If you’re a product of the eighties or prior, most likely you’ve never known a time without the ever prolific, soulful Sade and frankly, who would want to?

The Best of Sade is a 16-track masterpiece of some of her best work until 1992.

Released in 1994, the album went double platinum in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Italy, in addition to going platinum in nine other countries.

With her exotic beauty and captivating voice, Sade manages to cast a spell on any listener; however, I must admit, it’s “Never as Good as the First Time”. Somewhere around 1995, I stumbled across an old cassette tape in my dad’s study. As a young boy, anything that featured a beautiful woman on the cover piqued my interest although I can’t say much has changed since then. I rushed to put the cassette in my stereo and the first thing I heard were the horns and bass of “Is It a Crime”. Then I heard one of the most beautiful voices say, “This may come…this may come as some surprise, but I miss you.” I missed her too, yet I didn’t even know who she was.

It was Sade’s sophomore album, Promise, released ten years earlier in 1985, that quickly catapulted her to the top of my list of favorite singers. I thought to myself, “Why haven’t I heard this before, or of Sade, for that matter?” Perhaps, an even better question at the time would have been, “Who is Sade?” I wasn’t even sure of how to pronounce her name, until my dad came in the room and muttered something along the lines of, “Hooked on Sade, huh?” and that, I certainly was.

Helen Folasade Adu was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, to an African father and an English mother. Growing up, she’d listen to some of the best soul singers of her time like Ray Charles, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye—artists who were able to capture an emotion, such as heartache or love, and force that feeling upon all who listened; a skill Sade also naturally possesses.

The effortless “Stronger Than Pride” fuses island beats, jazz and R&B into a timeless classic. Her dynamic handling of “Is It a Crime” is what caught my attention. The soft, gentle tone in the beginning is overrun with emotion as Sade pleads for a love lost. “Jezebel”, with its haunting appeal and the singer’s vulnerability evident in her voice, forces you to listen and take notice. But, of course, you should be doing that anyway. On “No Ordinary Love”, Sade’s voice oozes sex appeal, making it one of the best love-making songs ever (from what I’ve heard, at least). The lyrics to “Cherish the Day” fit perfectly with the deep, sensual musical accompaniment. “Pearls”, the jewel that closes this collection, is so full of emotion that I cried the first time I heard it.

I’m not entirely sure how one would classify Sade; so many influences are evident in her music. However, this is definitely a chill-out album to relax with your loved one and “Cherish the Day”.

Post Title Download: Sade – “Never as Good as the First Time” from The Best of Sade

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1. I’ve Got to See You Again
2. You Make Me Sick
3. First Timers

Norah Jones’ new album, The Fall, was released last week. It’s a slight departure from her past smooth, sultry offerings, but it’s also a great album showcasing Norah’s experimentation with a new sound and new collaborators.

She’s one of my favorite singer-songwriters of all-time, and her concert tour a couple of years ago was the first I’d ever attended. In honor of the new album, I’m resurrecting Sunday Share and spotlighting a few of my favorite Norah features.

Herbie Hancock – “Court and Spark” (ft. Norah Jones)
Norah shines on the album opener to the 2008 Album of the Year and homage to Joni Mitchell. I like Joni’s version, but I love Norah’s; she really makes it her own.
From River: The Joni Letters

Talib Kweli – “Soon the New Day” (ft. Norah Jones)
My favorite song from the album features Norah Jones on the hook. Coincidence?
I think not.
From Eardrum

Wax Poetic – “Angels” (ft. Norah Jones)
I saw the video on VH1 Soul around the time Norah’s debut album was released. That’s where it all began.
From Nublu Sessions

OutKast – “Take Off Your Cool” (ft. Norah Jones)
OutKast is, perhaps, my favorite duo in the history of duos. To have Norah Jones added to the mix only means greatness is guaranteed.
From Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

The Peter Malick Group – “Heart of Mine” (ft. Norah Jones)
This song was featured during the closing credits of the film, Runaway Jury. I liked the movie, but I’d watch it again just for the closing credits.
From New York City

Norah Jones – “I’ve Got to See You Again”
This is one of my favorite songs, and seeing Norah perform it live was amazing.
From Come Away with Me

Related posts:

1. Never as Good as the First Time
2. First Timers
3. You Make Me Sick

This has been my song of the moment for a minute. Check out the video for the title track of Robin Thicke’s upcoming album, Sex Therapy. Can’t wait to give it a listen.

