Sure Hope You Mean It
The moment this song came on, I was sure that this was going to be a brilliant album. The volume went up and up and by the end of the introductory chorus, I was already Ooh, Ooh ing along with Raphael. The sound all through the album is a modern twist on old school Soul/Mowtown/Blues/Jazz: It's good and this is a great opening track.
100 Yard Dash
The lead single from the album with a pretty impressive video that shows the 'Vixen' that Raphael is trying to get away from in vain as he has heard that she can have quite an effect on poor unsuspecting young men! It all goes to pot and he caves to temptation but this is another upbeat track that everybody I have played it for absolutely loves.
Keep Marchin'
The tone on the third track remains upbeat and is about dusting yourself off and trying again when things do not go your way. No matter how bad things are and no matter how hard it is, you have to 'Keep Marchin''. It's another great track, which paves the way for the superb:
Big Easy with Special Guest 'The Infamous Young Spodie and the ReBirth Brass Band'
This is another fast-paced song that has a distinctly Southern feel to it with all of the hand claps, though the lyric is tragic. The tragedy in question being the recent devestation in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. In the song, Raphael sings from the perspective of somebody that has lost their partner in the floods, though the sound turns it into a celebration of everybody that was lost when the levées broke. If you are listening to the Euro Version of the track, you'll be clapping your hands before Saadiq tells you, just like the people of New Orleans would do (Saadiq's words). You can't help but get caught up in this song. You feel the desperation of the central character and this does make you stop and think.
Just One Kiss feat. Joss Stone
It is hard to pick a favourite on an album of consistently brilliant tracks, though this song may have it by a nose. The old school sound is there with the guitar providing the main accompaniment, though swirling strings come in just before the choruses that sing how just one kiss can change your life. Joss Stone is on fire on this track and at the very end of the track you could be forgiven for thinking that you were listening to Aretha Franklin. In Mary J. Blige's Itunes Originals set, she comments that she doesn't think that we will hear another Aretha in her lifetime and every time I hear this, I think that she is mistaken and I wish that these two would hook up. I digress. This is a fantastic song and so far, Raphael hasn't put a foot wrong.
Love That Girl
Percussion and the bass guitar start off this song that is about a particular lady who is more than a hit with the fellas and how, since Raphael is with her, he will endeavour to be better than the rest. He knows that he is on to a good thing and can't believe his luck. With the introduction of strings after a spoken section, the song builds to reflect just how good Raphael feels and this is another pleaser.
Calling
The flamenco guitar and Spanish introduction from Rocio Mendoza set a different tone to this song, which has a more sombre feel to it. The song is about how the Spanish female no longer wants to be with Raphael and won't answer his calls and sounds a little like 'Tears On My Pillow'.
Staying In Love
The introduction to this song winds up the music to a pace similar to that pre-'Calling'. A fantastic, almost collaborative performance between Raphael as the lead and himself as support, singing over eachother. Joss Stone makes another appearance, this time on backing vocals. The message is that, whilst falling in love is easy it is the staying in love that is the tricky part.
Oh Girl
Cue another pace change somewhere half way between 'Calling' and the previous tracks, with a slower vocal that showcases a smooth-sounding Saadiq. The subject matter is again how the lady in his life has changed his life and how he is going to raise his game so as to make her proud and not to let her down.
Let's Take A Walk
With a similar-sounding introduction to 'Love That Girl' you think that you know what to expect from this, then the electric guitar comes in and throws you off track, quickly followed by Raphael's vocal and a total change in sound. A steady beat and some jazzy backing vocals from Erica Jerry make this a sexy track that gets a little hotter on listening to the lyric. There is a reason that Saadiq wants to 'go for a walk'....
Never Give You Up feat. Stevie Wonder and CJ Hilton
CJ Hilton kicks off this track that sounds almost orchestral during the choruses compared to the percussion-driven verses. With strings-a-plenty (particularly on this track) and harps all over the album, there is a touch of class to the whole affair. Stevie Wonder has an official introduction and a harmonica solo, adding to the Southern flavour of the track about recognising that the lady in their life is the best and that they will never give her up.
Sometimes
Strings are out in force for this track with a more grimy, contemporary sound to the rest of the album. The hip hop beat and strings couple eachother perfectly and reflect the lyric about how the world can be cold sometimes but amongst all of the betrayal, back-stabbing and outright strangeness, there is beauty and forces in your life that will help you through.
Oh Girl feat. Jay-Z
Jay-Z raps the introduction for this reprise of Track Nine, as well as ad-libbing over the choruses. The pace of the rap is a little different to what Jay-Z normally does and helps the listener ease themselves into the track that can get lost on first listen, when it is surrounded by faster songs which have a more immediate effect. You will welcome the second chance at the song and you will get more out of it this time around.
With his third solo release (Instant Vintage and Ray Ray reviews to follow), Raphael has made nothing short of a brilliant album. Easily a contender for record of the year, if not record of the noughties. It is rare for me to fall in love with an album on the very first listen but the three second introduction to 'Sure Hope You Mean It' had me sold on this. Two years on, the album is still on regular rotation in my car and everybody who has been a passenger has absolutely loved it. Everybody. I cannot recommend this album enough and would also suggest that you check out Raphael Saadiq: Live At The Artists Den.
Raphael Saadiq's Official Website: www.raphaelsaadiq.com
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