If you think that by calling an album 'Instant Vintage' it is a testament to an artist's arrogance and how highly they think of what they do, then you know nothing about and have never heard any song that Raphael Saadiq had a hand in. If you have, and especially if you've heard Tony Toni Tone's final album 'House of Music', my personal favorite album of all time, then you can only be nodding your head at the title. The fact of the matter is, he is the most talented and consistentally impressive musician and singer working in R&B and you can count on him to release a great album no matter what state the music is in. The typical music fan is probably still sleeping on this one, sadly, as I've heard only one song played on the radio and BET and seen this album nowhere on the Top 40 charts. The majority of R&B acts and performers these days are purely style over substance, but this album is substance with a gang of style along with it. It is so well-written, well-performed, and almost all of the songs have something deep and meaningful beneath the surface shine.

The opener of the album 'Doing What I Can' is a biographical number where he sings about just trying doing the best that he can at what he does, and is intersparsed with various reporters and media types speaking about Saadiq's life and childhood growing up in the rough streets of Oakland. Then it moves right into 'Body Parts', a nice uptempo number with a heavy backbeat and a late-night feel like you's comin' back from a night of poppin' Cris at a club. The first and only single that I know of off the album, 'Be Here', is a nice number featuring D'Angelo that was a good choice for the radio, but is hardly the stand-out on the album. In fact, compared to some of the rest of the songs, it's pretty flat-sounding, as is 'Still Ray', which uses a variation on Dr. Dre's 'Still Dre' beat, though Saadiq's song is much better than Dre's ridiculous bit of braggadocio. The piano loop works much better on an R&B song anyways. One of my favorite songs on the album 'You're the One that I Like' follows after a short (and pretty pointless) interlude, and is a pretty poignant and kind of sad number about Saadiq coming back home to his neighborhood in the ghetto to find an old girlfriend of his who, in spite of having all the promise and chances in the world, became a victim of her surroundings. This is a story I've witnessed first-hand in my life, so I'm mad feelin' the hurt he's talking about. 'Excuse Me' is a bumpin' three-person duet featuring Saadiq, Calvin Richardson, and Angie Stone, all going back and forth to sing about a man or woman that they got it bad for, but that don't give them the time of day. An excellent collaboration of three talented artists, that rather than feeling forced and paycheck-hungry, actually seems like they all just one day decided to record a song together. Another of the best songs on the album, and also the most inspirational is 'Different Times', a duet with T-Boz, who really shows her vocal skills here. This is the most directly spiritually-driven number on the album, with it's hypnotic beat and lush vocals. It's jus' somethin' to get me or you through the day, as simple as that. Now comes my bar-none favorite song on the album 'Tick Tock', a beautiful song in which Saadiq tells his lost love that he will step back and let her deal with what she is going through, but that at the end of the day he'll always be there waiting, and hoping that she'll come back to him. This song just goes to show you what an emotional singer Raphael Saadiq is. I mean, just listen to the last verse. He's beggin, pleadin' for her as well as you, the listener, to understand his frustration and heartache. It's a beautiful thing. The next number 'People' is a powerful socially-conscious tune with observances on politics, the ghetto, the music industry and the children of this world who are growing up into a future that is looking bleaker and bleaker. Hey, somebody hadda tell the truth, right? After that dour number there is an interlude in which Saadiq introduces the next song as being inspired by two of his friends, Jaimie Fox and Lamont. The song is called 'Faithful' and is probably the song that sounds the most like classic Tony Toni Tone, almost like it coulda been left over from one of their early '90s albums. 'Blind Man' is one'a the most thought-provoking numbers on the whole album. There is something poignant in the words, but I don't really know how to explain it, so you'll just hafta listen to it, and probably more than once. Then discover the meaning behind it to yourself. It's deep, trust me. Another song that sounds like it coulda been culled from Tony Toni Tone's recording sessions is 'Uptown', in which Saadiq sings about leaving his hometown, because of all the drugs and death he sees around him. Don't let the hood take you under is the message he's sendin' here, and he puts it across beautifully. 'What's Life Like' is a brief, but powerful number about shunning materialism and making sure your soul's alright. The final song is a duet with Rosie Kaye called 'Skyy, Can You Feel Me' and it is a has a very breezy, late night feel to it, like you should be cruising the downtown strip at night bumpin' it. There are also two bonus tracks that appear at the end of the song, but that are not listed on the album. It is all brought full-circle and ended on a positive note.

I guess if I had to complain about anything on this album, it's that there is no real strong and monumental ballad, the kind that he was so damn good at singing when he was with Tony Toni Tone. A ballad along the lines of 'Still a Man' would've put this way over the top. But, in spite of that one disappointment, I still hafta give this five stars, because overall, Raphael Saadiq's long-awaited first solo album is a diamond in the rough of bad and mediocre releases that have come out in 2002. He has managed to grow but also stay true to his old self, giving the listeners who know him from his days in Tony Toni Tone what they want to hear, as well as making sure he doesn't get thrown into any category with anyone who is sub-par, by using the most sparse yet at the same time full arrangements and writing the most original songs. Lush orchestration, hook-laden, danceable melodies, and gospel influences are evident throughout the album, making it an all-around classic in every sense of the word. Alright, now that you've read this review, all of you who are still sleeping on this, WAKE UP! And then go out right now, buy this albu, and support this man, because he is the BEST at what he does. 'Nuff said.

