Neo Soul — All Formats  

Macy Gray's steps to a higher level on The Id – this is no "sophomore slump" to our ears – actually a helluva lot better than her big selling debut! As on her first set, Macy's vocals are wonderful – totally unique, with that warm raspy soulful style that makes her one of the most instantly recognizable soul artists since Al Green. The production is very strong too – with a sound that's new and fresh compared to most chart soul acts, but which also has its roots in the Columbia crossover sound of the late 60s, with traces of artists like Sly Stone and Janis Joplin all colliding into one cool groovy sound! Titles include "Hey Young World (part 2)", featuring Slick Rick, plus "Blowin Up Your Speakers", "Forgiveness", "My Nutmeg Phantasy" (featuring Angie Stone & Mos Def), "Sweet Baby" (featuring Erykah Badu), "Sexual Revolution", and "Relating To A Psychopath".

Get ready to discover a fantastic new soul music talent! Jill Scott's the best thing we've heard in years – and she's a perfect example of the killer NuSoul trends that have been forged in the past few years by artists like D'Angelo, Mshell N'degocello, or N'Dambe (but Jill doesn't have an apostrophe mark in her name!) The record's a totally seductive blend of warm instrumentation, subdued funky beats, and immensely captivating soul vocals. The whole thing's awash in Fender Rhodes, giving it a spacey soul sound that will make the record a classic for years to come! Titles include "The Way", "Do You Remember", "Long Rain", "Love Rain", "Honey Molasses", "Slowly Surely", "Watching Me", and "He Loves Me" – but it's allllll good!

The long-awaited second album from Sweetback – a group that was originally known for their backing work behind Sade, but who have really come into their own with this set! The album's overflowing with warm vocals from the lovely Aya – sliding into the mix to meet the laidback and jazzy rhythms of the group – and the set also features occasional vocals from Ivana Santilli, Ladybug Mecca, Byron Stingly, and Chocolate Genius. The real charm is the instrumentation, though – as mellow-grooving and laidback as we loved in the early years of Sade – yet really fresh, updated, and with a voice that's all its own! Titles include "Voodoo Breath", "Lover", "Circles", "All My Days With You", "Mountain", "Things You'll Never Know", "Love Is The Word", "Shining Hour", and "Round & Round".

A great groover from the early 90s – crossover party sounds, served up here in lots of mixes!