D'Angelo - Black Messiah (2014)

xp It's one of the truly amazing albums out there although it may take a while to sink in. (It did for me, it's one of those you really have to learn to listen to on its own terms. Voodoo was the same actually.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJZHm5_i1vI

i'm listening to "there's a riot goin' on" now, i get the comparison but "1000 deaths" is just so much...messier

"prayer," tho

second half of the album is better than the first imo
--uxorious gazumping (monotony)

just now getting through listen #1 but I think I agree with this

I feel a little bad for Rip Van D'Angelo. I hope that someone told him that as much as folks wanted a new record, people don't actually pay for music anymore. Alternatively, I hope plenty of people pay for this, and he gets more than a pity charting.

damn, this album... at work tryna let this sink in, can't waittt to be home and blast this.

woke up with the chorus of Metallica's "Leper Messiah" in my head, except with "bow to the black messiah" of course.

"prayer," tho

― just a couple of assholes having breakfast (slothroprhymes), Monday, December 15, 2014 8:05 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

woke up with the chorus of Metallica's "Leper Messiah" in my head, except with "bow to the black messiah" of course.

I keep singing it to "bring on the black messiah" a la "Bring On the Dancing Horses."

I feel a little bad for Rip Van D'Angelo. I hope that someone told him that as much as folks wanted a new record, people don't actually pay for music anymore. Alternatively, I hope plenty of people pay for this, and he gets more than a pity charting.

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, December 15, 2014 8:41 AM (35 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It's #2 on itunes behind Nicki. Not bad for a 14 year gap and 2 days of notice.

Yeah, but how many will it sell? I hope he doesn't land a number one with, like, 20k. Let alone number two with less. But yeah, it's a good question. 14 years later, exactly who is waiting for this? Anyone under 30? 35?

I kinda wish this album were released one song at a time, to give it all time to sink in.

1) Anyone know who plays/sings on this?
2) Anyone know what he's singing about? A few tracks in and the funky multi-track vox mud is thiiiiick

They'll be able to come out with some sort of deluxe physical/vinyl version whenever and sell plenty, I would think (the advantage of having a loyal 30+ following?).

xp

We've got the holidays, Josh!

having an older demographic is really one of the best things to have going on as far as album sales. it's why Adele outsold everybody.

i'm gonna go ahead and bet he ends up with the #1 album for the week and Nicki has to settle for #2.

Also, Adele was massively commercial and happy to please. This is tougher stuff, though so far it is exactly what I wanted (though not Reality of My Surroundings).

1) Anyone know who plays/sings on this?

from what was posted above, James Gadson is on drums for Sugah Daddy, and it sounds like ?uestlove on everything else, Pino on bass, and D on keys/guitar/all vox? but i'd love to see official credits.

i'm not saying he's gonna do Adele numbers. but he'll definitely do Frank Ocean numbers at least, which is plenty enough to be impressive in this sales climate and to make a big cultural impact.

the studio version of 'Sugah Daddy' is soooo nasty. after one listen that, 'Ain't That Easy', and 'Betray My Heart' are the instant gratification tracks, but i look forward to getting deep with everything else.

I could have sworn I heard a girl singing on one of the early tracks.

I keep humming 'Better pray for your sins / ca-use Black Messiah's coming' That one is a bit awkward, though.

This record sounds very different on headphones vs. speakers btw. Listened to it again on the train this morning and thought I was gonna have to revise my whole review (which I just turned in - it'll be on Stereogum within hours, I imagine). But ultimately I just felt like it was even more Riot than Reality, with maybe even some Pre-Millennium Tension thrown in.

Agreed on the headphones bit. Also: bits of rhythm and blues singalongs from the thirties and forties ("Back to the Future Pt II").

And "Betray My Heart," too. Plus the aforementioned boogie woogie piano in "Sugah Daddy."

"Prayer" has a perfect staggering home drunk from a party quality to it.

ah you're right Josh, from the Ebony review:

Drums come courtesy of Questlove—who co-writes three tracks—as well as James Gadson and Chris Dave. And though Black Messiah is credited to D’Angelo and the Vanguard, the band lineup is never expressly revealed. (In addition to three drummers, the record boasts five guitarists, including Jesse Johnson of the legendary Prince-affiliated outfit The Time, and D’Angelo himself.)

