@beachdude42 I'm really excited for the Gallant album too! Discovered his EP a few weeks ago and I've been listening to it a lot since. Also stoked for JMSN's album in May, I have a feeling it's going to be really good. "Cruel Intentions" has been on repeat.
Just a heads up if you didn't know already, NPR is streaming Gallant's entire debut album a couple of days early: www.npr.org/2016/03/28/472145212/first-listen-gallant-ology
Dude you were so right, this is amazing. If the Majid Jordan album was a hundred times better and not forgettable, it'd basically be this album.
If any of you guys are interested, I wrote a retrospective on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in honor of his birthday today. It's the first of a series I'm doing on all of his late-period albums. http://www.tealcheese.com/2016/04/02/marvin-gaye-a-retrospective-whats-going-on/
Oh nicee, I'll check this out later. Thanks! There are a couple of tracks on Majid Jordan's album I don't mind, but I can't honestly say I love anything from it and I haven't exactly returned to it much. I totally agree that dvsn are miles ahead of them, pretty much haven't stopped listening to it since I first heard it the other day. It's clear that the singer of dvsn has a far greater vocal ability than whoever it is that sings in Majid Jordan. I actually think SEPT 5TH might by an early aoty contender for me.
Agreed with all of the above. These guys far surpass the abilities of Majid Jordan, or in fact most of the artists from OVO who do that sound.
This is one of the most beautiful renditions I've heard of anything in a long time, and I shamelessly just cried for several minutes listening to it. @Letterbomb31 have you heard this yet?
Oh man, I love this performance. Sufjan is probably my favourite artist if I was forced to pick one, but I think I almost prefer Gallant's version of "Blue Bucket of Gold" at this point. That falsetto near the end is such a beautiful way to end the song. When I listen to the original version now it feels like something is missing, haha.
Some other modern r&b albums I've enjoyed over the last few years (as well as those in the first post of the thread): JMSN - S/T inc. - No World Daniel Caeser - Pilgrim's Paradise EP BJ the Chicago Kid - In My Mind Daley - Days & Nights Abhi//Dijon - Stay Up EP Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe Luke James - S/T Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience Bilal - A Love Surreal Dornik - S/T The Foreign Exchange - Love in Flying Colours Ne-Yo - R.E.D SZA - Z Toro y Moi - Anything in Return
All great choices... I need to listen to Bilal more, one of the few on that list I haven't really heard.
I honestly think dvsn's "The Line" may now be one of my favorite closing tracks of all time and possibly my SOTY so far. I rarely ever feel so many emotions as I do when I'm listening to that song.
Y'all should check out Kilo Kish's album. It's like Janelle Monae with hushed sing-rap vocals and more electronic beats
This is shaping up to be one of the best years for r&b in awhile. Albums from Rihanna, Anderson Paak, dvsn, Gallant, Zayn, Tinashe and now Maxwell too! Also heard rumours about a new Beyonce record. If Frank Ocean finally drops his new album this year as well... I'm not sure I'd be able to deal with it
I remember the cover to one of his albums that just had his mug on it. I actually don't remember any of his songs. I need run through his singles again and see if I remember anything.