D'Angelo - Black Messiah (2014)

there's no dearth of great live acts, but D'Angelo is on another plain at the moment. you really shouldn't miss him if you get a chance to see him. 1000 deaths was astonishing, like industrial funk-rock.

I last saw him in the Summer of 2012, and that was a strong, fun show. But this was something else. The Vanguard are a sinfully great group, Kendra Foster is the perfect foil for D, Black Messiah contains righteous material for them to perform. And maybe it's just the fact that the album has finally made it out there, and he can shut the door on all the 'lost album', 'wasted artist' stories, that's set him on fire at the moment.

i guess the vinyl is out in the wild....

seeing him tonight, very excited but also slightly worried that he won't show up

went to buy a copy at rough trade east tonight, they'd sold out

obv being there is diff to hearing audio, but after hearing the sweden show he did this year, i do wish he had more material by now to play. the brown sugar stuff (or the title track at least, though maybe its also to do with his not-always-improved new arrangements of old songs) doesnt really stand up in the way the last two albums do.

basically, what i mean, is when he gets a few more albums under his belt, i think his shows would be even more awesome.

anyone able to report on the sound of the vinyl? is it like a lot of modern major label vinyl releases where you're prob better off with the cd?

it's a double vinyl so I'd hope the sound was at least okay!

they should release a live ep from this tour. i remember there were plans to do a live lp for the last album, but it never came out. and i think he needs a boost - a live ep/album might help promote him right now (far as i know, the album's not selling esp well, despite all the raves).

not like the album has any other obvious singles... unless there are plans for a deluxe edition with some 'hits' on there (which i doubt), though the idea of dangelo doing a song like uptown funk sort of intrigues me.

my other idea/fantasy is hearing someone (idk, arca? someone who has a command of dance/electronic music and more crucially, R&B) remix something from the album in a radical fashion.

There were video cameras filming the Hammersmith Apollo from the audience - wonder if that will end up getting released? I hope so, as that was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen.

did anybody see him in NYC last night?

I saw him, he was incredible. From what I've heard and read about his Apollo performance, last night's was pretty similar. He played nearly everything on the new album, turning Sugah Daddy into a 15-minute James Brown jam, and combining both Back to the Futures during the first encore. The first encore was probably the best part of his set, four songs, all fast, starting with Lady, morphing into Left and Right, then seguing into Back to the Future and ending the encore with an amazing version of Chicken Grease. His second encore was slower, starting with an extended version of 'Til It's Done and closing the show with a 15-minute Untitled. During Untitled he did the thing where he dismisses his band members one at a time until it was just him and Pino then just him on the piano.

The and was amazing and D was full of energy, his voice does not lose any of its power live. He spent most of the show in frontman mode though he did play guitar on The Charade and the keys on Untitled and the beginning of Sugah Daddy. Jesse Johnson and Pino were incredible, obviously.

Great show, one of the best I've seen in some time.

During Untitled he did the thing where he dismisses his band members one at a time until it was just him and Pino then just him on the piano.

This totally ruled at the Apollo show

sounds like it was a straight reprise of the apollo show. good times.

anyone get the vinyl? how's the pressing?

is there a 1 LP option

I think it's 2 but it's only 18 on Amazon

I grabbed the vinyl from Amoeba Berkeley. They wiped away the top row of the end-caps closest to the register to display solely this album. Double record, with gatefold sleeve, and the booklet is an 8 page full-size job that just squeaks into the cover, big photos, lyrics, credits. No groove-cramming concerns, the longest side is like 17 minutes. Download code printed right into the booklet instead of a paper scrap. It's RCA, but not Dynaflex nor any 180gm thing, totally manageable average feeling double record from the 70s. Spun it all probably three times since getting it yesterday, and it's not worn out its welcome whatsoever. Whatever integrity in the liners remains the same about recording to tape with analog equipment, but there's no mention about special vinyl mastering. It sounds fantastic in any case. Betray My Heart is a joy to behold on wax. I'd jump on a copy if you're a record collector person. Since I perceive the vibe to remain constant throughout the album, I look forward to randomizing my starting playback amongst each quarter, as it's one of those records you can just lounge with.

sounds like it was a straight reprise of the apollo show.

