Releases...1996/7
The Artist |
Associates |
| The Artist - Chaos And Disorder | |||
Producer: The Artist
Highest Pop Chart Position: |
Notes | ||
| The Artist's last and
final farewell to Warner Bros. produced his most mis-understood (by critics) album, many
of whom dismissed it as a get-out-of-contract piece of work not to be taken seriously.
Far from it... his most rock orientated album to date surely displayed his anger
and sadness of the situation he was in at the time, not only in the music, but also on the
artwork for the album sleeve. Nevertheless, there were some brilliant gems to be found on an
album that rocked like no other album in his career with the record company that made him
an household name.... A fitting and (understandably)
bitter end to a chapter in his life. Standout Tracks: Chaos And Disorder, I Like It There, The Same December, I Will, Dig U Better Dead Experience Rating: He rocks, therefore he is.... (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: Dinner With Delores [UK chart position No.36 Jul 96] | |||
| The Artist - Emancipation | |||
Producer: The Artist
Highest Pop Chart Position: |
Notes | ||
| In less than 3 month
after ending his contract with Warner Bros., The Artist wasted no time and came back with
something his ex- bosses would never have allowed him to do... a triple album.
Emancipation a 3-CD release on his own NPG Records was music fest for fans...(and
a nightmare for cynical critics). A celebration of his new-found musical freedom as the album cover symbolically depicts, no
longer chained, he could more or less do what he wants, whenever he wants, however he
wants. All this was clearly reflected in the overall mood of the album's music, like
a heavy restrictive weight had been lifted off his back. Slickly produced and as
varied in musical styles as ever (including on record, cover versions of songs by other
artists - a first for him), though the music contained may not be as particularly daring and
innovative has he has been in the past. This was the sound of an artist who was more
relaxed, happy and in an heavily romantic mood. The 'romance' aspect showing itself especially on disc 2
with a superb succession of what one can only describe as spiritual love songs dedicated
to his beloved Mayte. Disc 1 & 3 had it's moments also. For some, all this music
was too much to take... others were left wanting more. We say for a true genius
there should be no boundaries or restrictions towards creativity in someone
so talented. Standout Tracks: Too many 2 mention! Experience Rating: Freedom is a beautiful thing... (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: Betcha By Golly Wow!, The Holy River, Somebody's Somebody | |||
| Dez Dickerson - Oneman | |||
Producer:
Dez Dickerson
|
Notes | ||
| Thirteen years after
leaving The Revolution, Dez Dickerson reappears out of the blue with his first solo album on
his own contemporary Christian music label. Inspirational, catchy pop/rock songs (sounding like a cross between
Jon Bon Jovi and Aerosmith) reflecting his Christian beliefs, cleverly crafted so as to
deliver it's message without coming across all 'preachy'. It's all good and quite
different from what you'd expect from the ex-Revolutioneer. Standout Tracks: Fall Into Me, Like A Merry Go Round, Real To Me Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: His heart and soul is in the right place (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| Rosie Gaines - Arrival | |||
Producer: Rosie Gaines
|
Notes | ||
| In a situation similar
to St. Paul's (see below) after being dropped from the Motown label, Rosie took
the
independent route and set up her own Internet distributed label for her next release.
Arrival showed us the more P-funkier side to Rosie as well has her deep
and thoughtful ballads that carry a message. "Yeah" is a particularly heavy slice of
hard-core FUNK that just blows away the cobwebs out of your speakers. Totally
self-produced, all instruments performed by herself at her home studio with all songs
written and co-written by herself... this woman is one amazing talent. Standout Tracks: Want An Angel, We Cant Go On Like This, Stomp, Don't Let Em, Yeah, Beautiful World Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Music for yo' mind, body and soul... how long before the world wakes up and recognise? (8/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| Hornheads - 5 Heads Are Better Than 1 | |||
Producer: Michael B. Nelson
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Notes | ||
| Second release from the
Hornheads (aka NPG Hornz) headed by Michael B. Nelson. This is an improvement over
the first in that the pieces sound more like complete songs than just horn demos/samples.