...

Q-Tip co-writes lyrics here (on “Sugah Daddy” too), as does singer-songwriter Kendra Foster, who contributes to eight Black Messiah tracks. She’s his Black Messiah foil, like Angie Stone in the days of his Brown Sugar debut.

His guitar work on "Betray My Heart" is stellar

Yeah, but how many will it sell? I hope he doesn't land a number one with, like, 20k. Let alone number two with less. But yeah, it's a good question. 14 years later, exactly who is waiting for this? Anyone under 30? 35?
--Josh in Chicago

*under-30 millennial in corner nervously raises hand*

I can't say I was exactly waiting for it the way some were bc I didn't ever expect it to happen. questlove's assurances had the feel of a guy covering for his friend.

but now it's here! and it builds on the promise of the first two records and legit positions him on the level of sly stone, Stevie and peak Isaac Hayes. it reminds me a lot of hot buttered soul, in fact.

there's a riot going on is about the only pt of comparison questlove made that makes any sense

i think they probably got very close to releasing an album several times over the years but the groundhog kept seeing his shadow. ?uest knew how much music they had ready to go, he just didn't have the say-so to give the final green light.

I don't think it builds on the promise of the first two at all, but it definitely does justice to the man, if not the wait.

ok, i'm gonna say it's Chris Dave on 'Prayer', that's the only one i wasn't sure about. gotta be.

heh he's not even sure: https://twitter.com/Chrisdaddydave/status/544468937841590273

lmao

engineer is tweeting some info

https://twitter.com/kanevibrations

definitely seeing the there's a riot goin on comparisons
which that being one of my fav albums of all time i'm pretty on board with this

"1000 deaths" reminds me of on the corner

xxpost -- thanks for that, that will be helpful!

The bell on "Prayer" >>>>>>

seriously!

"1000 deaths" reminds me of on the corner

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, December 15, 2014 9:56 AM (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah good call

thanks 2x! ok, James Gadson on Ain't That Easy, cool.

I think comparisons to "Riot" are both obvious and not entirely accurate. This album at least on first listen really doesn't have that same dark night of the soul (pun intended) quality, though it is murky. But again, need to hear the lyrics to get what and where he's at.

Or maybe if there is a "Riot" thing going on, it's tempered by all the same stuff that tempered "Voodoo," like dollops of Prince and whatnot.

i wonder if the current state of constant protest in response to murder of citizens was what pushed D to get this out the door finally? Did ?uesto use that as a crowbar, hence the title? Anybody know anything on that front?

When did the louder murmurings of an imminent album kick in? Certainly pre-Ferguson.

One of the gawker comments on Jordan's post there is something like "If I were a 16 year old girl, this would be a big deal."

A 16 year old girl was a 2 year old girl when Voodoo came out. I doubt a new D'Angelo album is high on a teenager's list of priorities.

wow the playing and arrangements on "Betray My Heart" are gorgeous

I def agree it's not totally like Riot, but some tracks have that kind murky, mid-rangey sound, a sorta thinned out rackety aspect that defines riot

[i]One of the gawker comments on Jordan's post there is something like "If I were a 16 year old girl, this would be a big deal."

A 16 year old girl was a 2 year old girl when Voodoo came out. I doubt a new D'Angelo album is high on a teenager's list of priorities.

― Mailkhimp (Johnny Fever), Monday, December 15, 2014 10:37 AM (28 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink{/i]

like is this really important either way?

itunes purchased... would've preferred the opportunity to get this on vinyl but eh can't wait, it is what it is

One of the gawker comments on Jordan's post there is something like "If I were a 16 year old girl, this would be a big deal."

ban gawker commenters

at some point I will listen to this album

it will be the first time I've ever listened to an entire D'Angelo album

I think dude is good but he's never been a go-to artist for me

I am really, really hoping for New Amerykah-esque vibes from this

the hype is making me want to never play it but I know curiosity will get the better of me at some point

Well, you have to concede, a 14 year gap between albums for a relatively major artist is a more natural hype spark than OMG, some person tweeted something they just found on bandcamp and it the best album of all time!

lots of really great, subtle guitar playing on this album