crank it and you'll have to turn down the highs in your e
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
*eq
Check the opening drums on Restart.
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
Compare it to the Aloe Blacc lp which was one of the best sounding albums from last year, any genre. That whole album is so warm and inviting, although not as adventurous on a song to song basis.
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't really ever listen to music loud tbh.
― banjee trillness (The Reverend), Sunday, 27 February 2011 00:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
It was one of the first things I noticed and I'm not a major geekaudiophile. My preferences with sound could differ greatly from yours so if you don't notice then cool. Still one of my favorite soul releases from '10 regardless.
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Sunday, 27 February 2011 01:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
This album still jams
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 26 October 2011 22:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maybe somebody can help me out with this: Bilal teased Airtight's Revenge with a single-worthy track that ultimately didn't make the album, and I don't remember what it was called or know where I can hear it again. I vaguely remember the song being in the vein of "Cake & Eat It Too," kind of heaving and beat-heavy, but that memory could be way off. I was really bummed when it wasn't on the album, then the album grew on me so much I didn't care anymore, but I'd love to hear that track again if anybody remembers it.
― Evan R, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 15:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
no idea, dude
― hologram ned raggett (The Reverend), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
Spent way too much time searching, but I found it. It's "Free." Definitely too beaty to have fit on the album, but not a bad song.
― Evan R, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 17:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nottz production is always very buoyant.
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 17:51 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah, I could go for a whole Nottz-produced soul album. Maybe not a Bilal-Nottz album, because there are probably better uses for Bilal's unique talents, but I always dig Nottz.
― Evan R, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 17:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
They had another joint on Nottz solo album
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 18:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
New album is streaming at NPR and sounds nothing like how I expected it to sound
http://www.npr.org/2013/02/17/172110416/first-listen-bilal-a-love-surreal?sc=tw&cc=share
― Evan R, Monday, 18 February 2013 20:47 (3 months ago) Permalink
this is fantastic
― On Being Blue (Da Ba Dee): A Philosophical Inquiry (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 21:16 (3 months ago) Permalink
Only listened to it once, but my jaw has dropped so many times already. It's no easy feat making an album this soft so daring
― Evan R, Monday, 18 February 2013 21:27 (3 months ago) Permalink
yeah I'm just listening now and there are so many odd little earworms but still this record already feels like an old friend. Highlight so far is "slipping away", which is just wow.
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 21:42 (3 months ago) Permalink
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 21:45 (3 months ago) Permalink
loving this so far
― skeet-skeet-gate (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Monday, 18 February 2013 21:54 (3 months ago) Permalink
this is awesome
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:32 (3 months ago) Permalink
*throwing the gauntlet down*
― The Reverend, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 10:01 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― 'glown' with the king (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:34 (3 months ago) Permalink
the drums on "back to love" are killing me rn
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:35 (3 months ago) Permalink
okay so i'm only into the third song but so far this record is amazing at creating a sense of extreme space even when like a million things are happening at once
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:38 (3 months ago) Permalink
which is great bc correct me if i have a wrong impression of airtight's revenge but a lot of what kept me from really getting into that record was how busy it seemed
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:40 (3 months ago) Permalink
I loved airtight's revenge but yeah I see what you're saying, this feels less... dense?
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:44 (3 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, it definitely is. There's a lot more space on this one. Totally different vibe, too. (And as good as the first half of this one is, the second half is even more striking).
― Evan R, Monday, 18 February 2013 22:47 (3 months ago) Permalink
also i know everybody made last year about channel orange vs. kaleidoscope dream but this record (at least so far) actually registers to me as kind of a version of channel orange i find 100 percent compelling. a similar feeling of wandering strangeness but the songs are all incredibly present oh and the PLAYING is fantastic
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 22:48 (3 months ago) Permalink
Unfortunately, it's not as flashy or personality-driven as Channel Orange, and between that and its leisurely pacing and NPR jazziness I'm afraid that it's not gonna get a fraction of the press it deserves. I feel like this could be the album that turns me into Lex, the true believer crying out to every critic that they need to hear an album they have no intention of ever listening to
― Evan R, Monday, 18 February 2013 22:52 (3 months ago) Permalink
the second half is even more striking
the glasper track is incredible! does ilx like glasper? No thread, and I can't remember seeing any chatter anywhere. Too npr-y? I loved the last one with all the neo-soul artists on it (bilal, badu, ndegeocello!)
ha xp
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:01 (3 months ago) Permalink
answers my question I guess. I'm a brit so I have only a vague sense of what npr even is, except that a lot of my favourite albums seem to turn up as "first listens" there
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:03 (3 months ago) Permalink
That Glasper album was very good, but maybe a little "safe" to garner widespread interest. Glasper's contributions here, though, are head turning. Would love to maybe see these two make a full album together some day
― Evan R, Monday, 18 February 2013 23:06 (3 months ago) Permalink
"back to love" is ruling my life today
― een, Monday, 18 February 2013 23:06 (3 months ago) Permalink
channel orange invocation so very unnecessary
― r|t|c, Monday, 18 February 2013 23:10 (3 months ago) Permalink
sorry rtc! was just a thought i had. forget i mentioned it
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:11 (3 months ago) Permalink
lol u dont have to actually apologise
it's just a smothering idea for first blushes is all
― r|t|c, Monday, 18 February 2013 23:15 (3 months ago) Permalink
ooh i didn't know robert glasper was on this
― william tyler the creator (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:16 (3 months ago) Permalink
true
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:17 (3 months ago) Permalink
tbh i'd kinda always felt this guy flattered to deceive somewhat (not to say i ever thought he was fraudulent, just that idk he could have done more than settle for the cosily oblique) but the second half of this is sounding pretty wonderful and deeply satisfying
― r|t|c, Monday, 18 February 2013 23:25 (3 months ago) Permalink
you could be onto something for all I know, I've always been glad to be a sucker tbh
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:28 (3 months ago) Permalink
yeah never mind whatever i said upthread about this record bc i honestly hadn't reached the second side yet
which goddamn
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:39 (3 months ago) Permalink
― wins rules at negative self-demolition (wins), Monday, 18 February 2013 23:28 (Yesterday) Bookmark
winsomely put. the unspoken superficialities of bohemian appreciation is a topic of perpetual interest imo, like i know as i fall in love with this record that i'm certainly not really checking for the lyrics as a whole and indeed ever getting round to doing so would likely feel like an artificial labour; simultaneously however i wallow in the dusky signifiers of numinous soulful substance.
