House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Franklin, Aretha House, R&B, Soul & Rap

Advantages: Every recording is good to totally superb!
Disadvantages: NONE!

...along those speedy verses of Respect (origanally by Otis Redding) with such startling conviction and when she sings those lyrics you just KNOW she means every word she says. Her pronounciations and impeccable lyrical phrasing is remarkably effective on this explosive classic and Respect rates as one of her most popular and definitive classics. As well as the more urban-contemporary material, Aretha proved most adept at experimenting in a number of ...
...equally compelling on the ballads. I Say A Little Prayer was one of her most passionate, heart-felt ballads. Whilst the lyrics were somewhat simplistic, Aretha could shrewdly plumb such depth with a straight-foward song such as this. Dr. Feel Good, the fabulous Think (which she would update in the movie, The Blue Brothers) and the sparse production of Chain Of Fools continued her staggering run of classic hits and all conveyed such an undeniably ... Read review

Advantages: As the album says - QUEEN OF SOUL
Disadvantages: none

Aretha Franklin has to be the ultimate soul singer. Her everlasting hits leave a beautiful memory of her since she passed away just a year or two ago. This album has a whole range of her music including her 24 best. It has the slow blues songs and then the fast jazzy songs. This really is an all inclusive album. Aretha Franklin really sings her soul out in this album and it makes you realise what music really is all about - singing from your heart, ...
...Here is the full track listing- 1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) 2. Respect 3. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man 4. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) 5. Baby, I Love You 6. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 7. Chain Of Fools 8. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) 9. Ain't No Way 10. Save Me 11. The House That Jack Built 12. Think 13. I Say A Little Prayer 14. See Saw 15. Day Dreaming 16. Call Me 17. Don't Play That Song ... Read review

Advantages: One of the greatest soul albums of all time
Disadvantages: ---

...a bit nicer" I think that Aretha Franklin could relate to that comment. For the past 40 years she has been hoisted on a pedestal of fanatical idolatry and suffocating demands. No performer in the history of African American art has ever had the expectations as had Aretha by her audience. Her body of work isn't a matter of critical record, but of nationalist fervor. Aretha's artistic stratosphere is a place where she can do no right and do no wrong ...
...speaking for myself, the deeper I look in to her work, the more I realize that in order to earn the title of "queen of soul" she had to pay a terrible price. 1966. Brother ray had Just kicked heroin and came back on the charts with a fail safe risk free pop album. Otis Redding was revolutionizing pop music every where in the world but the U.S top 40 charts. James brown's was just beginning to redefine musical minimalist polyrythmic composition. James ... Read review

Advantages: A couple of good dance tunes
Disadvantages: Repetitive lines

"51/50 Ratchet" is the debut album from the Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris. When this dropped, 2007, the musician was only eighteen years old, and to fit in with what is expected of young rappers, espcially ones from the Dirty South, he has come out with some 'ringtone rap' with his hit single "A Bay Bay and "The Hand Clap" which followed on from it. 1. "Getting Money" (feat. Nicole Wray) This track get the album off to a shaky start as it isn't ...
...have to say tha I expect it though because he basially summarises his life stroy to the lsitenr in order to make up a little introduction for you before getitng itno his music. This little contextual information can be overlooked though as it doesn't bring out anything out of the ordinary. **Two Stars** 2. "A Bay Bay" This is the big single from the album and as his debut, it manged to catapult him into fame at the start of 2007. From there the ... Read review

Advantages: street music!
Disadvantages: too much street music!

Having been a big fan of fifty cent when he first burst on to the scene, and also a big fan of G Unit, i have to be honest, my interest has waned of late thanks to a couple of mediocre releases and an attempted cross-over into more radio friendly music. With the release of G Unit's anticipated sophomore album, it gives us a chance to see whether they really have crossed over, or if they remain true to the streets which raised them. Starting with ...
...definitely get you to pick it up if you saw it in the store. The album opens with Straight Outta Southside - a supposed ode to Sean Bell who was shit by police, but it doesn't actually make any reference to him, apart from once! It seems to be a cover of straight outta compton by NWA, but is nowhere near as good, a definite miss to open the album! We then lurch into piano man and close to me, two decent songs but forgettable nonetheless. Finally ... Read review