Top 10 R&B / Soul Albums

I should go ahead and mention that this list comprises of r&b from the past twenty years or so. I'll have to go back and make a list dedicated to r&b from the '60s and '70s sometime soon (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, etc).

10. Half the City - St. Paul & The Broken Bones (2014)

I must admit St. Paul and the Broken Bones are still a group I’m getting familiar with, but Half the City stands out with its dynamism rooted in ‘70s soul/r&b. Featuring an old school horn section that sounds almost too tight, the Broken Bones have a whopping total of eight members. “Grass is Greener” comes off as the best track (to me) but watch out for the power in tracks such as “Broken Bones & Pocket Change”. Every song features the singer Paul Janeway who (rightfully) sounds candidly black. There’s also a CCR reference in “Call Me”. My only gripe with this is that every song’s format feels the same in Half the City. After hearing about 3-5 tracks, nothing really changes after. I’d like to see something from them in the future that traverses into a dirtier realm as the production feels too clean at times.

9. Lioness: Hidden Treasures - Amy Winehouse (2011)

Some of Amy’s best stuff quietly appears on the posthumous release of Lioness: Hidden Treasures. Even if they all aren’t originals, “Our Day Will Come” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” are standouts along with “Between the Cheats”. There’s such a late ‘50s R&B feel going on that complements her voice perfectly. You can also explore the original / alternate versions of “Tears Dry” and “Wake Up Alone” which are interesting to listen to especially if you know the final versions. Again, there’s some cross over with two jazz standards (“Girl from Ipanema” and the Tony Bennett collab of “Body and Soul”). We can only hope that one day another release of Amy’s old demos / lost recordings will conjure out of nowhere and bless the world.

8. "Awaken, My Love!" - Childish Gambino (2016)

2016’s “Awaken My Love!” had a lot of mixed reactions - with much of Donald Glover’s fanbase expecting a hip-hop touch similar to Because the Internet. Instead Glover decided to pivot and go down a different path with origins lying in soul while exploring his role as a father. The emotional rollercoaster of “Me and Your Mama” lays out everything you’d want to hear in a track. There’s a clear Prince influence on “Have Some Love” and “Terrified” translates well into live scenario. I could probably do without “Zombies” and the autotune on “California” but tracks like “Riot” have a nice vibe and could maybe even be longer. Quietly this album sneaks by as the album that is the placeholder for “Redbone”, and many people aren’t aware of what else is in store on “Awaken My Love!”. While the energy dies down after awhile, the closing trifecta of “Baby Boy”, “The Night Me And Your Mama Met” and “Stand Tall” finish off the album in a scenic manner with a dreamy touch which helped to sell me on the album.

7. Voodoo - D'Angelo (2000)

Take your time listening to Voodoo. If you’re ever just hanging loose on a Sunday afternoon with nowhere to be, put this on. The thought behind this effort feels well planned out and very inviting out. Voodoo is not in a rush – it's not going anywhere. There's a tasteful and meticulous depth, from Charlie Hunter’s thumping guitar work to Pino Palladino’s thick and warm bass grooves. The intricacies in “Spanish Joint” have a Stevie Wonder feel and hypnotizing chorus line of “Africa” stays stuck in your heard. There's a heavy use of filters in this very black album as every instrument has their role and knows their part. Likewise, Voodoo’s influence is here to stay – influencing funk, soul, r&b, and all kinds of musicians from the past twenty years.

6. Channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean (2012)

I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of Ocean’s eagerly awaited release Blond. While it had a very personal touch, it steered away from the musical touch that captured my attention in Channel Orange – which has a rich color highlighted by tracks like “Pyramids” and “Lost”. “Sweet Life” has a Stevie Wonder inspired feel followed by the commentary of “Super Rich Kids” (which to me takes a shot at the lavish LA lifestyle of the “Youtube famous” generation). There’s some great little side tracks in “Monks” and “Crack Rock”, which groove hard and have a lot of funky musical moments. To sum it up, Channel Orange has a lot to like - especially with features from Andre 3000 on “Pink Matter” that stay memorable.

