D'Angelo - "Black Messiah" (15-Dec-2014)

I just have the hi-res download, given the LP is cut directly from it there’s not much of a point (unfortunately) even though I’d love it on vinyl... an audiophile label needs to get their hands on it to do an all-analog pressing. Get Kevin Gray those tapes!

 

Anyone thinks if there's any differences between the US and EU pressings?

 

Just logged in to say Happy Voodoo Day.

 

Happy Birthday D'.

 

Y’all high!
On a par with Riot?
It ain’t even on a par with Brown Sugar.

 

Black Messiah is really unappreciated to me. One day people will give it the respect it deserves.

 

Yes.

Some of it comes down to the timing of its release - late in 2014, too late for the end of year lists, after the big seasonal blockbusters and too close to Xmas. So while the surprise release thrilled music geeks like us, it seemed to pass everyone else by.

Also, it's thunder as a work of social commentary was stolen somewhat by Kendrick's 'To Pimp A Butterfly'.

I do hope his upcoming tour heralds the next album, be it the vaunted pt 2 of Black Messiah or something else.

C'mon D, be more like Prince and get prolific!

 

It's an instant classic. I was shocked by how good it is. I guess I expected D's Chinese Democracy but I couldn't have been more wrong. It was worth every minute of the wait.

 

I know what you mean - except I was hoping for D's Chinese Democracy (I like that album, so there!)

Only another 15 years to wait for the follow up.

 

Strange it wasn't the smash its quality suggests it should be. Given the time in which it was released and what was going on in the world at that point, without moving into that discussion, you would have expected it to have garnered more attention.

 

Maybe I just surround myself by too much pro-D'Angelo news, but by all accounts, this album was tremendously successful. Hit #1 on the R&B charts, #5 on the overall Billboard charts, launched a huge tour, won a Grammy and was nominated for several more -- what else could ya want, barring some sort of pop-crossover hit that D'Angelo never would have angled for anyway?

 

It was successful for sure. I just don't remember it receiving a whole lot of buzz. People weren't constantly talking about it and he wasn't on the cover of a lot of magazines. How long was it on the Billboard charts? It just feels like it got a lot of critical acclaim, but people moved on to something rather quickly. This is all just my perception.

 

Apologies, I wasn't clear in my message. I came into the album much later on, so wasn't aware of its impact at release, I was merely responding to messages above mine stating it is unappreciated, and offering my bemusement that it perhaps was.

 

No you are right. It was acclaimed by critics and D fans but it should have made more of an impact generally. All the fuss was over as quickly as it started. If y'all remember, that album was a rumor until it wasn't, and that fact alone made it talked about in hip hop circles.

 

Great record. Love all his stuff, the other two... But, this is just something special. One of my faves by anyone. Cassandra Wilson's record reminds me of Black Messiah in feel. Her kind of Billy Holiday tribute thing. I got em around the same time and they have a similar feel to me. Love 'em both.

 

If you want more impact, don't release an album in December, it gets ignored!

 

Honestly, it shouldn’t even matter when an album is released. Good music is good music. And any real person would respect it.

 

I agree, but the fact is at Christmas it gets overlooked and missed by most.

 

Sadly, as expected, D'Angelo's spring tour has been canceled.

 

Oh no. (Not surprising though).

 

I was just getting excited that it might actually happen. Any reason given?

 

The new Sly. In many ways....

 

Why “as expected”?

 

Hope he is fine and there is nothing health-related interfering.