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Music : The Red Clay Chronicles
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I'm so glad India.Arie inspired Anthony David to pick up a guitar because this man is amazing! Not only is his voice soothing and strong, his lyrics are positive and not stereotypically about "booty and the bling". They are actually something I could listen to without shaking my head in shame or blushing too much. He's a male version of India.Arie, who is just as soulful and wholesome. I always look for artists who are authentic, entertaining and positive but not preachy, and I definitely found that in Anthony David. Too bad his style is the exception and not the norm. We need more of this music!
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I love Anthony David! This CD is in heavy rotation in my disc changer in my car along with my other favorite artists (Eric Roberson, Liv Warfield, and Lalah Hathaway). "On and On" is a wonderful tribute from a man to a woman he loves, and I love "Smoke One" with Earl Klugh. Outstanding-wish I had purchased this CD a lot sooner.
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I read a review of Anthony David's first album that compared him to Usher. Quite frankly, that's ridiculous. If you have to make comparisons, pull out Anthony Hamilton. The two Anthony's share a down south twang in their voices and a very similar musical sensibility.
David has been around the Atlanta music scene since I've been in the city which makes him at least 10 years deep. His name was always floating around. He was that guy that you knew about even if you hadn't caught him performing. By the time I actually saw him play, he was one of those artists who I gave props to simply because of the company they kept. Giving credit before it was necessarily due has burnt me in the past, but Anthony was at least as good as I expected him to be. Revolving around the same Atlanta circles that produced India Arie and Donnie, Anthony David has that classic ATL soul sound. It's relaxed, it's unpretentious, and it's incredible.
By the time you get to "Smoke One" you get the first hint of the kind of artist you're facing. He's not going to neo your soul. The song is about indulging vice and it's irresistible. Trying to convince a tightly wound friend to partake in some wine, women, and song? This is the soundtrack.
Anthony is a master of the love song. There are wonderful tunes like the almost acoustic "Lady", but then there's also another level. That other level is "Words." The duet with India Arie is the kind of soul music that lasts forever. Assuming Brash can get this record the kind of attention it deserves, "Words" will be Anthony's calling card. It's the kind of soul anthem that kids used to record over and over on a cassette tape to give their girlfriends. Powerful stuff.
The comparison with Anthony Hamilton is apt in one other unfortunate way. The Red Clay Chronicles suffers in the same places that Hamilton's records sometimes flounder. When the naturally charismatic singers get too slick and over-produced they fall a bit flat. That is evident with this album on songs like "Something About You." The reason is simple. There's an essential grittiness to singers like David that they need to be at the top of their game. An excess of production polishes the round edges to a dull sheen.
Fortunately, there's more of the rough than of the smooth on Red Clay Chronicles. Anthony David lives up to the billing that he's enjoyed in Atlanta for so long. Hopefully, the rest of the nation will catch on to what we all already know.
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He has a uniquely soulful voice and passion that makes you want to relax in a hot bubble bath, and the next minute he has you wanting to invite someone to join you. His live performance sounds as remarkable as he sounds on the studio tracks.
Lyrically and musically gifted, he creates a mellow yet refreshing sound that gets you lifted even on a dreary day. "Something About You" always puts me in a better frame of mind.
He is a notable contributor to Neo-soul and I am simply loving it!
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I bought this CD a month ago and have been playing it to death ever since. I absolutely love this CD. Its a shame you don't hear music like this on the radio.
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