4Hero "Play With The Changes" Review

4 Hero
Play With The Changes
Label: Milan Records
8.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

It’s been six years since London based duo 4hero released their last work, 2001’s Creating Patterns. They are known for their pioneering sounds that laid the groundwork for drum and bass and later soul, jazz, and electronica fusions. With such a wide palette to pull from the team of Dennis “Dego” McFarlane and Mark “Mark Mac” Clair have created another broadly appealing musical opus with their latest offering Play With the Changes. A majestic 14-track album of both forward-thinking and vintage soul, Play With the Changes is ambitious in terms of the compelling production and though-provoking lyrical content. Although it may seem soft compared with the group’s jungle roots, the album is an impeccable journey through progressive soul.

4hero is all about lush, dramatic orchestrations utilizing strings sections, complex drum patterns and gorgeous vocals. On Play With The Changes there are two distinct styles to be found: lush soul with a vintage slant and futuristic soul with an electronica feel. What makes the album so interesting is that the styles mesh together perfectly for a soul album that stands above most. The impressive roster of guest vocalists is the perfect compliment to the varied production with names like Jody Watley, Jack Davey of J*Davey, Darien Brockington, Phonte of Little Brother, and Ursula Rucker turning up.

The most sonically exciting tracks are of course the more electronica-tinged tracks such as the future jazz of “Look Inside” with its stuttering drum rhythms and soaring chorus. Jody Watley’s contribution is the drum and bass flavored “Bed of Roses” that skitters by on its complex layers of sound. But it’s Ursula Rucker’s socially conscious “Awakening” that stands above most of the album. With powerful lyrics stating “Into the awakening/Bring/It’s past time for you and your generation to put this universal chaos into order” the track is a defiant call to arms for the 9/11 generation that deserves to be heard for its sheer brilliance. Musically the track rides subtle marching band drums and gently rises on a cloud of bass, pianos, and strings into an emotional crescendo. Jack Davey displays her star quality on “Take My Time”, a slice of subtle future funk. Jack has an irresistible presence on record; her gruff delivery at once hard and feminine. Vintage soul is the obvious influence on “Give In” with Darien Brockington and Phonte as well as the Stevie Wonder-like “Superwoman”. There are even a few instrumental tracks that develop the electronica-jazz fusion hinted at in the vocal tracks.

Basically Play With The Changes is 14 tracks of soulful bliss; a journey through the many facets of soul music stretching back to the experimental 1970s and reaching into the future of contemporary soul. Anyone who digs eclectic soul will find much to praise here.

4 Hero website

Photoshoot With Big Don

Here are some photos I shot over the weekend with a photographer named Big Don. I found this sick graffiti wall on Wilshire and we snapped away. I got some much needed smiling shots for my port.

For all the shots and a little story on me click here

James Brown article

Here is an article I wrote on James Brown and his legacy in music for Urban-Breakbeat.com

Just click the link.

Mikel Kilgour-The Fashion Guru

Mikel Kilgour
By Norman Mayers

Attempting to describe Mikel Kilgour is quite a daunting task. Throughout his life the man has worn many hats and continues to defy description. Fine Artist. Fashion Designer. Conceptual Art Director. Interior Designer. Writer. Lecturer. Model Scout. Image Maker. He is a great many things but he is never dull, predictable, or forgettable. From designing the red carpet attire of everyone from Magic Johnson to Will Smith to assisting minority fashion models with their first chance at success, Mikel is involved in all aspects of the creative world. His influences and inspirations read like an encyclopedia of tastemakers, the avant-garde, and the influential: Alek Wek, Naomi Campbell, Grace Jones, Josephine Baker, Pablo Picasso, Yves St. Laurent, Salvador Dali, Richard Avedon, Basquiat, Nina Simone, the Smashing Pumpkins, Herb Ritts, Christian Dior. To look into his achievements is to look into the life of a true artist.

Click here to read the full article

More pics from Adult Entertainment Expo

The Rurals "Nettle Soul"

The Rurals
Nettle Soul
Peng
8.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

Somewhere between the soothing jazz inflected soul of Sade and the catchy dance rhythms and hooks of Deee-Lite lies the eclectic sounds of the Rurals. This married musical team hailing from the British countryside continues to make some of the most cosmopolitan slices of electronic soul on the market. Picking up where their 2005 release A Rural Life left off, Nettle Soul is an even tighter set of downtempo delights and deep house booty shakers.

The Rurals switch back and forth between their two styles with ease. Where many artists will shine on the uptempo tracks only, Andy and Marie are equally skilled in both arenas. The mellow saxophone fronted “Get It Right” is a beautiful track that floats by on an ethereal cloud of bass and lush instrumentation. Vocalist Marie can coo with the best neo-soul diva and her remarkably restrained performance on this track is among her best. Alternately, the house track “Up To You” is all sing-along verses, deep bass, and funky percussion recalling the days of Lady Miss Kier. Musically, the album is a perfect blend of live elements and electronic effects, but the live aspect definitely jumps out. From wailing sax solos to rapid-fire percussion this is music that will appeal to jazz lovers, yet there is just the right amount of kick to keep things dance-able. The album ends with two remix tracks from A Rural Life that fit in rather well with what has come before.

