The Swarm

February 22, 2008

D'Angelo is Yoda, The Monarch Of Neo-Soul

TDS Editors

With the widespread leak today of Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), someone might send you an email with the heading “New D’Angelo?”. That’s right, the new D’Angelo album that leaked too? Huh? Yoda: The Monarch Of Neo-Soul might have the distinction of being the most unnoticed comeback of all time, or certainly the least blogged. Shit, it hasn’t even been added to the poor guy’s Wikipedia page. Is it a bootleg? Is it really that bad? Have D’Angelo fans around the world (but not in the US) been duped into buying a bogus comeback disc? A few think so. Dr. Roze, UK Amazon reviewer, sort of sums it up:

I think the other reviewers are getting their wires crossed. This is what’s known as a “Mixtape” and is not the long-awaited follow up to D’Angelo’s 2000 classic “Voodoo”.

This CD is a mixture of previously released obscurities (live b-sides, contributions to sound tracks)and a couple of “new” tracks in Really Love and Go Back 2 That Thing – a meandering guitar led mellow Sly Stone influenced semi-ballad and a meandering keyboard led Sly Stone (again!) influenced instrumental jam respectively.

So basically Y.O.D.A. is a semi-official bootleg with all the variable sound quality, minimal information and packaging and thrown together nature you’d expect.

All the same, speaking as a big fan of D’Angelo’s work who is hungry to hear some more stuff from the great man, to be able to hear 79 minutes of “new” (at least for me), mostly quality material is far far better than nothing (which is pretty much what we’ve got from the great man over the last 5 years or so).

Should also mention that the opening track, Features, appears to be a cut up of various disparate works in progress some of which are really, really excellently funky, flowing and mellow just as you’d want them to be – can’t wait to hear the finished album cos from the sound of it, D’Angelo has been sitting on some decent material!

Who knows? Information is scant. D’Angelo’s website needs updating. Listen to the whole thing here:


Post a comment

Previous comments include

#1 jeff says:

more importantly. that photo is definitely not d'angelo today . . . http://vibemistress.blogspot.com/2007...

psyched for new tracks though.

#2 Voodoo Child says:

Voodoo is not only one of the best fucking records of all time, it's one of the best records to fuck to.
Thank you, baby-makin' genius D'Angelo! More please--we're suffering from underpopulation between your albums!

#3 SOLE NOTES of HOUSE says:

Here's an album worth the wait and buy.
D'Angelo returns with another smoke cafe' gem, which is something greatly needed in today's music!
Simple, sexy and seductive titles this project best.
Lets not igonore the title track "Your Love Is So Good" that rides right into the night. Good to hear you D'Angelo and continue success.

-SOLE NOTES of HOUSE magazine
Urban Dance Music Magazine
www.myspace.com/solenotesofhouse

#4 DJ Dave Diesel says:

The Man is a genius...I been waitin too long for some real soul music

#5 sleewood says:

This Album is a gem, i don't know why it took me this long to discover it, it's a shame.

Why is D not out there doin' the damn thing. I saw him live in Portland about six years ago and it was in my top three concerts of all time.

I guess we all just have to sit and wait till he gets over those vices.

#6 gemma says:

i love all of d'angelos music he really is a genius and is in a leage of this very own and in my opinion untouchable, great songs to make love to.

#7 Brian says:

D'ANGELO.. THE BEST SO FAR IN STORES JUNE 24TH AND YES THIS IS LEGIT ITS A CD & DVD COLLECTION


Click Here