CD Review:
Phillips is a Montreal based Soul and R&B singer who was signed by Mile End Records for this release. Everyone from the press reviewing his music to the promotion-side of the label he works with has compared him to Marvin Gaye. Although hype is good for grabbing attention, it also has a negative effect if the artist doesn't live up to the comparison. And unfortunately, how is any artist other than Stevie Wonder or Al Green supposed to compare?
Phillips has a great voice, and with the help of Atilla Toth, he puts out a smooth and enjoyable CD. But any comparison to Marvin Gaye is just bombast. Everybody stands up to repeated listening especially when trying to create a comfortable and relaxing environment. You will hear 13 tracks with a few instrumentals inserted between Phillips' love songs. Soul music, as a standard, is a genre about the affairs of the heart, but the great soul singers always expanded their repertoire. Gaye and Wonder added social commentary and criticism to their music and until Phillips adds this element, he can't be considered a peer.
I believe Phillips has the voice to take him far in the business and with further development in his song-writing (expanding it to include more than just "Baby, I Love You" songs) and with a few more albums under his belt maybe comparisons to Gaye will not sound so ludicrous.
Scott D. Brown
|
| Artist |
Paula Abdul |
| Album Title |
Forever Your Girl |
| Date Of Release |
1988 |
| Genre |
Pop |
| Official Website |
Fan Site |
| |
CD Review:
Now a judge on American Idol, Paula was once a pop star of the first order. Battling it out with Madonna for the ears of youngsters in the late '80s and early '90s she made her biggest impact with this album. Leaving the LA Lakers behind, she decided that choreography behind the camera wasn't enough for her. The song "Straight Up" hit the airwaves and with the backing of a sexy dance video she became an international star.
Other songs off the album followed and she had a string of hits and albums before she was pushed aside for younger babes in the pop world. But for the short period of time, she was hitting it with Janet and Madonna for the attention of the MTV generation.
Full Spectrum Staff
|
|
Ottawa | Montreal | Vancouver | Toronto
Foo Fighters Concert Review 
Return To Exposure Online Magazine
Rate Your Music