This is the sort of CD that can be played for a variety of occasions and will appeal to a multitude of listeners. If you are anxious during your wait for the next Sade album to appear, the Rurals’ Nettle Soul should be able to fill the void.

Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas

This weekend I attended the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas with Pink Mafia Radio. Our goal was to hobknob with the players in the adult industry as we get ready to launch a second podcast called, Dirty Pink. It was a whole lot of fun just meeting all the various pornstars whose films I have watched in the last year. Most of them were quite friendly, open to snapping photos and ready to sign autographs.

The convention itself was really crazy with titties being the main focus of course but there was a small gay section in the back. Some of the companies on display were Hot House, Flavaworks, Channel 1 Releasing, Titan, Colt, and Naked Sword.

These are just the first pics. I will be adding more over the next week. Hope you enjoy. From top to bottom the models in the photos are Tony Mecelli, Benjamin Bradley, Sake, Jake Deckard, Marc Williams, Marco Paris, and Eddie Diaz.

Fantasia CD review

Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia
Label: J Records
7.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

Fantasia is arguably the most impressive singer to win the American Idol competition and probably the only winner that didn’t need the show. Her gritty vocals are strong enough to garner comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige yet original enough to allow her to create her own sound. On her debut, 2004’s Free Yourself, Fantasia struggled to balance her R&B roots with her pop stardom. The album was watered down by several pop elements aimed at securing her more mainstream acceptance. On Fantasia, the singer delivers an album that is 100% contemporary soul and the work is better for it. Gone are the cheesy Idol references, replaced by dancefloor anthems, bass heavy midtempo soul, and quality throwback love songs. The result is a solid soul release that will please Fantasia’s fan base and appeal to listeners of R&B and dance pop.

Fantasia is most definitely an aggressive album, with many of the best tracks being club banging R&B anthems. The album opener “Hood Boy” featuring Big Boi of Outkast stands along any Beyonce track with its blaring horns and Supremes sample. Many of the album’s best cuts follow this template fusing 60s vibes with hip-hop beats. “Baby Makin’ Hips” is all cascading percussion and bottom end, fronted by Fantasia’s furiously sexy vocal. The beats keep coming on tracks like “Not The Way That I Do” and “I’m Not That Type” with both tracks aiming to secure club diva status to Fantasia. Of the up-tempo tracks one of the most delightful and original is “Bore Me (Yawn)” with its handclapping 60s vibe. The track brims with classic Motown energy and has crossover hit written all over it. Despite all the dance tracks, many of the albums memorable moments are the slower tracks, most notably the midtempo “When I See U”, with its pulsing groove, simple piano keys, and assured performance. The song is quite simple yet succeeds because of Fantasia’s strong presence, which adds a layer of complexity and emotion to the evocative production. Ballads like “Two Weeks Notice” and “Nominate U” work because of their clever lyrics with the latter equating bedroom prowess to an Oscar nominated performance and the former describing a break-up through the terms of quitting a dead-end job. Some of the tracks are not as dazzling as others but overall the album remains very consistent in quality.

With her second release Fantasia steps further away from her American Idol roots and becomes more of a competitor in the contemporary soul genre. What she ends up with is another solid release that once again validates the genius of the machine that is American Idol.

http://www.fantasiabarrinoofficial.com

Ciara "The Evolution" Review

Ciara
The Evolution
Label: Laface
8.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

Ciara literally burst onto the scene two years ago with her ubiquitous hit “Goodies” and it’s equally explosive follow-up “1, 2 Step”. These two tracks alone were enough to push her albums sales past two million, taking her from unknown to current queen of dance-pop. With her sophomore release The Evolution, Ciara would have us believe that she is all grown up and has evolved into a whole new style. While that isn’t exactly true, Ciara’s The Evolution does stand as one of the best dance albums of the year. Where 2004’s Goodies was loaded with a lot of middling filler tracks, this new album remains consistent in style and quality.

The Evolution is about as good as it gets in terms of dance-pop production and style. Ciara’s style hasn’t exactly evolved but it has been streamlined focusing on her strengths, namely the ability to come up with some serious club jams. Many of the tracks literally explode with such force and speed that they are sure to appeal to fans of electronica, breakbeat and drum & bass. Album opener “That’s Right” and “Bang It Up” are crisp productions that crackle with kinetic energy and furious sparks of percussion. The majority of the album takes the classic breaks and sounds of 80s hip-hop and electro but updates it with precise skill. The list of producers includes The Neptunes (“I Proceed”), Will.I.Am (“Get In, Fit In”), Jazze Pha (“Get Up”), and Lil John (That’s Right”), so the results are pretty much destined to be on point.

The entire release bumps with exciting beats and catchy hooks such as the irresistible “Make It Last Forever”, which references Ron Base’s classic “It Takes Two”. The album highpoint is the first single “Promise”, probably the best slice of sci-fi R&B since Aaliyah’s “One In A Million”. With its undulating mid-tempo rhythm and robotic effects, its stands out on an album that is full of many standouts. “Like A Boy” is Ciara’s attempt at depth, with lyrics that suggest she wants to flip the script on heartbreaking men. But Ciara isn’t about lyrical depth; she’s about booty shaking, so it’s no wonder that the only weak areas of the album are her forays into ballads. The handful of slow jams are disposable at best as are the brief interludes describing her “evolution”.

