Adriana Evans - Adriana Evans
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Free Music Notes for Adriana Evans
Free Music Review: solid acid jazz
Hit: 3 Stars
Although a number of reviewers describe Evans' first album as neo-soul, and she rightly deserves credit for playing a role in breaking open this genre, the best of her songs sound far more like what we've come to know as acid jazz. Evans has a good voice, and the styles in which she uses it are often much more similar to those of the Brand New Heavies' vocalists than those of neo-soul artists like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, and Amel Larrieux. Her backing tracks offer the harder-hitting bass drums and snares I always wanted to hear the Heavies juxtapose with their smooth jazzy harmonies but rarely did, resulting in several very dance-floor-friendly songs which could just as easily have been hip hop songs had they featured MCs instead of Evans' pleasant pipes. I really only find one or two songs here that remind me somewhat of what we call neo-soul these days.
Four of the songs, "Seeing Is Believing," "Hey Brother," "Love Me," and "Swimming" are upbeat acid jazz capable of keeping heads nodding at a party. These might remind you of Zhan?'s club hit "Hey Mr. DJ" or some of their less-known bumping tracks like "Vibe" and "Groove Thang." Unfortunately, unlike Zhan?'s work, Evans' album is not filled out by much in the way of authentic, moving songwriting. Most of the remainder of the album sounds to me like Diana Ross or Donna Summer B sides. The composition; the string, horn, and guitar arrangements; and the singing styles all recall 70s and 80s ballads.
The songs effectively set the mood for dancing (in the case of the feel-good acid jazz tracks) or for chilling out (in the case of the ballads). Evans' lyrics are uninteresting or even trite across the board and deal almost exclusively with love in pretty formulaic terms. Evidently the lyrics are mostly there to serve as an anchor to which Evans can tie her appealing voice and her tasty beats, so the overall lack of substance and invention in the words isn't a big deal though it can detract from the pleasure of the songs at times, again in a way reminiscent of much of the Heavies' lightweight material. Overall this is a good album thanks to the tracks that are hitting and the quality of Evans' singing, though personally I find the ballads all completely uninspired.
Free Music Review: baught it twice and had it stolen twice.
Hit: 5 Stars
So now I am going for a third try. And this time i got an ipod so i will make sure i have a back up. This album is the feel good cd of my youth. timeless, classic, strong from beginning to end.Free Music Review: An underrated classic
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of my all time favorites. Even after 7 or 8 years, this cd is still enjoyable. It's melodic and positive and so unlike the stuff that is constantly played on the radio.Free Music Review: Real music for a change
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this cd! I lost it and bought it again. This is one of few albums I'd pay money for. "Say You Won't" has to be the best song to come from a new artist in years. "I'll Be There" is also a song that should have become a classic. Adriana Evan's voice is timeless, rivaling "hit" artists such as Beyonce (offense meant) and all the rest of the "R&B" artists out there. This woman is a soulful reminder of what music should be and true neo-soul enthusiasts should definitely have this in heavy rotation, not the garbage that's on the airwaves.Free Music Review: Thoroughly Enjoyable
Hit: 5 Stars
Love this CD and listened to it all the time when I first bought it. I'd like to characterize the music as somewhere between old-school R&B with hiphop elements. To me, the music creates a sexy & romantic mood. Not a coincidence that the W Hotel put "Love is All Around" on one edition of their in-house CDs a few years ago, which was how I learned about Adriana Evans. Do agree with other reviewers that she has been unjustly overlooked. Anyway, at some point I had thought that this CD marked the end of her career, but she just released a new CD in August 2004, which you can obtain straight from her web site, http://www.adrianaevans.com/ I just ordered my copy and am eagerly anticipating it!