guess essentially it's a question of personal stock markets and why i sell on a supposedly thin and indulgent first half and buy on a supposedly rich and affecting second half; in reality i don't doubt they're cut from the same cloth
if there were an interesting comparison with channel orange it's might be one of image and presentation; how the cover art of each invite/preclude different stratas of suckerdom (a hunch can't be bovd to flesh out so good luck w/ that)
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 14:34 (2 months ago) Permalink
in any case, got this album helplessly on loop today
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 14:38 (2 months ago) Permalink
Here's my weird bias: I wish the second half came first, because it's the much more interesting sell (and I suppose because it has the killer vocal performances), even though the album is a much more logical listen as it is. I just don't want people dipping in for a few songs, assuming they've heard everything there is, then ducking out before they get to the revelations.
― Evan R, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 14:56 (2 months ago) Permalink
so far i like to hear it as two mini lps, small and perfectly formed like blacksummersnight; probably if i really studied the lyrics there'd be some greater intended arc this might disfigure but concision has its own logic (and often a better, more suggestive one at that)
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:22 (2 months ago) Permalink
doubtful in any case that anyone so minded to bother to check this album out at all is ever going to skip the second half
― r|t|c, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:25 (2 months ago) Permalink
anyone have credits for this? who's on drums?
― queeple qua queeple (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:38 (2 months ago) Permalink
Yeah the drums AND the bass O__o
― skeet-skeet-gate (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:39 (2 months ago) Permalink
guessing derrick hodge on bass
― queeple qua queeple (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:43 (2 months ago) Permalink
this could be a banner year for, uh, neo-neo-soul. this, jose james, and i guess it's maybe even possible that there's an outside chance that d'angelo and maxwell will drop their records.
― queeple qua queeple (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:46 (2 months ago) Permalink
that would be an incredible year.
― skeet-skeet-gate (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:48 (2 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, that's a trend piece I would love to read
― Evan R, Tuesday, 19 February 2013 15:59 (2 months ago) Permalink
definitely feeling the slower second half more
― queeple qua queeple (Jordan), Tuesday, 19 February 2013 16:19 (2 months ago) Permalink
was quite excited about this based on the hosannahs but in what way is this not bilal making the same kind of album he always makes? that's nice to listen to with a few interesting details for a week or so and then you completely forget about it. case in point, his last album seems to have disappeared from my itunes and this is the first time i've noticed. "slipping away" is pretty great i guess but he never stops my attention wandering.
the robert glasper album last year was really great, much better and more varied imo
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 February 2013 14:57 (2 months ago) Permalink
this is based on 2 listens, i guess i'm not done with it yet but it didn't blow me away
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 February 2013 14:58 (2 months ago) Permalink
don't recall much inhomogeneous about the glasper rec, nice enough though it was
― r|t|c, Saturday, 23 February 2013 15:36 (2 months ago) Permalink
really? quite apart from the multiplicity of voices you've got breezy summer jams, heavy-lidded bedroom soul, dr dre interpolations, nirvana through a talkbox...it's one of the most varied (broadly) neo-soul albums i can think of
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 February 2013 17:54 (2 months ago) Permalink
imo the "forgettable" feeling with bilal (which i also get) has a lot more to do with the internet crit community's tendency not to reward these types of records than with some fundamental replay value issue
― een, Saturday, 23 February 2013 19:17 (2 months ago) Permalink
In case this hadn't been posted:
http://m.soundcloud.com/eone-music/bilal-the-retrospection
DAMN.
― Raymond Cummings, Thursday, 7 March 2013 12:49 (2 months ago) Permalink
I listened to the new album once and forgot about it :/
― radric: the gathering (The Reverend), Thursday, 7 March 2013 18:22 (2 months ago) Permalink
still hanging in there nicely for me
― r|t|c, Thursday, 7 March 2013 18:24 (2 months ago) Permalink
yeah, I need to go back
― radric: the guccining (The Reverend), Thursday, 7 March 2013 18:34 (2 months ago) Permalink
Buying today, will report back
― Raymond Cummings, Monday, 11 March 2013 20:45 (2 months ago) Permalink
"butterfly" is my favourite, that one is gorgeous
― monotony, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 01:17 (2 months ago) Permalink
Not sure if this album can crack my top 10, but love the shit out of "west side girl"
― Raymond Cummings, Friday, 22 March 2013 11:53 (1 month ago) Permalink
What would Bilal's Purple Rain look like?
― Raymond Cummings, Wednesday, 27 March 2013 11:36 (1 month ago) Permalink
This is a GROWER
― Raymond Cummings, Tuesday, 2 April 2013 12:34 (1 month ago) Permalink