Sunday, September 28, 2008
A+E, Music, Reviews

RAPHAEL SAADIQ

“THE WAY I SEE IT” (COLUMBIA)

Between Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Duffy, unabashedly retro R&B has been such a trend over the past year that, at this stage, anyone jumping on that dusty bandwagon stands accused of selling out.

Saadiq, ex-Tony!, Toni!, Tone! vocalist and producer to the stars (Macy Gray, the Roots, D’Angelo), knows that it takes more than bouncy bass, crisp tambourines, harmonious backup singers and sumptuous strings to make great soul. He’s obviously studied his Temptations albums, not just to scrutinize the Motown sound but to dissect the way the music was written and arranged. The result is a throwback to the finger-snapping, tightly choreographed work of ’60s acts that is almost as exhilarating.
      
Songs constructed with class, style, finesse and emotions that transcended the melodies were what made the music of Motown and other crossover urban labels of the era so timeless. A few thousand samples can’t be wrong, but Saadiq understands that all the borrowing in the world doesn’t create a tune that will stand the test of time. Drop this disc’s “Love that Girl” on to any classic mix tape and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell it isn’t some lost Smokey Robinson B-side.
  
A few excursions into Spanish guitar, doo-wop, slow dance and a useless Jay-Z hip-hop guest spot notwithstanding, this is a focused and above all enjoyable set of originals that unapologetically pays tribute to days gone by with all the sophistication and foot-tapping vibe that made your parents and grandparents get their groove on. 3 STARS—Hal Horowitz