Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It Cover

Avg Rating: 43210   4.4 ( 9 total votes )

Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It

Label: Columbia Records/Pookie Ent.

Production: Raphael Saadiq

Lead Single: Love That Girl

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Well before The Way I See It ever crossed my desk, Raphael Saadiq was already responsible for some of the best moments of my life. As part of the ‘90s r&b trendsetter group Tony! Toni! Tone!, it was Saadiq’s voice crooning “it’s our anniversary” that made the girls come closer during middle school slow dances. And I’ll let everyone in on a little secret: any woman who even hears his collaborations with D’Angelo (Untitled and Be Here) is immediately consumed by an unquenchable desire to make love. That’s right, the man’s that good - and … ...Read the full album review


DJBooth Album Review


Well before The Way I See It ever crossed my desk, Raphael Saadiq was already responsible for some of the best moments of my life. As part of the ‘90s r&b trendsetter group Tony! Toni! Tone!, it was Saadiq’s voice crooning “it’s our anniversary” that made the girls come closer during middle school slow dances. And I’ll let everyone in on a little secret: any woman who even hears his collaborations with D’Angelo (Untitled and Be Here) is immediately consumed by an unquenchable desire to make love. That’s right, the man’s that good - and I won’t be responsible for any little DJBooth fans that pop out nine months from now, so please use that information responsibly. With that in mind, my expectations were high when The Way first hit my speakers, and I’m happy to report that Saadiq’s done it again, not by remaking new versions of past hits, or new music self-consciously masquerading as old music, but music that’s so old school that it goes around full circle and becomes brand new. Confused? Stick with me.

Other writers will undoubtedly use a lot of words to describe Saadiq’s fourth solo album: retro, vintage, homage, tribute, but not surprisingly all of them will be wrong. As opposed to the recent classic soul/r&b revival by the likes of Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse which dragged the sounds of the late 60’s into the modern age, Saadiq has created nothing less than a musical time machine: The Way isn’t updated Motown, or a Motown tribute, it is Motown. From the earnest lyrics to the brightly bouncing percussion to the brand of amplifiers used by the studio musicians, nearly every note on this album could have been played during a high school dance in 1968 and no one would have noticed.

Now some will say that Saadiq’s overt influence from r&b’s golden age is somehow unoriginal, and if he had simply done covers of Temptations’ songs I’d agree, but The Way doesn’t sound like anything that’s been done in the last twenty years; what could be more daringly original than that? Just take the lead single Love That Girl, a track that harkens back to a time when harmony truly meant something. While a walking bass line struts in the background, Saadiq lays down a silky falsetto that soars with lines like “You can tell by her smile, she’s such a love child.” It’s the kind of track guys will say they hate when their boys are around, but they’re putting on the stereo as soon as their girl wants to cuddle. While Love That Girl sways with rhythm and motion, Oh Girl winds down the pace for a song that revives the forgotten art of the slow dance, thanks to Saadiq’s perfectly understated vocals (check out the remix with Hova for the modern version). From the electrifying 100 Yard Dash to the Stevie Wonder assisted Never Give You Up, The Way I See It is coolness in its purest form, an almost forgotten brand of coolness that’s unafraid to lay bare the pure emotions modern r&b has hidden behind million dollar posturing.

As deeply as Saadiq immerses himself in the stylings of Otis Redding and Gladys Knight, he can’t help but let little bubbles of modernity emerge time to time. At first blush Let’s Take A Walk sounds as authentically old school as the rest of the album, but the mood quickly takes a steamy turn as Saadiq proclaims, “This place is crowded, don’t know bout you, but I need some sex, some sex with you.” It may sound innocent, but after nearly an hour of Saadiq’s love notes it’s enough to shock. By contrast Big Easy is a moving ode to post-Katrina New Orleans, a track that in typical Big Easy fashion turns a funeral into a party with Saadiq letting loose with his most soulful vocals on the album while special guests the Rebirth Brass Band lays down some mean horns. Does all that make The Way I See It a classic album in it’s own right? I can’t go that far, but let me put it this way: if someone painted another version of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, would the newer version be any less beautiful simply because it was new? Of course not. Well then Raphael Saadiq is Michelangelo, and The Way I See It is his Sistine Chapel.

DJBooth Rating - 4 Spins

Listen to More: Raphael Saadiq     Written by Nathan S.


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Member Reviews and Ratings


Average Member Rating:   43210       Total Ratings:   9

DJ Z
DJ Booth Crew

DJ Z
Total Ratings: 11633
Rating:  43211
One of the most impressive albums of the last few years. This is the ONLY record I have played for male friends, female friends, AND MY MOTHER, and all three parties agreed is was beautiful on the ears. Thanks, Raphael; great review, Nathan.
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Posted on Sep 23, 2008    

Dj Baer
Tastemaker

Dj Baer
Total Ratings: 433
Rating:  54321
In my eyes, I think that this is amazing. The old sound is just so captivating, I love it. I actually think that it is better than Ne-Yo's new album, which is still amazing. My favorite song is the Oh Girl Remix with Hova.


Posted on Sep 23, 2008    

aka mr new money
Rating:  54321
Posted on Sep 23, 2008    

dmase1202
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 56
Rating:  54321
This album is hands down one of the best I have listened to in a while. Usher and Ne yo both have put out a cd this year, but both of them fail in comparison to what Saadiq brings to the table. Saadiq went for something different and absolutely nailed it. Grammy nominee for album of the year?


Posted on Sep 24, 2008    

eb5005
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 17
Rating:  54321
classssssssiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccc


Posted on Sep 24, 2008    

dukeman8807
Rating:  54321
Posted on Sep 24, 2008    

Slumper City
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 28
Rating:  54321
wow, breath taking...


Posted on Sep 26, 2008    

Clade
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 35
Rating:  14321
wow terrible his singing style is dick


Posted on Oct 11, 2008    

d mac
DJ Booth Crew

d mac
Total Ratings: 904
Rating:  54321
absolutely classic!
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Posted on Oct 12, 2008    

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