Review Summary: "Good Things" is more than a good thing.
Everything you touch, everything you feel, everything you experience contributes to what makes up the human soul. The concept of the soul is rooted deeply within many religious and philosophical beliefs. Now what do you get when you combine rhythm & blues with gospel? You get soul; a musical movement that arose out of the black experience in America. The very essence of this movement was defined through the hardships and experiences that heavily affected the African-American community during the times.
Fast forward to modern times, it seems that soul music is a relic of the past. Starting in the 80’s, the music representational of the black experience transitioned into rap. Once the 90’s rolled around, soul was just another on the long list of musical influences. Many hip-hop and R&B artists claimed their roots in soul, but, for the most part, the genre was no longer relevant. Cue the entrance of Aloe Blacc; a man who’s foundation lay deep within soul.
Upon first listen, the album “Good Things” becomes instantly nostalgic. It would have fit nicely into the 60’s and 70’s where soul was king. Ripe with busy bass lines, gallant guitar licks, and soulful singing, this album woo’s it’s listener like any great soul album should. Aloe Blacc’s voice was definitely made for soul, and ultimately soul revolves around voice; the genre is imbedded deep inside the heart of the black experience.
Instrumentally the album delivers on all fronts. The track “Hey Brother” stands out as the funkiest of all. The guitar bursts in through the front doors, boldly announcing its funkafied presence. Horns soon accompany the funkalicious riff, adding even more to the power of the song. A nod to reggae is made in the track “Miss Fortune” with a doped out offbeat keyboard. When the chorus slips in, the stoned keyboard is replaced with yet another funky guitar lick. The entire album is fused with a plethora of horns, guitars, and pianos.
Lyrically the album delivers on all fronts as well. The single “I Need A Dollar” starts the album off by Blacc singing “I need a dollar… that’s what I need”. His financial woes all stem from being laid off, and they are only worsened by the fact that he turned to alcohol to help him through it. “My wine is good to me it helps me pass the time, and my good old buddy whiskey keeps me warmer than the sunshine”. The track “Green Lights” is much more playful, with Blacc crooning “Something special happened today, I got green lights all the way”. Skip ahead to the track “Mama Hold My Hand”. This track embodies everything that is soul. Blacc painfully sings “Mama used to be strong but she aint now, and she can’t make her way. That’s why I’m always around when she needs help, and here’s what I say: Mama hold my hand, I don’t think you can cross this road by yourself.”
Deep ingrained in the heart of soul music is just that, soul. A genre of music that’s meaning is derived from the experiences that define us. Aloe Blacc’s “Good Things” might not be all about good things but at its core, just like people, it is inherently good. At times the album appears to be cliché, almost as if it’s preaching to the choir. In reality it is just a reflection on the pains of human existence; a continuation of the cyclical ways of human nature. The question is, as so eloquently asked by Mr. Blacc, “If I share my story will you share a dollar with me?”
