Janelle Monae: A Glimpse Into “Electric Lady,” The MOC Preview/Knowshi Exclusive

“I would paint and sing at the same time, and I noticed that I was painting the same silhouette over and over,” the 27-year-old revealed at an exclusive listening party in Dallas. Her hotly-anticipated follow-up to 2010′s critically-acclaimed The ArchAndroid, Electric Lady features live instrumentation and notable collaborators like Esperanza Spalding, Miguel, Solange Knowles, Erykah… Continue reading Janelle Monae: A Glimpse Into “Electric Lady,” The MOC Preview/Knowshi Exclusive

Playlist: The Very Best of Donna Summer,The Soultracks CD Review/MOC Preview Link

…..As a pre-teen, I found her glamorous and galvanizing: the willowy frame, the full red lips and voluminous hair made Ms. Summer exciting to behold, and that strong, steady soprano fueled many of my favorite songs. As I grew older, the scenarios she painted about love, the fast life and other sophisticated themes spoke to… Continue reading Playlist: The Very Best of Donna Summer,The Soultracks CD Review/MOC Preview Link

Ron Isley’s “This Song Is For You”: The SoulTracks Review & MOC Preview Link

It’s rare to be such a trailblazing icon that your musical imprint spans over half a century and includes multiple genres, but that’s a true statement to describe living legend Ron Isley. That sleek, fluttery tenor has shaped funk jams, social statement songs and yes, those bedroom ballads for so long that even when he’s… Continue reading Ron Isley’s “This Song Is For You”: The SoulTracks Review & MOC Preview Link

Donell Jones: A “Forever” Kind Of Love & Career, MOC Preview/Knowshi Link

You can’t exactly tell from his youthful look, buttery croon and playful demeanor, but Donell Jones is a certified veteran in the music game. With gold and platinum-selling CDs in his catalog and an enviable arsenal of pop and R&B hits (“Where I Wanna Be,” “You Know That I love You,” “Love Like This” and… Continue reading Donell Jones: A “Forever” Kind Of Love & Career, MOC Preview/Knowshi Link

India.Arie’s “SongVersation” CD Review, MOC Preview/Soultracks Review Link

……..The result of that self-imposed hiatus, Songversation, makes India.Arie’s fifth studio CD all that her fans will probably expect: the wisdom of womanhood, the polish of an industry vet and unbridled optimism of the re-purposed and newly-recharged. With the exception of a remake (the effective and evocative reimagining of “Strange Fruit”), practically every song was… Continue reading India.Arie’s “SongVersation” CD Review, MOC Preview/Soultracks Review Link