RnB [was Re: Oi/Marvin Gaye]

Kurt Iveson
Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:09:16 +1100


While I'm writing lists.. There's always a lot of crap RnB out there, but
the genre still has plenty of great shit too. I read a review of Montell
Jordan's last album, and the reviewer said that most contemporary RnB had
lots or rhythm, but not much blues ... a good way to sort out the junk from
the jewels I reckon. Some artists/albums from recent(ish) times I like...

* Maxwell
* Erykah Badu (the studio albums from both Erykah and Maxwell are great,
and the live ones show they can bump without the technical wizardry
afforded by studios...)
* Prince (anything he touches..)
* D'Angelo
* Brandy (still reckon her debut album is a cut above most other RnB out there)
* Micheal Jackon (Thriller)
* Quincy Jones (Back on the Block I used to love .. haven't listened to it
for a while tho..)
* Renegade Funktrain (Aussie contribution to the list.. on the hip hop end
of the RnB spectrum)
* Jamaica Boys (still reckon the J-Boys album has some great stuff ..
Marcus Miller and Lenny White go pop..)
* The Time (What Time Is It?, Ice Cream Castles and even Pandemonium ..
although I guess more straight up funk than RnB)
* Stevie Wonder (his pre-80s stuff I would have in another cateogry, but
later albums like Jungle Fever soundtrack and Conversation Peace are more
in contemporary RnB vein and I still like em..)

Others who have occassionally risen above their usual to produce a single
or two I like..
* TLC (cover of Prince's If I Was Your Girlfriend was pretty cool..)
* SWV (sucked in by the Micheal Jackson sample on Right Here I'm afraid ;-)..)
* Janet Jackon (sometimes .. still digging the single with Q-Tip/Joni
Mitchell for example)

peece

K