And exactly how he ended his 2000 tour.

thanks specterist!

hilton als just passed through spotify friends playing d'angelo's prayer and i did not even know we were connected

I know Voodoo is a perfect record and is probably objectively better but ever since the night I stayed up late and listened to the 2xLP version of this headphones, it's been gradually revealing many of its secrets to me, and it's downright supernatural. Like, I keep swearing there are things being added to the mix every time I listen. Sure, I'm often stoned out of my gourd when I'm listening, but not every time.

Only bad thing about this record is that when it's over, 95% of music sounds like some bullshit in comparison; my iTunes went right to Dadawa after "Another Life" and I was all "the fuck outta here with that"

Will have to revisit this album, that's a pretty fine testament to its greatness imo.

yeah i've actually not been listening as much to this because it's so like serious, and i don't wanna make too much of my other music sound like some bullshit too often

are we going to poll the tracks yet? too soon? will that ruin it? because i have NO IDEA what i would choose.

Wait a year at least

I will say the "Tutu" hate upthread is fucking bananas. That one's in my top 3 I think

yeah i've actually not been listening as much to this because it's so like serious, and i don't wanna make too much of my other music sound like some bullshit too often

― j., Saturday, March 21, 2015 10:37 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I first heard this when I was trying to play catch-up for my ILX albums ballot and by the time I got halfway thru the album I had my head in my hands thinking wtf was I trying to di, ranking albums

haha me too, totally gave up on my eoy list

Yow, Bonnaroo just added D'Angelo and the Vanguard -- so now I get to see him and Kendrick the same weekend. Wonder if they'll guest with each other?

D'Angelo billed for Outside Lands festival in SF too

New four-track live Spotify session: Betray My Heart / Really Love / The Door / She's Always in my Hair
http://open.spotify.com/album/33hbEGU8Dwlfek9aXrsO3D

if i was nitpicking, i'd like a version of really love for over and over replay use that has the first minute or so of the intro clipped.
― a stupid red mute juggalo (forksclovetofu), Monday, December 15, 2014

^

the eight minute version of really love on this live spotify track is Doooooooooope

the "betray" my heart" is fucking crazy too

omg, this version of 'always in my hair' goes bazonkers in the second half

wooooow this spotify sessions is great so far, what a band

Interview with Bobby Searle.

if anyone mp3 rips, a link would be super appreciated...spotify not available in my part of the world :(

SEALE Thank you, brother.

With “Black Messiah,” you exhibited a political side not previously seen in your music.

D’ANGELO I’ve always kind of tried to do something that was a little different than just simple “I love you, baby”-type songs. Like “Brown Sugar,” it was a metaphor, or a double entendre, if you will. A lot of people thought I was talking about a girl when I was actually talking about something else. I was trying to tackle some issues on “Devil’s Pie.” But on this album in particular, before the songs were even written, I knew that the name of it was going to be “Black Messiah.” There are also songs that didn’t make the record but that I’m getting ready to release in the fall. I got a song called “Go and Tell Bro.”

SEALE Not COINTELPRO — “Go and Tell Bro”?

D’ANGELO Right. The chorus goes — [sings] “Every time I turn my head, it’s the same old thing again, ain’t much different now than it was back then.”

heyyyyyyy new album follow up

There are also songs that didn’t make the record but that I’m getting ready to release in the fall.

*TUMESCES*

I'm usually leery when an artist reveals that the next album is just going to be leftovers from the last one (even though they always offer "but for real they're great songs they just didn't fit the previous album" assurances), but here it's like yes yes, more leftovers please. Just happy for new D'Angelo music in whatever form it takes.

Saw him last night in Queens. Great show, I don't think anyone sat down during the whole set, everyone danced, tons of folks new all the words to all the songs. Lots of couples. It should have felt like a glitzy stadium show, but it felt like a small, sweaty club where no one realized how hot and humid it was until they got on the subway to go back home.

yeah i thought it was an incredible show as well... i didn't even realize until the end that he didn't play some of my fav songs that he had been playing at other shows

Yeah, he was great at Bonnaroo the other week, too. He had a 1 a.m. slot, up against the superjam, and didn't actually go on til 1:30. But he had a big crowd, and everybody was dancing. His outfits and the band's gave a very Prince/Revolution vibe, which seemed fitting. Though -- no offense to the beloved Revolution -- D's band is better.