Dwele - Subject - Music Review

Come next year, around Whudat Music Award time, when we're deciding which CDs deserve luv and acclaim, this CD will be one of the top candidates in the slept on category for sure. It's simply the tightest and most consistent R&B joint I've heard this year. This Detroit cat is new to the scene, not that you haven't heard his harmonies before - he sang the hook on Slum Village's "Tainted" and has been bubbling on the underground. With this release he shakes loose and delivers true soul music.. real R&B.. sucka free. You think music stinks these days? Same themes, same guest artists? This joint will warp your whole analysis. How can I describe his style?.. If I were a mad scientist building an ill new singer I'd have to use the DNA from the existing musical gene pool. What's old is new, and what's new is pieces of the old and new. Whaaa? Let's say that Dwele is a combination of D'Angelo, Musiq, and.. Dwele. Yeah, dude stands on his own two. A cognac smooth voice smothered over fat bass, keyboards, and Quest-like beats that keep it an arms distance away from neo-soul.. cop this. CG

Track By Track

-- Degrees --	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
1. Poppa Yo (Intro)
2. Truth
3. Find A Way
4. Twuneanunda
5. A.N.G.E.L.
6. Day At A Time
7. Subject
8. Sho Ya Right
9. Money Don't Mean A Thing
10. Hold On
11. Kick Out Of You
12. Without You
13. Whoomp (Interlude)
14. Lady At Mahogany
15. A.N.G.E.L. (Reprise) feat. Slum Village
16. Let Your Hair Down

The Industry Says

Entertainment Weekly - - .."You're probably thinking the neo-soul Romeo thing has been done to death. But 24-year-old Detroit singer and mutli-instrumentalist Dwele forsakes the sex-drenched showiness of D'Angelo and Maxwell for a more earnest, earth-toned approach."

musicOMH.com - - .." Indeed anyone who really dislikes soul and mellow electric piano isn't going to enjoy Subject. And those that find smooth riffing vocals irritating and prefer traditional pop melodies, won't bond with this Detroit song-writer's output. But what makes Subject exciting is that it could be called "nu-R&B" as much as it could be called nu-soul.. It has the potential for turning a generation of R&B fans into soul fans without them even realizing it.

amplified-online- .."The marriage of soul with hip-hop is nothing new but Dwele does it in a simple, careful way that is instantly pleasing and his tongue-in-cheek lyrics make a welcome change from the usual fodder.. It's necessary you have this, this IS future soul music.