Gary Brown – 2
(US Da’ Soul 2006)
1) We Can Work It Out 2) Luv’s U Better 3) Two 4) Somethin’ Bout You 5) Holdin’ On
6) Still Feel The Pain 7) All The Things I See In You 8) Luv Thang 9) Can’t Go
Wrong With A Love Song 10) Don’t Stop This Feeling 11) Luv’s U Better (a capella)
You may remember my warm words regarding this gentleman back in the summer of 2004.
This artist really won my affections and I am pleased to say that his follow up set
is even better. It is firmly based on his solid, soulful vocals that resemble a
quavery Cliff Dawson in places and musically I feel more than a ghost of
classic 70s Isley Brothers.
The first two tracks are very strong indeed; the sturdy groove and the chill of the
70s Chris Jasper aura do little to inflict any doubts I have on this label or
this artist in general. Check CD Baby to see what I mean. Mature grooves indeed!
"Two" is a lovely song espousing the life-long love he has had with his Lady
since kids. This could have been handled badly with a touch of too much schmaltz,
but the man pulls off this off very well indeed. A shout out too, yet again, to
the powerful J for his seemingly limitless capacity for knocking out a
good tune with a good lyric. If only there were more multi-skilled artists like
him about at the moment.
Take for example the warm, shuffling, ensconced "Holdin’ On". Here he manages the
music and the backing vocals to a vary careful and intimate degree. Gary is indeed
in good hands with his talent here. I was also pleased with the uptempo number,
"Still Feel The Pain" which has its savvy very much in the 80s tradition, perhaps
with more emphasis on acoustic sounds rather than top-heavy bass. The dipping
tempo is met with a heavier, chunky groove, festooned with Isleys flavours on
"All The Things I See In You". Gary is not only competent but confident with a
groove like this. I feel that he is really in his stride on this song, and
his effortless delivery is one that gives him and his label a lot of credit.
"Can’t Go Wrong With A Luv Song" croons Gary, and I know many of us will not
beg to differ. The thing that these guys and others that grab my attention
have realised is the BIG difference between love and sex. The younger R&B
generation as typified by artists like Ne-Yo cannot understand the emotions
involved with mature adult relationships. Their material, to me, sounds like
the frustrated ramblings of a horny schoolboy desperate for a fumble behind
the bike sheds. Artists like Gary understand that love is a communication and
that the voice through song can be an excellent vehicle to express one’s
love for another.
No better can this be heard in the excellent "Don’t Stop This Feeling" where
he encapsulates this wonderful feeling in a nutshell. Superb. Again, another
quality release and another feather in the cap of Gary Brown and Da Soul records.
- Barry Towler
