Search - Various Artists :: Lost Found Soul

Groooovy...

Warren Pedronan | san jose, ca usa | 08/07/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In Lost Found Soul, DJ Spinna and company join the "neo soul" movement taking you on 12 (yeah not 13, just read on) soulful journeys. You won't find the tiny, hollowed-out ranges of most of today's female r&b and pop singers here, no siree. Instead, sisters Monet, Jazmin, and Angela Johnson (a talented singer, song writer, classical violinist and pianist -- whew!) pour their heart and soul into one funk filled cd, as they sing about the ups and downs of life while at the same time, each one shows the listener the full range of their singing capabilities. In LFS, the album's star producers: DJ Spinna and Ticklah tickle you with pieces of funk induced hip hop. In LFS, both producers seemingly allow the album's perspective singers to shine through their peices. But remember, this album ain't just about it's singers. Spinna and Ticklah are also given their own time to showcase their abilities in, "DJ Song" and "Funktacuda" -- proving the two aren't merely token DJs along for the ride. The only album's shortcoming I felt was, "Divided Dreams" produced by Da Wiz luckily lies at the end of the cd. Like something irriely out of a rejected Cash Money, Montell Jordan joint, a bothersome drum machine and some cat adding an incessant, "yea, yea, yea, yeah" into the hook, drowns out Monet's gentle crooning. Flutes come about midway through the song but its too late. It simply doesn't belong on the cd. However, it'll take more than just one joint to bog down a good cd. In the end, the smooth, claming production of Spinna and Ticklah, lovely live instrumentation provided by Angela's group, Cooly's Hotbox and of course the vocalists make what is seemingly lost in the myriad of today's watered down soul and r&b -- found again.*Favorites: Ordinary Thing - Take It - DJ Song - Funktacuda*Similar Artists: Jazzyfatnastees - Jill Scott - Pete Rock - Brand New Heavies"