This set includes covers of Duke Ellington and Miles Davis songs ("Sweet
Georgia Brown" theme from The Cosby Show). Once again mainly the use of just
horns (trumpet-acapella) which (unless you're a total horn fanatic) makes the CD
pretty heavy going, but the extra bonus tracks at the end of the CD does, thankfully,
feature some guest Minneapolis musicians including St. Paul Peterson, Mike Scott and Bobby
Vandell, introducing some desperately needed bass, guitar and drums into the mix. Standout Tracks: Sweet Georgia Brown/Dig, Pie Hole (remix), Waltz 4 Hornz (remix), One Last Touch. Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Horny improvement over the first (6/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| Jesse Johnson - Bare My Naked Soul | |||
Producer: Jesse Johnson
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Notes | ||
| After a long absence
from the scene and apparent problems concerning his personal life, Jesse returned with his
4th album released on a small independent label with a new style and a complete change of
direction. In the past Jesse has kept his prowess as a rock guitarist hidden only allowing
it to shine through occasionally ... but not this time round. On this release Jesse
'bares his naked soul' and lets his axe rip in a way that would've made Jimi Hendrix
proud. It's rock-city throughout (with only one or two funk tracks) and it's an
hardcore Jesse Johnson fan's wet dream... Music to make yo ears bleed...need we say more!!! Standout Tracks: Damn nearly all of 'em! Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Good time guitar rock 'n' roll to be played at nothing less than full volume!!! (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| The NPG Orchestra - Kamasutra | |||
Producer: The Artist
|
Notes | ||
| Written especially as a
gift for The Artist's wife Mayte, this is a beautiful collection of 'movie-like, film
score-ish', orchestral/instrumental pieces performed by 'The NPG Orchestra' with Clare
Fischer. Anyone who appreciates Prince's past orchestral works such as "Venus
De Milo", "Alexa De Paris", and his various projects with orchestral arranger
Clare Fischer and jazz combo Madhouse will treasure this album. If
new-age experimental classical music's your bag, you've got The Artist's own personal unique take on
the genre right here. Standout Tracks: The Plan, Kamasutra, Cutz, Barcelona. Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: Refreshingly different... for the musically adventurous and open-minded. (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| St Paul Peterson - Blue Cadillac | |||
Producers: St Paul Peterson, Elliot Wolff, Shauh Labelle, Gardner Cole, Mic Murphy, Andre Cymone
|
Notes | ||
| Dropped from the
Atlantic label with his previous album, it took St. Paul 4 years to come
back with a release on his own independent label. The latest line in a
string of artist turning their backs on major record labels for one reason or another and
going it alone. With the rapid expansion of Internet commerce and the
apparent ease of global self-distribution of music, this seems like the next logical step for many
artist dissatisfied with a system that is more 'business' and less 'music'. His 3rd solo album however, sadly lacked the memorable tunes of his 1st and the pop sensibilities of his 2nd (excluding the beautifully sung ballad "Only Reminds Me Of You" which was also on his last album), but the set was funky in an seventies/eighties kinda way ("Get Up, Get Off" steals a riff from Stevie Wonder's song "I Wish"). An essential purchase for any St. Paul fan. Standout Tracks: Only Reminds Me Of You, Don't Take Your Love Away, Love Foundation Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: One talented boy... (7/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| Various - Girl 6 (OST) | |||
Producer:
Prince, The Artist
|
Notes | ||
| A selection of Paisley
and associates finest moments, with the theme of phone sex put together for the soundtrack
to Spike Lee's movie Girl 6. The film may have had its flaws but the music
certainly cannot be faulted. Includes two tracks recorded especially for the film. Standout Tracks: Take your pick! Paisley Involvement: High Experience Rating: Paisley compilation heaven... (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: Girl 6 | |||
| Wendy & Lisa (Compilation) - Are You My Baby | |||
|
Notes | ||
| Dutch release best-of
compilation featuring a selection of your fave tracks taken from Wendy & Lisa's first
3 solo albums. Need we say more? Standout Tracks: You choose. Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: The finest from the girlbros. (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: | |||
| Jody Watley (Compilation) - Greatest Hits | |||
|
Producers:
Andre Cymone, David Z., Bernard
Edwards, Patrick Leonard, David Morales, Art & Rhythm
|
Notes |
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| This Greatest Hits collection
focuses on Jody’s first four albums, on which Andre Cymone was the
primary producer. Almost all of those albums’ best songs are here, and
the single remixes of "Some Kind of Lover" and "Don’t You
Want Me" that rocked the charts are included. Also included are a
much housier remix of "Ecstacy" and a much lamer PM Dawn remix
of "When A Man Loves A Woman". Overall, the album is a fitting
tribute to the once dynamic duo of Jody and Andre… Standout Tracks: Pretty much all of them… Paisley Involvement: None Experience Rating: Reminds us of why Jody won the Grammy… (9/10) |
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| Single Releases: N/A | |||
