Wednesday, October 3, 2007
 

It's been both strange and extremely delightful that this year has seen quite a few soul-enthused artists fall into my lap.  It started with Amy Winehouse, then it was Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators, which was followed by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and now it's the sultry Alice Smith.  I've been seeing her name all over publications like Entertainment Weekly, Spin and the Rolling Stone over the last month or two, and it's because of the hotly anticipated re-release of her album, For Lovers, Dreamers and Me, on October 30.  The disc has apparently been available outside of the United State for quite some time, but my guess is that the popularity of Winehouse prompted the extra effort to push her work here.  Whatever it takes, right?  Enjoy.

:Alice Smith - New Religion:  Some of you are probably going to immediately feel that this isn't soul music as you listen to it the first time.  In some ways you will be right.  The music does carry a shiny pop sheen that is completely void of the mood that Nicole and Sharon use, which puts all of the focus squarely on Alice's vocals.  But, that's where you'll get lost and forget all about arrangements and whatever else.  She simply does whatever it takes to captivate you.  At times that means soaring to heights that most singers wish they could, and other times it means gracefully flowing along in ways that are meant to have you humming and having a good time.  It doesn't get much better than this.

If I had Dream as a song to share then you would be getting it as a downloadable track and not a video.  Still, I think it's a good idea to watch and see for yourself that Alice is not getting any positive buzz that she wouldn't be.

- John Laird -



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