Post Title Download: Robin Thicke – “Sex Therapy” from Sex Therapy

Related posts:

1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
2. You Make Me Sick
3. Viva la Vida

Meet Jihae, a dark and sultry South Korean singer, and check out “My Love”, the first single from her upcoming release, Fire Burning Rain, scheduled for July 7.

Post Title Download: Jihae – “My Love” from Fire Burning Rain

Related posts:

1. Love Makes You Beautiful
2. You Make Me Sick

Animal Collective always has such off-the-wall videos, and the new one for “In the Flowers” is no exception. The track is one of my favorites from Merriweather Post Pavilion which was released earlier this year. Their new EP, Fall Be Kind, drops next week and includes the first legal Grateful Dead sample ever.

Post Title Download: Animal Collective -- “In the Flowers” from Merriweather Post Pavilion

Related posts:

1. Viva la Vida
2. Sex Therapy

Gone are the days when “celebrities” dominated one particular area. They’re now setting their sights on controlling all forms of entertainment.

Take for instance, Leighton Meester. You’re probably asking, “WHO?!” But she’s an actress on Gossip Girl. I’ve never seen the show, so I can’t comment on how great an actress she is. One thing’s for sure, though: if this music video is any indication of her singing abilities, she’s not much of a singer. In fact, she doesn’t really sing with her monologue verses easily trumped by blue-eyed soul crooner Robin Thicke.

There have been many actors who’ve tried their hand at singing. Some have succeeded, but many make for a great punchline. My point is instead of trying to take over, go with what you know and do what you do well.

Post Title Download: Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” from Songs from the Big Chair

Related posts:

1. Sex Therapy
2. You Make Me Sick

Hard to believe it’s been 13 years. Even harder that the case is still unsolved.

Post Title Download: 2Pac -- “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto” from R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

No related posts.

Post Title Download: Junior Senior – “I Like Music (W.O.S.B.)” from Hey Hey My My Yo Yo

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1. You Make Me Sick

I’m also sure that when he announced he was recording an album, people were expecting something smooth and eclectic, just like the man himself.

And that’s exactly what you get with his highly-anticipated debut album, Shine Through It, which hits stores today.

In his promising debut of eleven songs, Howard tells a story of love and life just as singer-songwriters have done for years. But with flamenco, soul, folk and jazz influences, this album is like nothing you’ve ever heard before, and that’s a good thing.

The album opener, “Love Makes You Beautiful” has a similar guitar rift to Jim Croce’s classic, “Time in a Bottle“. The song begins as a soft, brooding track but builds into a lush masterpiece complete with a children’s choir.

The title track “Shine Through It” is a cinematic climax of strings and horns about allowing ourselves to experience the light of spirituality: “All I want to be/Is a little more like me/And all I want from you/Is to let some light shine through.”

“Mr. Johnson’s Lawn” is a childhood tale about trying to sneak around with the next-door neighbor’s daughter while staying off her father’s lawn set to a fusion of island rhythms, flutes and strings.

The soft, romantic “Sanctuary” was inspired by the singer-songwriter meeting Seal and Heidi Klum at a Hollywood party and being impressed by the level of commitment in their relationship: “Living like a Casanova was living/Feeling unsure but no one was missing/Then you called/And you found me/Heading on out to where I was restless… And it’s alright if part of the time/You’ve been looking for me”. Acoustic guitar (Howard taught himself to play) and strings fill this stirring track.

“No. 1 Fan” is a deeply personal, dark ballad in which Howard takes responsibility for his failed marriage: “You treat me like a walking mattress ad/And I don’t think I can love you anymore/If you want to leave girl/Do your thing/But don’t forget who you’re talking to/And I ain’t got no plans to change/So I guess you got some walking to do.”

“Spanish Love Affair” is an instrumental track with a Latin and Middle Eastern feel to it. Howard originally wrote it with Marc Anthony in mind: “I wanted him to recite some great Spanish poetry from 200 years ago over this beautiful music, but I couldn’t get in touch with him. I tried to do it, but I don’t speak Spanish. I can barely say, ‘Arriba‘.”

