House, R&B, Soul & Rap > W House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Motown > up to 5 GBP

Advantages: Good music which shows Stevie Wonder’s different styles.
Disadvantages: Differences of opinion about greatest hits.

...to think that if a song is commercially good, it probably isn’t musically good.) Instead, I want to tell you about the tracks on this album and let you decide whether it is worth buying. One thing I am sure about is that there is no rubbish on this album. The tracks, to me, are either good or brilliant, therefore, I give the album 5 stars. A wide range of music influenced Stevie as he grew up including Gospel, Jazz, Reggae, and Motown. All of these ...
...Ivory (Paul McCartney) and Redemption Song (Bob Marley). The album starts off with the ballad ISN’T SHE LOVELY, where as an obviously very proud father, Stevie thanks God for the birth of his baby. When Stevie isn’t singing on this track, he is playing the harmonica. I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU, a good ballad for smooching to, is Motown's biggest selling single in the UK. I find the strong beat of SUPERSTITION haunting, while Stevie sings, ... Read review

Advantages: Only a couple
Disadvantages: Bland in places

It's the start of the 80's for this Stevie Wonder album, and as with the decade in general, there's a little bit of everything on here. "Did I hear You Say You Love Me?" - A bit rocky with an underlying funk bass line. Quite toe-tappy, but it lacks depth to really stick in your mind all that much. In my opinion it's not the best track to start the album with but it's passable, even if it is forgetable. "All I Do" - Now this is a minor classic and ...
...great little song, perfectly suited to Stevie Wonder's easy style. A touch of the Quincy Jones about this in it's production, and it's all the better for it. Nice miniature sax solo too. "Rocket Love" - This track's got more of a jazzy feel to it. Slow and smoochy, the song is as classy "All I Do" but without the oomph. It's got a string arrangement which probably doesn't do it many favours listening to it now, but still a lovely melody. Someone ... Read review

Advantages: GREAT MUSIC,GREAT LYRICS
Disadvantages: NOT ENOUGH RECENT PRODUCTIONS

IT IS WHEN YOU HEAR ALBUMS OF THIS GENRE, THAT YOU REALISE THAT DETAILS OF THE ARTIST ARE WELL AND TRUELY TRUE. HAVING SEEN STEVIE PERFORM AMNY TIMES... I ONCE TRIED TO CON MYSELF INTO BELIEVING THAT STEVIE COULD ACTUALLY SEE... AND THAT HIS BLINDNESS WAS ALL A CON... BUT ITS WHEN I LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM THAT I REALISE THAT ONLY A BLIND ARTIST COULD POSSIBLY HAVE PRODUCED IT. I AM NOT TRYING TO BE FECECIOUS, ITS JUST THAT EVERYONE HAS A TALLENT ... Read review

Advantages: Originality, innovation, FUNK! No better example of a great man at his best. Stevie does the production, the songwriting and plays most instruments himself.
Disadvantages: Such a shame he is not still doing this today

... And then there was this one. Oh, if I loved, "Innervisions", then I am absolutely crazy about this one. The first time I listened to it in a music shop I dismissed it as having lots of softer ones and one well-funky one in the middle. Well, that one was, "Boogie On Reggae Woman", which has to be one of his greatest songs ever (for some reasons it doesn't feature on any of his hit compilations). But how could I be so wrong about a record after ...
...abum of soul and funk music. Where to start? Well, the first song is absolutely great. The second song is a religious song. Now, I'm not one to go with singers who preach to the masses through their music. But I find this a very sincere and moving song by a man who is not preaching but explaining his faith in God and how he fails to understand how others cannot feel what he does. You really feel like you have learnt something about God and religion ... Read review

Advantages: Lots of variety
Disadvantages: A few weaker tracks

"Certified" is the fourth album from the Mississippi rapper David Banner. I thought that I had to go back seeing that I enjoyed his latest 2008 release, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" so much, so I thought that I would see similar quality from this 2005 piece, which has him do both the rapping and a fair proportion of the production. 1. "Lost Souls" To get things going we drive straight into some straight Dirty South rap. I found that he was effective ...
...wislt managing ito integrate his influences of Rock into things with some guitar work too. **Three Stars** 2. "Treat Me Like A" (feat. Jadakiss) I still don't get how Jadakiss keeps thinking he can on some Crunk beats, but he does it once again as Lil' Jon does the production, and aside the parts which Jada takes up, it is a strong Hip Hop cut for the clubs. **Four Stars** 3. "Gangsta Walk" (feat. Three 6 Mafia, Marcus, 8Ball & MJG) On this one ... Read review