Soul Express Album of the MonthApril 2008
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TRINA BROUSSARDInside My Love(UK Expansion CD, 2008) 1) Losing My Mind 2) Why Do I Feel So Sad 3) All I Need Is You 4) Say You Really Love Me 5) Sailing 6) Not Around 7) Inside My Love 8) All Night Long 9) Remember Me 10) Love You So Much Almost a decade of perseverance, and finally this set sees its first official release in its entirety. Bootlegs had been doing the rounds, and the odd track featuring on a few compilations via Jazz FM, and David Nathan’s recent “Dedicated To Soul”, but here it is in all its glory. I am very impressed with it, and far more impressed with this than her “Same Girl” release for Motown back in 2004. This is far more linear as a listening journey, albeit a bit of a variation on a theme, yet the standard of all the crucial elements – song writing, musicianship and vocals – are of a very high standard. So-So Def label owner Jermaine Dupri is not one who I would usually sing the praises of, BUT credit where credit is due, he gave this Lady the scope she needed to deliver a strong real soul album at a time in the late 90s where most others would not have bothered. The same can be said of the likes of Jay-Z at Def Jam and the Williams Brothers at Cash Money who have definitely taken a shining to Teena Marie! Jermaine has technically overseen this, but has allowed the likes of Jamey Jaz and Rahsaan Patterson to take the reins and do what they do best. The result is a gentle mix of warm, satisfying rootsy soul music with its feet firmly in the traditional female songstress. No prizes for who produced the entrée cut, “Losing My Mind” or its running mate “Why Do I Feel So Sad”. These ooze Jaz / Patterson and are typical of the classier material they had been working on in the late 90s. “All I Need Is You” is a classic (dare I say it) Ol’ Skool female soul ballad showcasing better than ever Motown ever did, how fantastic this singer really is. This is big budget, full-cylindered real soul. I fell in love instantly with the summery “Say You Really Love Me” which sounds to me like a warm mid-70s Isleys ballad complete with acoustic touches (think “Brown Eyed Girl” or “Summer’s Eve”) with the vocal temptation of Karyn White. Pure class. Next up is another warm Isley-ish CLASSIC, “Sailing”. This, most readers will already own, or will at least have heard of. The melody, keys and arrangement is almost verging on late 70s / early 80s soul. A wonderful, beautiful tune. “Not Around” with its bassline, crashing drums and slap bass really takes us back to the good times, and is a song you won’t want to be without. I thought I’d be perturbed by the cover of the Holy of Holies in Leon Ware’s catalogue of song, “Inside My Love”, but this is more than ably dealt with. Such a tremendous, sexy song needs treating with the utmost care. Job done. “All Night Long” is a powerful effort with some beautiful backing and female harmonies. Real soul, folks! You can’t beat it! Check the muted trumpet! Yummy! The busiest track, if you can call it that, is the programmed “Remember Me” which is almost a Babyface type of groove – and a good one at that. The Rhodes are excellent on this. Many people are going to be happy with this album, and rightly so. Best of all is the fact that the lady is working on a NEW album for release later this year. The omens are good! - Barry Towler The Latest CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2008 Albums of the Month in 2007 Albums of the Month in 2006 Albums of the Month in 2005 Albums of the Month in 2004 Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 Other CD
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