Some of the finest indie R&B/Soul you're ever likely to hear
Manuel | California | 01/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Geez, no wonder this album isn't selling as much as it should on here...this is the kind of music PEOPLE NEED TO BE LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW! Ola Onabule is an artist who only seems to be appreciated by those fortunate enough to have attended his live shows throughout the UK. He's definitely that country's finest contemporary R&B/Soul singer from what I could gather. At times he sounds like he's channeling some SERIOUS Frankie Beverly (of Maze), as on the two standout tracks Soultown and Heart Of Lead. Or, when Ola drops an octave lower, it almost feels as if Donny Hathaway's in the house! There's virtually nothing the man can't do with his voice, but what good would that do alone if there weren't any songs to do it REAL justice? This is where Ola's talent truly shines, for he actually writes ALL of his own material. He certainly covers a lot of ground in the lyrics, from the ups and downs of love to the general state of humanity and its ongoing issues. Add the fact that he produces his OWN music with his OWN band on his OWN independent label (Rugged Ram) and you have someone who isn't the least bit interested in giving the people anything close to resembling a compromise. What you hear is EXACTLY what you get from Ola everytime! Other highlights on this soon-to-be-classic include: Thanks, Love Affair (one of Ola's finest vocal performances on record TO DATE), Alive Tonight, and the stunning album closer Forgiven.
As good as his latest release is, you should definitely check out Ola's back catalog (especially the last two albums he put out-Precious Libations For Silent Gods and Ambitions For Deeper Breadth; those were when he started using a live band rather than handling most of the instrumentation himself). They're all available through his website if you can't find them here.
PLEASE NO MORE SLEEPING ON REAL TALENT, FOLKS!!!!
>;-)
"
Nick
Nicola Saviola | 01/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wonderful voice and wonderful album"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1