Singer creates average attempt
By Johnna Walker
Daily Forty-Niner
Listening to Rahsaan Patterson's new album,
"Love In Stereo," feels like listening to stories about the joy and pain
of his love life.
Words of inspiration are found in songs like
"It's Alright Now," where Patterson assures listeners he will be able to
make it without his ex-lover.
However, the rest of the album doesn't
lead anyone to the conclusion that he will make a smooth transition, because
many of his songs dwell on the past Patterson and his ex-lover shared,
or the uncertainty he feels about his new relationship.
Domestic violence is addressed within the
opening track on the album, where he advises women involved in abusive
relationships to get out of them.
"If he don't treat you like a queen, you
should be steppin'... what's the use of staying when he hurts you?" he
asks in "Treat You like A Queen."
The instrumentals throughout the album
appear to be an attempt at funk.
However, they possess an abundance of ticks,
snares, and are lacking the proper combination of bass and guitar that
truly define funk. These beats actually take away from Patterson's voice,
and his ability to cover a wide range of octaves.
Sometimes his voice can be mistaken as
being other voices, before he drops down a few octaves within the same
song.
Patterson's vocal ability is comparable
to that of Prince, who he credits as being a strong influence during the
compact disc's interactive video.
Although Patterson's album does not compare
to Prince's musical genius, the album is a fair attempt at a combination
of original rhythm and blues lyrical content.
Patterson's lyrics steer clear from painting
pictures of intimate scenes, and stick to illustrating other relationship
problems and circumstances. |
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