13 Jun Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin' | Album Review
R&B/Soul legend and Grammy-Award winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Raphael Saadiq recently released his fourth studio album Stone Rollin’ (March, 2011) and the follow up to 2008’s instant class is The Way I See It. Expanding the mid-'60s Motown “classic soul revival” sound into more eclectic territory by including elements of classic Rock & Roll, Blues, Funk and expansive '70s styled Orchestral music, the new LP's general aesthetic leans towards Saadiq’s live performances and influences being drawn from classic artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf and Sly Stone amongst others.
There's good news and bad news. The good news is that Stone Rollin' is not a bad record but the bad news is it's not a very good record either, by Raphael Saadiq standards.
Last week Raphael Saadiq held an exclusive listening session entitled "Saadiq Sessions" at The Royalton Hotel in New York City. For the evening Saadiq turned the hotel into a juke joint. Intimate setting, low lighting, and music that touches your soul. He walked out with the biggest smile on his face, signature black frames, blue plaid pants, crew neck shirt and blazer and got right into the music without saying much, but letting the music speak for itself. With a bassist, percussionist, and Saadiq on guitar, he performed six songs from his upcoming 10 track LP Stone Rollin' due out March 22nd.