Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ahmad Jones, leader of this South Central Los Angeles-based six piece with vaguely Christian origins, isn't lacking for talent. He sings, he produces, and he emcees, all with a bright shiny confidence that led Interscope to come calling in 2002. If there is a danger zone for this act, though—as evidenced by the pretty good Stereo—it's Jones's fearlessness, which borders on recklessness. Taken aside by an old-school uncle in the business, Jones might get an earful about his compulsive genre-twisting: while it's cool, especially on tracks like "Why," in which he draws in each player gradually over a hip-hop 101 beat, it can't always be so indiscriminate. For example, Tena Jones' gorgeous, gospel-tinged vocal on "Who's Watching Me" would have stood stronger without being crashed by Timmy Shakes' Def Leppard-ish guitar, and the feel-good "Stereo" might have worked better as a straight-ahead rock number, no rap required. Sometimes, the brew bubbles just right: "Take Me Away," incorporating all the requisite HipRockSoul elements, does just that, and beautifully. --Tammy La Gorce

Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul,4th Avenue Jones,Gotee Records,Christian,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rock,Underground Rap,United States of America

Tracks:

JENNY (INTRO)(ALBUM VERSION)
STEREO (ALBUM VERSION)
FABULOUS DRAMATICS (ALBUM VERSION)
UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY (ALBUM VERSION)
OVERLOADED (ALBUM TRACK)
TAKE ME AWAY (ALBUM TRACK)
SORRY (ALBUM TRACK)
MONUMENTAL CONTINENTAL (ALBUM VERSION) - GRITS - 4TH AVENUE JONES
WHOS WATCHING ME (ALBUM VERSION)
CAESAR (ALBUM VERSION)
WHY (ALBUM VERSION)
RUSH (ALBUM VERSION)
ITS OVER NOW (ALBUM VERSION)

Amazon.com

Ahmad Jones, leader of this South Central Los Angeles-based six piece with vaguely Christian origins, isn't lacking for talent. He sings, he produces, and he emcees, all with a bright shiny confidence that led Interscope to come calling in 2002. If there is a danger zone for this act, though—as evidenced by the pretty good Stereo—it's Jones's fearlessness, which borders on recklessness. Taken aside by an old-school uncle in the business, Jones might get an earful about his compulsive genre-twisting: while it's cool, especially on tracks like "Why," in which he draws in each player gradually over a hip-hop 101 beat, it can't always be so indiscriminate. For example, Tena Jones' gorgeous, gospel-tinged vocal on "Who's Watching Me" would have stood stronger without being crashed by Timmy Shakes' Def Leppard-ish guitar, and the feel-good "Stereo" might have worked better as a straight-ahead rock number, no rap required. Sometimes, the brew bubbles just right: "Take Me Away," incorporating all the requisite HipRockSoul elements, does just that, and beautifully. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

great but repetitive.......2007-03-01

Great, original sound. if you like mainstream hip-hop with good hooks and melodies, you'll like this cd. The only problem? Once you've heard four or five of the songs, you've pretty much exhausted this cd...which is the case with most popular hip-hop today anyway. I hope the jones's take a little more time before releasing they're next project.

Solid Sound.......2006-12-10

This album is pretty great. The lyrics are really genuine and clever even on tracks like "Fabulous Dramatics" and "Rush". Lots of Timmy Shakes guitar riffs and chord patterns, adding the rock to hiprocksoul. Ahmad sings? on "Overloaded" and a couple of other tracks which may not be his strong area. Love Tena Jones. There is a bit of chemistry between her and Ahmad as on most tracks she follows up behind him with verse in response to whatever he rhymed first. Listen to "Ceasar". The interludes will either entertain you or annoy you. Other than that I'd buy it. Of course I already have and it's been well over a year and I still listen to it quite often. If you are looking for something fresh and experimental, this is a good one.

come back from tha precipice............2006-01-06

every now and then, your earz become subject 2 such an eclectic mix of sonic elementz that, conventionally, have no bidness interminglin' in such a way. and when u take n2 account that a tenured syncopated performance poet like ahmad iz one of tha facez of this movement, it kinda makez 4 a moment not entirely unlike tha mouse that standz with hiz middle digitz extended and skyward az tha eagle descendz upon him with deliberate and malicious intent.

ion blame ahmad at all: interscope screwed him over royally not once, but TWICE when it came 2 supportin' hiz vizion. even after madd commercial success with "come widdit" and "back in the day", not 2 mention numerous freestylez all over cali, he waz disilluzioned with tha industry and opted 4 a change. this began hiz affinity 4 tha precipice, or edge of tha proverbial cliff. ever since then, hiz wife tena and other peepz over tha yearz have joined him in hiz quest 2 push tha so-called envelope, givin' tha average listener somethin' refreshin' yet uncompromized. enter tha "4th avenue jones'" experience: beginnin' with "no plan b" and movin' on thru tha independently-released "hiprocksoul", they revel in bein' tha mouse that standz in front of tha industry eagle on tha swoop, yet they live 2 do it time and time again az evidenced by an international fan base, major label distribution and recent re-releasez of their archived work.

havin' said that, tha cliff can only hold so much weight, and "stereo" lookz 2 b tha demize that happenz b4 they even got noticed 4 bein' there in tha first place. 4 many, this CD iz a debut, and won't b fully appreciated without checkin' out a grand deal of their previous work. i'm not generally a purveyor of negativity or a chronic naysayer, but they don't conveniently fall n2 any one genre: not hip hop, not rock, not soul. in all truth, 2day'z general record-buyin' public ain't n2 multi-genred groupz or CDz. one can't take ANY one of theze songz on their own and use it az tha face of this release - it won't work. it HAZ 2 b all or nothin' here. that kinda courage can only do one of two thingz: push 4th avenue jones' over tha edge, or make u wonder in amazement az tha smoke clearz and u find that they EXTENDED tha edge and await tha eagle'z return. i PRAY it'z tha latter. listen 4 yaself and b treated. PEACE.

Evolved!.......2005-12-31

I saw these guys open for Handsome Boy Modeling School a few months back, and immediately went home and played the teaser CD they were giving out. When I finally got to buy the full album I wasn't in the least disappointed. Interesting talent... I fully recommend checking them out.

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!.......2005-11-24

I am always looking for new, experimental hip-hop and this is it. This is so entirely different than most of the stuff that you hear. The review above says that mixing the genres makes it weaker, not true. It only makes it that must better!! If you don't believe me, get on their website and listen.

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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