Then we get to the up-tempo and self-reflection “Plenty“, which has a very soulful feel. Followed by “I Remember When,” with its James Taylor vibe and whistling intro about young love: “I remember when/I was just a dude/You walked to school/Had some problems/And I talked them through.”

“All these songs are just walks through different avenues of my life,” explains Howard.

“It’s All Game” is largely smooth jazz instrumental with spoken words all about broken relationships. “She Was Mine,” however, is a blues-influenced joint about falling in love at a stop light: “Pleasure to meet you and let me be blunt/You’re a heavenly creature and that’s what I want”.

The album ends with “War“, which sounds like something from the early 20th century with its sax solo and jazz piano but speaks of an inevitable conflict between the East and West.

According to Howard: “Music has always been the road that leads to where I’m headed. Film is my vocation, my 9 to 5. In the movies, I’m doing what somebody else is asking me to do. Music is my own personal form of expression. My responsibility, like the sun’s, is to shine. Even if the planet is covered with clouds, I must say what I have to say.”

J.’s Joints: “Love Makes You Beautiful”, “Shine Through It”, “Mr. Johnson’s Lawn”, “Sanctuary”, “No. 1 Fan”, “Spanish Love Affair”, “Plenty”, “I Remember When”, “It’s All Game”, “She Was Mine”

Visit Terrence Howard on MySpace.

Post Title Download
Terrence Howard – “Love Makes You Beautiful” from Shine Through It

Related posts:

1. Never as Good as the First Time
2. My Love
3. Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)

Well, Coldplay’s widely anticipated fourth album, Viva la Vida, hits stores today and I was wrong about it.

Very wrong.

Coldplay’s latest is by far their greatest, transcending everything they’ve ever done. With this one, Coldplay leaves behind the lethargic feel of X&Y and builds upon the lush melodies and balladry from A Rush of Blood to the Head.

It’s been over three years since their last studio album, but the time certainly wasn’t “Lost!” This album is much more relaxed and much less stifled than the last. It’s also the group’s shortest one to date at just under 46 minutes.

Album opener “Life in Technicolor” is a brilliant instrumental that builds into something wonderful.

The haunting flamenco-folk “Cemeteries of London” follows and is reminiscent of another English group, The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun”. The juxtaposition between this track and the previous one is perfect.

“Lost” has this sort of tribal beat thing going on that I’d rather do without. Fortunately, the iTunes version of the album includes a bonus acoustic version of the song with nothing more than a piano and it sounds amazing.

“42” is next with its insistence that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”. It features a soft melodic beginning and transforms into a driving rock beat not even halfway into the song. Before the end, though, it returns to the dreamlike beginning uniting the two and stating once again that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”.

With “Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love“, there’s a two for one deal. The first, a U2-inspired upbeat track which I like, is joined by a soft, lulling one which I don’t.

“Yes” is another twofer, but it includes a hidden track, “Chinese Sleep Chant”. This time, inspiration is taken from Radiohead, which I like, and includes a more upbeat, lulling one which I don’t. Fortunately, I can set iTunes to stop the track at 4:04 right before it begins.

I’m sure everyone has heard the title track, “Viva la Vida“, from the iTunes commercial. I’m sure you love it too, right?

The album’s first single, “Violet Hill” is a dynamic piece of art that showcases a little more rock than anything I’ve ever heard from the group.

“Strawberry Swing” has a hint of Middle Eastern flair as a background to Chris’s description of the perfect day.

The final double track (as well as the album’s) is “Death and All His Friends” which includes the hidden “The Escapist”. The first begins with soothing vocals and a soft piano, while the second is more excited and has a pulsing guitar riff. Out of the three double tracks, this is the only one that I didn’t like at least one part.

Rife with allusions to God, ghosts and death, Viva la Vida is a sound departure from their previous work, which I’m sure will attract even more fans and satiate those who’ve been anxiously awaiting new material.

Visit Coldplay.com and check the band out on MySpace at MySpace.

J.’s Joints: “Life in Technicolor”, “Cemeteries of London”, “42″, “Lovers in Japan”, “Yes”, “Viva la Vida”, “Violet Hill”, “Strawberry Swing”, “Lost!” [Acoustic Bonus Track]

Post Title Download
Coldplay – “Viva la Vida” from Viva la Vida

Related posts:

1. In the Flowers
2. Never as Good as the First Time
3. Love Makes You Beautiful