Despite the few throwaway ballads, The Evolution is a very strong release that delivers what the artist is known for: hot beats, killer hooks, and club bangers. With this release Ciara has pretty much earned her spot as the new dancing queen of R&B/pop.

http://www.ciaraworld.com

The City Gym Boys in LA

This weekend I had the privilege of meeting the City Gym Boys during their stay in LA. The City Gym Boys are a group of multi-cultural men who promote health and fitness in the inner city. They were in LA promoting their 2007 calendar. I got to meet them and chat with them and for the most part they are pretty down to earth and approachable even though they can sometimes look like they will rip your head off.

These guys have ridiculous bodies as well and are most definitely inspired! Enjoy the pics.

Photo Shoot With Tim Ricks

So I shot photos this week with Tim Ricks. I love how they came out. The style is very different from the Gregory Prescott shoot. I am really just in the stage of trying new things and seeing what different photographers can pull out of me. Well hope you enjoy this new expression of myself.

Gwen Stefani Review

Gwen Stefani
The Sweet Escape
Label: Interscope
7.5 out of 10
By Norman Mayers



Gwen Stefani has always been something of a music industry oddity. Rising to fame with her Southern California band No Doubt she became the face of a generation. No Doubt’s ska-pop sounds were just one part of Gwen’s repertoire as she re-invented herself as a fly white chick by hooking up with rapper Eve a few years back. With her solo debut, 2004’s Love.Angel.Music.Baby, Gwen further stretched her artistic muscle by referencing 80s pop sounds and Japanese fashion. L.A.M.B. wasn’t exactly the most consistent album even though it produced the monster hit “Hollaback Girl”. With The Sweet Escape, Stefani gets her schizophrenia in check and delivers a mostly streamlined set of bass heavy hip-hop cuts sprinkled with pop lyrics and soaring retro-flavored anthems. Although it’s far from perfect, The Sweet Escape is a far more enjoyable listen than Stefani’s debut and is destined to spawn another massive Hollaback single.

A part of what makes Stefani’s sophomore solo release a bit more accessible is the indelible stamp of the Neptunes. As the producers of “Hollaback Girl” it was inevitable that they be the main contributors to this album. Luckily, Stefani and the Neptunes do make an exciting team. The collaboration produces some of the Neptunes’ most adventurous work in years such as the mildly annoying yet entertaining lead single “Wind It Up” and the playful “Yummy”, which ends with a bizarre voyage into a mechanic’s shop (listen to the track and you will know what I mean). The Neptunes also pull the most radio-ready singles out of Gwen. The 808 heavy “Orange County Girl” could be the new California anthem while tracks like “U Started It” and bonus track “Candyland” are among the best on the album. However, it’s Swizz Beatz who comes up with the most likely heir to the Hollaback crown with the bumping chants and boasting raps of “Now That You Got It”.

But Gwen Stefani is more than just a rapping white girl. Many of the album’s highlights are the softer ones. Cuts like “Early Winter” and “4 In The Morning” soar thanks to Stefani’s girlish vocals and brilliant hooks that reference iconic moments from Madonna and Tears for Fears. There are places where things don’t quite click such as on the musical train wreck “Don’t Get It Twisted” and the Gogos inspired title track. Neither track has a clear direction, simply throwing a million sounds into a pot with pretty dismal results.

Gwen Stefani will probably always remain one of those artists that projects style over substance, yet she continues to make some of the most interesting music in pop. Very few artists in the mainstream can hope to produce an album as wonderfully weird as The Sweet Escape.

Nintendo Wii Launch Event

So I just landed my first freelance assignment with a magazine called BizBash. They basically cover events as a guide for event planners. My first event was for the Nintendo Wii launch party in Hollywood. It was pretty cool. Of course it was open bar but they had lots of huge video game displays and stations throughout the venue for you to play with. Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys fame was on the decks playing some proper hip-hop beats.

There were a bunch of celebrities strolling through there which was kinda interesting. I counted Justin Timberlake, Marlon Wayans, Freddy Rodriquez (Six Feet Under) and Macy Gray. Plus I saw that really hot girl from that old WB show Popular. The dark haired one, not that blonde bitch.

Anyway, the people were just ok. A bit too Hollywood wannabe for me and not enough solid networking going on. But I was definitely more excited about my first asisgnment for Biz Bash. Things are moving forward in my freelance career.

My Hot Air Balloon Ride - Ventura, California

I had the unique privilege this past weekend of getting to ride a hot air balloon. I went on a press trip to Ventura, California which is about an hour north of LA. It's a beach community but the sorroudning land is used for agriculture: strawberries, avacado, lemons, etc. I had to get up at the crack of dawn but it was so worth it. It was so quiet and gentle in the balloon as we drifted over the crops and valleys. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I love my job!