Frank Mccomb - Love Stories

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Free Music Notes for Love Stories

Free Music Review: A New Era
Hit: 5 Stars

So two months ago, I'm in the Fry's in Manhattan Beach and this old dude tells me about the new Jeffrey Osborne album. I'm psyched about it and so I pick it up, but not before we commiserate about how it would have been so much better to get a new Peabo Bryson. Since I hang out on Amazon, I knew that McComb was going to hit soon. So I tell him to watch for it, and I find myself saying that McComb writes like Stevie Wonder and sings like Donny Hathaway. He tells me no way, and I have to check myself. Is McComb really all that? Two months ago, there was no way for me to tell.

Now I've finally got the album and I see that I got it backwards. On 'Love Songs' he mostly writes like Donny Hathaway and sings like Stevie Wonder. I'd rather have it mostly the other way around, and on several cuts he delivers just that, but I understand the commercial appeal needed on a debut solo album. Since he frames this LP with a couple of incredible vocal performances I have got to give the man five stars, even though 4 and a half is more like it.

So, do you remember the first time you heard Anita Baker? That is the impact this man is going to have on you. 'Love Songs' totally rearranges the floor plan for male R&B vocalists. But unlike Anita, Frank is not shy about showing some real gospel and jazz roots, and have no doubt, the man can blow. And guess what, he plays the piano too.

When you wish D'Angelo could write about grownup situations, Frank is the man. When you wish Eric Benet could stretch out some really serious vocal improvisations, Frank is right on it. When you wish Bobby McFerrin would throw down some serious love ballads for a change, McComb is belting it out. And if that's not enough, McComb has got the nerve to write a wedding ballad in the third person so that both men and women can sing the words. (and mark my words, you are going to hear THAT song forEVER)

If there is one flaw in 'Love Songs' it's that it's a little too formulaic as compared to McComb's Buckshot material. If you, like I, expected all piercing lyrics like, 'Better Than I Am', you will be 3/4 disappointed. Even with 14 tracks, I get the distinct impression that he could have done something deeper. I understand that he has got to be approachable and popular and I give him that, but every time I hear that Stevie Wonder flavor in his arrangement, I wish that he was a little more Donny Hathaway. So basically, you know that I'm trippin' because I'm doggin' the brother for being too much like one of the greatest pop songwriters in history. Then again, I have been waiting for years, and so have you. You just won't realize it until you hear this music.

Seeing as I only have 1,000 words, I make the following brief suggestions. Clear out a space where you used to have Sade. Or maybe put away those Luther Vandross CDs. Check your bank account and go buy 3 of these CDs, plus get the Buckshots just in case you slept on that. I guarantee you are going to wear it out. Plus, you are going to want to give one to someone you love. Then you'll want to keep one in your car and one in the house so you don't accidently scratch it moving back and forth. So maybe you'll even have to buy four.

'Love Songs' is not quite the monument of Lauren Hill's 'Education' and there is not a bomb track that absolutely floors you like Me'Shell Ndege O.'s first, but it's every bit as good as Tracy Chapman's debut, and better than Anita Baker's. I'd say it's about as good as 'Diamond Life'. Now the only question is, how long do I have to wait for the next Frank McComb album?

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Jazz Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• R&B