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."
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:25 (nine years ago) link
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
― 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.
― Greer, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:26 (nine years ago) link
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, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:31 (nine years ago) link
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
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:38 (nine years ago) link
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
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 14:41 (nine years ago) link
We've got the holidays, Josh!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 15 December 2014 14:42 (nine years ago) link
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.
― some dude, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:43 (nine years ago) link
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).
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:46 (nine years ago) link
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.
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 14:48 (nine years ago) link
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.
― some dude, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:50 (nine years ago) link
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.
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 14:50 (nine years ago) link
I could have sworn I heard a girl singing on one of the early tracks.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:51 (nine years ago) link
I keep humming 'Better pray for your sins / ca-use Black Messiah's coming' That one is a bit awkward, though.
― Frederik B, Monday, 15 December 2014 14:54 (nine years ago) link
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.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Monday, 15 December 2014 14:55 (nine years ago) link
Agreed on the headphones bit. Also: bits of rhythm and blues singalongs from the thirties and forties ("Back to the Future Pt II").
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:00 (nine years ago) link
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.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:03 (nine years ago) link
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.
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:06 (nine years ago) link
His guitar work on "Betray My Heart" is stellar
― Indexed, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:09 (nine years ago) link
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.
― just a couple of assholes having breakfast (slothroprhymes), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:18 (nine years ago) link
there's a riot going on is about the only pt of comparison questlove made that makes any sense
― deej loaf (D-40), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:22 (nine years ago) link
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.
― some dude, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:23 (nine years ago) link
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.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:23 (nine years ago) link
ok, i'm gonna say it's Chris Dave on 'Prayer', that's the only one i wasn't sure about. gotta be.
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:26 (nine years ago) link
heh he's not even sure: https://twitter.com/Chrisdaddydave/status/544468937841590273
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:29 (nine years ago) link
lmao
― deej loaf (D-40), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:37 (nine years ago) link
engineer is tweeting some info
https://twitter.com/kanevibrations
― Number None, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:44 (nine years ago) link
definitely seeing the there's a riot goin on comparisonswhich that being one of my fav albums of all time i'm pretty on board with this
― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:44 (nine years ago) link
"1000 deaths" reminds me of on the corner
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 15 December 2014 15:56 (nine years ago) link
xxpost -- thanks for that, that will be helpful!
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 December 2014 15:57 (nine years ago) link
The bell on "Prayer" >>>>>>
seriously!
― lex pretend, Monday, 15 December 2014 16:12 (nine years ago) link
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, December 15, 2014 9:56 AM (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah good call
― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:15 (nine years ago) link
thanks 2x! ok, James Gadson on Ain't That Easy, cool.
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:27 (nine years ago) link
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.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 16:32 (nine years ago) link
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?
― a stupid red mute juggalo (forksclovetofu), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:36 (nine years ago) link
When did the louder murmurings of an imminent album kick in? Certainly pre-Ferguson.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 16:37 (nine years ago) link
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, 15 December 2014 16:37 (nine years ago) link
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."
― 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?
― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:39 (nine years ago) link
itunes purchased... would've preferred the opportunity to get this on vinyl but eh can't wait, it is what it is
― Οὖτις, Monday, 15 December 2014 16:45 (nine years ago) link
ban gawker commenters
― just a couple of assholes having breakfast (slothroprhymes), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:51 (nine years ago) link
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
― the farakhan of gg (DJP), Monday, 15 December 2014 16:51 (nine years ago) link
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!
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 December 2014 16:59 (nine years ago) link
lots of really great, subtle guitar playing on this album
― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 15 December 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
My Stereogum review is live.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Monday, 15 December 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
having a hard time understanding ILM being into D'Angelo
― Raccoon Tanuki, Monday, 15 December 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
how can you review an album after listening to it for less than a day? Needs at least a week in rotation.
― Raccoon Tanuki, Monday, 15 December 2014 17:07 (nine years ago) link
sit a while, hit repeat, write some notes, stand up and walk around, sit some more, shape up the notes, hit spell-check
― j., Monday, 15 December 2014 17:08 (nine years ago) link
― Raccoon Tanuki, Monday, December 15, 2014 11:05 AM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah pretty confusing that ilx would be into the work of a critically acclaimed R&B singer, how mystifying
― deej loaf (D-40), Monday, 15 December 2014 17:09 (nine years ago) link
― Mailkhimp (Johnny Fever), Monday, December 15, 2014 11:37 AM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
the 16 year old girl excited about this album is d'angelo's daughter
― J0rdan S., Monday, 15 December 2014 17:09 (nine years ago) link
Imagine a place called I Love Music being into several, nay MANY, different kinds of music.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 15 December 2014 17:09 (nine years ago) link
xp tru
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 15 December 2014 17:10 (nine years ago) link