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| Lewis Taylor | 
 enlarge | Artist: Lewis Taylor
Label: Ume Imports
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $9.00
You Save: $4.98 (36%)
Buy New/Used from $5.55
Avg. Customer Rating:  (38 reviews)
Sales Rank: 115868
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 766486312821
EAN: 7314524229278
ASIN: B000006TEI
Release Date: August 19, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
A Decade Later--A Masterpiece by All Standards June 11, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is the first time I have been moved to comment on a product sold on Amazon, let alone a piece of music. I listened to this album for the first time last week: it is hands down the best record I've heard in the past several years, and I live with a fanatical record collector so there's no lack of good music in the house.
Simply put, this album is a masterpiece in every sense: artistic unity, formal virtuosity, universality (the human condition thing). First, to settle the formal question: this is a soul album. Too much has been made of it being "difficult to define" and "ecclectic," rather than giving the artist credit for choosing the perfect genre to traverse the fragile line between love, obsession, and the darker side of sexuality (which here is also the lighter side once you embrace it). It chronicles the discovery of sex as a consuming, disturbing, elevating power; the experience of being wrapped around someone's finger; and the subsequent realization of one's less flattering qualities--jealousy, vindictiveness, desperation. If you're happily past the tumultuous twenties, this album brings you back to the good/bad old days; if you're in the thick, it holds up the looking glass. In a word, this is lyric poetry at its finest.
From what I can tell, "influence criticism" primarily shows how knowledgeable the reviewer is, and can create false expectations. Suffice it to say that LT has a massive record collection and exquisite taste, both of which shine through and lend to personal discoveries upon multiple listenings. I've been listening to this album obsessively for a week and hear it even when it's off, which seems only right. I'm in love with this record.
WHY ISN'T THIS GUY GETTING GRAMMIES EVERY YEAR? April 21, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This guy is amazing. How come he's completely unkown??? I missed his show in Manhattan - but he was playing at a club where bands play for free. What's wrong with the music industry??? Buy this CD. And buy "Stoned" too.
stellar CD from a little-known artist November 14, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I ordered the CD a few days ago and it arrived today - and I HAVEN'T STOPPED PLAYING IT SINCE. It's an amazing CD. Hard to describe, but he has an amazing voice, incredible instrumentation, deep (if sometimes cryptic) lyrics, etc. If I had to categorize it, I'd call it soul (not neo-soul, soul) but it has elements of rock, alternative, R&B, etc etc - really hard to define. I ordered it not knowing what to expect, as I'd ordered sight (or, rather, sound) unseen (unlistened), which I've never done. I got it because I am a HUGE fan of the late, great Aaliyah, and I just saw an interview she did a long time ago on MTV Stripped in which she praised Lewis Taylor and "Bittersweet" to the stars. She would've loved to collaborate with him, it's too sad she's gone...anyways, I've never heard Aaliyah recommend anything, and there was a short clip of "Bittersweet" in the video, so I decided to take a chance. Am I glad I did! BUY THIS!
(now I have to go buy his other CDs...)
It's such a pity he's not better known in the US...he deserves the recognition, much more than some of the pop tarts today!
a final note: Anthony Hamilton is also an amazing singer, not only Comin' From Where I'm From (his first "official" release, with the singles Charlene and Comin' From Where I'm From) but also Soulife, which is BEAUTIFUL. If you like Lewis Taylor, you'll love Anthony Hamilton; the reverse is also true. GET THEM BOTH!
finally: I think that reviewers should indicate some of their musical tastes, so you know where they're coming from. Anthony Hamilton, Aaliyah, Brooke Valentine, Faith Evans are all some favorite singers of mine...I do enjoy some pop/commercial R&B, most notably some Ashanti & Christina Milian and older Ginuwine...just so you know where I'm coming from.
Lewis Taylor has delivered an Exceptional Debut Album..... May 6, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Having joined the rest of the listeners that jumped on Lewis Parkers exceptional debut later than most, I feel like I've missed out for sometime, but as the many positive reviews here clearly state, if you're a fan of Psychedelic Soul, and shimmering Rhythm & Blues, Lewis Taylor has made a debut, that simply cannot be ignored.Firstly it should be noted that although his vocal talent is steeped into vintage soul, R&B, Lewis he isn't afraid to move the goalposts in terms of production. With shimmering beats Almost reminiscent of downtempo Hip-Hop, largely inform the first track "Lucky" with an immediate accessibility that quickly earmarks this as a potentially great album, and as great as the production on this first track is, all thudding beats and 70's synth, it's Lewis', voice that takes centre stage, when it finally surfaces and immediately elevates this first as a mightily impressive first song. In a complete turnaround from the almost hip-hop influenced arrangement of the first track, the second track "Bittersweet" supplants beats with a Hendrix-esque Electric guitar, which give given the albums 'Soul' leanings feels positively avant-garde, but lets not forget that Lewis trades in sublime `Psychedelic Soul' so the radical departure in instrumentation not only feels beautifully realised, but coupled with his Rousing vocal performances throughout not only into inspired greatness, but something radically different. "Song" sees him slip into "Marvin Gaye" mood, and scale back on the arrangements and centre the track around his vocal gymnastics, and feels like it was hugely influenced by Marvin Gaye's own "Let's Get it on!!" album, which should give you some indication as to the gorgeous Tenor vocal that Lewis possesses. For an artist so exceptionally capable as Lewis Taylor, it's disheartening to see that he's something of a cult item, never truly breaking into the mainstream market that with some broad exposure, would surely embrace Lewis' work. Maybe it's the psychedelic, slightly experimental production, that looks to broaden its range beyond typical R&B cliches???.....maybe it's a lack of a truly effective marketing push by his label???.....or maybe (as is the case with some many other tremendously talented cult artists), he just hasn't had his time yet??? Regardless of how you've heard about Lewis' work, this is a remarkably accomplished debut, that demands (at the very least), a listen, and at best, a purchase.....he's taking the confines of contemporary Soul, and Rhythm & blues....and not so much reinventing it, but looking to stretch the boundaries, the least we can do, is hear him out.
amazing!!! February 27, 2004
Lewis Taylor is Marvin Gaye reincarnated! He has so much soul just like Marvin did and also seems to put so much emotion in his songs. His lyrics and music is so beautiful, but dark at the same time. I first got hooked on Bittersweet too, but it was the Lucas Mix version. I own all of his cds and am anxiously awaiting his 4th one- Stoned Part II!!
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