Al Green: Nexus of Soul

Old Soul and New Soul have converged - or rather collided - in the reedy, joyful nexus of Al Green's voice. Al Green, one man, two sides of the same soul coin: a swirl of carnal smiles and yearning spiritualism.

After wandering in the wilderness of religious sentiment for years now, Green has emerged with the Good News and cut an album of love songs. He hired the Roots' Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and James Poyser to produce. He also invited neo soul stars like Anthony Hamilton and John Legend to come make good on the free soul schooling they received at the feet of his now-legendary records.

None of the Roots' next-level production perspective is present on Lay It Down, just the sound of classic era Al Green. But that's okay, because classic era Al Green is more dangerous than people realize. For one, the snare was illegally deep; halfway between a kick drum and cannon fire (when I first heard Green as an adult I looked at my friends in shock, like, "am I the only person who hears that snare?"). And for another, Green is a bizarre singer. Sure, his is a voice like lotion - an aural aphrodisiac of candles and roses. But for Green the act of Feeling It is a holy thing, revealed in performances that stir screeching, shouting and lullaby mumbles in the liquid of his croon.

Al Green - "All I Need" [From Lay It Down]

Al Green - "What More Do You Want From Me" [From Lay It Down]

Al Green - "Simply Beautiful" [From I'm Still In Love With You]

Al Green - "I Gotta Be More" [From Al Green Is Love]


Adendum:

Neo soul is better now than ever, as some of the following cuts by Green's recent collaborators can attest. But if you're the praying type, pray for the return of D'Angelo. Voodoo is a record the music world has yet to come to terms with. It's more than just a sex-you-up suite. For musicians looking for a higher education, it's a PHD in pocket. It is, in a word, advanced. May his return cometh nigh.



Anthony Hamilton - "Do You Feel Me"

John Legend - "Lets Get Lifted Again" [From Get Lifted]

The Roots - "Baby (Feat. John-John & Malik B.)" [From Game Theory]

The Roots - "Rising Down" - [From Rising Down]