Anyone that was a Tony Toni Tone fan like I was, was very disappointed to see that the group had broken up. I am glad that they blessed us with "Who", "The Revival", "Sons Of Soul", and "House Of Music", but after 4 CDs of hits that included my favorites like "Born Not To Know", "The Blues", "It Never Rains In Southern California", "Whatever You Want", "If I Had No Loot", "Anniversary", "Thinking Of You", "Still A Man", etc., I was not ready to see them apart. Once the break up occurred, Dwayne Wiggins dropped a slept on debut "Eyes Never Lie" and everyone eagerly awaited on the debut of the supergroup Lucy Pearl, which consisted of Raphael Saadiq, Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest. Their 1st single, "Dance Tonight" was a certified hit, but once their CD dropped it did not do as well as was expected. A bad 2nd single choice in "Don't Mess With My Man" didn't help either, but overall Lucy Pearl had a nice debut, in my opinion. Now after droppin' solo songs like "Ask Of You", "Get Involved" w/Q-Tip and "Just Tryin' To Be A Man" w/Devin The Dude over the years, Tony Toni Tone fans finally get what they want and that's a full length CD from Raphael Saadiq. The first thing that I will say about "Instant Vintage" is that if you are a Tony Toni Tone fan then you are going to love this CD. It's just that simple. Raphael plays an important role in all of the lyrics and production and he also gets contributions as well. The stand out song on this CD is clearly "Be Here" w/D' Angelo. This was the perfect choice for the 1st single. This sounds like a nice soulful song for the summer that is unlike the famous radio songs of today. If you are not a fan of the Top 40 r&b songs of today then this is the CD for you. Raphael sticks to the same formula that got Tony Toni Tone on the map. You hear a lot of different instruments and soulful sounds. The lyrics compliment these sounds. Other standout tracks include "Body Parts", "Excuse Me" w/Angie Stone and Calvin Richardson, "Different Times" w/T Boz of TLC, "You're The One That I Like", "Blind Man", "What's Life Like", and "Uptown". On "Still Ray", Raphael even empoys the sounds of a tuba on the song, which is a tight concept, in my opinion. Please don't be confused about the 14 minutes and 33 seconds that you see on another stand out track, "Skyy, Can You Feel Me" w/ Def Jam newcomer Rosie Kaye. It's actually that track and two bonus tracks rolled up into one. They are worth listening to because the bonus tracks are nice as well. Raphael Saadiq is brilliant on his overdue solo debut. Yes this does sound like a Tony Toni Tone CD and at some points, while I am listening to this CD, I do wonder when Dwayne Wiggins is going to drop a line or two, but that does not take away from the quality of this CD. "Instant Vintage" is definitely worth checking out whether you like TTT or not.

James' Top 5

1. Be Here w/D' Angelo

Raphael Saadig brings back the neo soul sound. He has that 70's groove. This CD is by far his best. I am looking forward to his next one.

www.misguidedproduction.com

this cd, i love it. Yes, it is a little long but it's very uplifting and fufilling. he touches a lot of topics and has a lot of different sounds or modes which makes this cd so unique, even though the tracks on this album aren't as memorable as some of the t3's cuts it's still all in all asolid albumcaable of being played over and over again in your house, car and everywhere else.

Very few male R&B/Soul singers have a resume as brilliantly decorated as Raphael Saadiq. As part of the band that Prince tried unsuccessfully to recruit back in the mid/late 80s (Tony Toni Tone), Saadiq gave us classics such as "Feels Good", "It Never Rains (In Southern California)", "Just Me And You" and "Anniversary" -- just to name a few by that group. Unforgetable 90s jams such as "Kissing You" by Total and "Lady" by D'Angelo were also sonic products of Raphael's musical genius. Let us not forget solo Saadiq singles such as "Get Involved" and "Ask Of You", as well as his work in the group Lucy Pearl (the hits "You", and "Dance Tonight"). Basically, with an illustrious career spanning over 15 years, it has certainly been about time for Raphael to put out a solo disc. And, I am very happy to report that 'Instant Vintage' delivers. I'll only highlight my three favorite tracks to keep this review short though...

If [track 9] "Different Times" (feat. T-Boz of TLC), is a hint of what's to come from TLC's upcoming (and painfully bittersweet) fourth disc, then TLC's album is going to be incredibly wonderful. The message of "Different Times" is empowering, and alludes to a higher source of spiritual strength with the lyrics "My friend won't let you down/He's always been around". A powerfully stoic duet between T-Boz and Raphael Saadiq, "Different Times" and is hands down, my favorite song on the album.

"Uptown" [track 17] reminds me of the quaint retro-soul that can be found on Tony Toni Tone's final album, 1996's 'Sons Of Soul'. Lyrically, it is about Raphael's desire to leave Oakland (and all the problems of his past life) behind. "Uptown" communicates a tired and weary vibe that only a real-life experience can produce. More than any other song on this album, I hear old Tony Toni Tone in this one.

"Still Ray" [track 4] is already receiving heavy rotation on San Francisco radio station 106.1 KMEL, and was my personal pick for 2nd single over "Faithful". Incorporating the peculiar piano motif from Dr. Dre's comback single "Still Dre" (hence the name), "Still Ray" is very simple and stripped down in sound, creating a hypnotic effect -- particulary when the plodding tuba(!) kicks in. (I just experienced a sensation of deja vu while typing this review...)

'Instant Vintage' isn't an album full of radio-friendly hits; rather, it's like a long awaited case of fine wine to be sampled, savored, and celebrated. There are other sonic gems on here that I should mention such as "Charlie Ray" (cute), "Oph" (gets the message across), "Be Here" (need I say more?) "Faithful" (growing on me), and "Body Parts"...but I think you get the point. While I am more partial to radio hit material (hence my picks of "Still Ray" and "Different Times"), I'm still very happy with this album. If you love soul/R&B, I'm sure you will too...