The Cardamom Pod

Courtesy Cafemaroon.com

This Beat Friday is all about soul. Aloe Blacc’s album Good Things gives it to you in many different ways with eclectic inspiration that rivals Janelle Monaé (whom I’ll speak about next week most likely) Good Things contains distinct 70′s inspiration in his use of horns, organ, wah pedals and even vibraphones. The song “Politician” definitely borrows a George Harrison guitar sound along with horn parts that rival “All you need is love”. On “So Hard”, I thought i heard early Pink Floyd. And oh boy, “Momma hold my hand” tugs on my heartstrings hard. Reminds me the most of Stevie Wonder overall.
But there are a lot of  2010 markings, too. Some of the electronic drum beats (“If I”) definitely branch out from the reliance on heavy drum sounds that always was key for R&B. This aspect makes it new and modern without being pretentious. It’s simple, but by no means easy.

The bass is always hopping, though, which makes up for anything that might lack in  some of the electronic aspects. It’s an album appropriate for most moods, given that you like R&B and Soul.

And his voice – beautiful without anything fancy, which makes his music about harmony and unity, not about flash. I like that and think it’s refreshing.

Writing Challenge – Look Around
Aloe Blacc writes about troubles on this album – from needing momma to needing to see a change in certain communities. Pick a subject that infuriates you or moves you and form it into a representation. In other words, an allusion or metaphor. Ask yourself what compelled you to make this comparison in your brain. Then write it out. Strip it down after you’ve written a few paragraphs or lines by underlining what you think is most important.

If this is too difficult, just write about the situation in journal form until something – a line of meaning – comes to you. Keep your eye on your words and think on why this line is so important. Keep it. Underline it. Then write a story or poem beginning with that line

H2I
Alicia