To our ears, one of the most overlooked albums of recent years was "The Colored Section" by Donnie, a neo-soul collection of socially-conscious songs (love songs, too) wrapped up in a bundle of irresistible melodies. It sounded like Stevie Wonder (or Donny Hathaway) -- albeit on a mission.
His new album, "The Daily News," leaves Stevie Wonder in the dust -- this is a considerably angrier piece of work, less immediately accessible, and not much in the way of love songs -- the neo-soul has given way to a funkier set of tunes. It's less Stevie Wonder and more Sly Stone fit to be tied.
Donnie takes up the Katrina disaster victims, unemployment, even pedophilia in his reading of the daily news. What's not to be angry about? In that way, it makes this album very much of the moment. Yet Donnie leaves plenty of room for hope within the grooves, which gives his work a transcending joy. Put both his albums into your rotation -- this guy's the real thing.
Note: if you buy the new cd at Circuit City, you'll get a special pressing which contains an additional three cuts.
written on Monday Jun 25, 2007
funk,
joy,
cd.