5. Frank - Amy Winehouse (2008)

Sure, I had heard of Amy Winehouse and listened to her a few times, but nothing really clicked with me. Back to Black seemed too dark for my liking, so I decided to give some of her earlier stuff a try. Frank delivered – with its mellow and jazzy vibe. Amy’s thick, rich, and sultry voice commands your attention like some of the great female jazz vocalists of the ‘50s and ‘60s. “You Sent Me Flying” and “Know You Now” showcase Amy’s dynamic vocal range and songwriting ability. Jazz standards covered on the B-sides like “Round Midnight”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, and “There is No Greater Love” all stylistically flow (while you’re at it go dig for the live version of Amy singing “Lullaby of Birdland” which isn’t included on Frank). Her rendition of Grover Washington’s “Mr. Magic” breathes life into the tune and helped to introduce me to it. Overall, the full version of Frank includes a mix of roughly 30 originals and covers that helped Ms. Winehouse to leave her mark on the world.

4. Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu (2000)

3. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998)

Lauryn Hill can walk the walk with the rest of them - she might be one of the baddest women to ever walk the planet. There's just something about how she has control of the microphone: so assertive yet filled with soul (and subtle hints of spite). Her breakthrough achievement comes out on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - which has such a vigor and oomph to it. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” is what helped to reel me in initially, but the album goes far deeper. Ms. Hill has the ability to be a soaring singer while also rapping with a flow and purpose (see “Forgive Them Father” and “Lost Ones”). Much of “Final Hour” and “To Zion” portray candid reflections that intertwine with melodic Eastern influences. Moreover, creative interludes are thrown in by interviewing young school children about the meaning / concept of love. It feels like this album might have influenced an early Kanye. Keep an ear out for guest appearances by Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, and D’Angelo which help to round out the miseducation. I really wouldn’t want to be the one who broke Lauryn Hill’s heart.

2. Freudian - Daniel Caesar (2017)

Caesar’s 2017 release of Freudian brought him out from relative obscurity to the spotlight; helped by the hit song “Best Part” - bringing both Caesar and H.E.R. to new audiences. The album refuses to turn you away with a bad song – especially after multiple listens. Similarly, the production choices come out very clean and modern – with a pleasant swirl of pitch shifted vocals / synths trailing in the background. My biggest gripe with “Hold Me Down” was that its catchy chorus part ended too soon. “We Find Love” has a gospel type crescendo with the proper sendoff / finale. The last song “Freudian” went under my radar and I never truly began to appreciate its solemn presence and vulnerable lyrics until about a year later. Don’t forget about “Take Me Away” and “Transform” which close out Freudian nicely. Daniel Caesar's music here in a way makes me fall in love with a girl that I've never met. I was pretty disappointed with Caesar’s 2019 CASE STUDY 01, but this album will always be remembered fondly.

1. Malibu - Anderson .Paak (2016)

Anderson .Paak’s name can be somewhat put off-putting, but that is quickly forgotten about once you hear his music (the period before Paak stands for the detail he puts into his work). His sophomore release, Malibu, really blends a seamless mix of hip hop, soul, and modern R&B. There’s jazzy inflections on the opening tracks of “The Bird” and “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” which go down smoothly. But the album also features some fast-paced moments on “Come Down” and “Put Me Thru”. There’s a sample of Hiatus Kaiyote’s “Molasses” on “Without You” which features the feisty Rapsody on the latter half of the song. Keep in mind that Paak is a drummer at heart, as the grooves all feel organic and soulfully crafted. Likewise, a lot of these tracks translate into another dimension with the energy in a live scenario. So be sure to check out his NPR Tiny Desk video while you’re at it (which happens to be the most viewed video of the series yet). How he manages to sing and play time in a live scenario still baffles me.