29-08-2012, 12:13
online listen
r&b/jazz/funk
in desperate need of a good new release
but hey, it was better than yesterday
nothing I like but a few border line
1.3 from me and a converted 2.2 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - What Profit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ueAMsUrakE
released August 28th, 2012
![[Image: 51QexpJQv-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QexpJQv-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Bio - from allmusic
Adult contemporary R&B singer/songwriter/producer Dwele grew up on Detroit's west side, listening to soul music from
Motown visionaries Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as well as jazz on the radio. Born Andwele Gardner, he began
writing songs at the age of ten, after his father was murdered outside his home, and attended Cody High in Detroit.
Dwele spent a year studying music at Wayne State but then opted for an informal education, making music at his home
while living in Dearborn and working for AAA. His demo tape, 1998's The Rize, made waves around the Motor City, and
he spent time collaborating with Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village and Philadelphia rapper Bahamadia. Signed to
Virgin on the strength of his songwriting and performance skills, Dwele released Subject in mid-2003 and cemented
his appeal with European audiences (he was a favorite on Gilles Peterson's influential Radio 1 program) with a tour
that summer. His second album, Some Kinda..., followed in 2005 and reached the Top 10 of the R&B chart. A couple
years later, he provided the hook on Kanye West's hit single "Flashing Lights" and signed to Koch/eOne to release
Sketches of a Man (2008) and W.ants W.orld W.omen (2010). Both albums maintained the singer's streak of Top Ten R&B
albums. Greater Than One (2012), also released on eOne, featured some of his breeziest, most pleasing grooves.
Album Review - from allmusic
Each Dwele album should have greater, Maxwell-level anticipation. The singer should headline over the majority of
contemporary R&B stars instead of open for Maze. (That's not a knock on Maze.) It's not like Dwele isn't in a
comfortable spot, though. His releases routinely debut in the Top Ten of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and he's
allowed to continue recording with no detectable creative restrictions, as heard on Greater Than One. Once he got
deep into the making of this, his fifth album, he noticed a pervasive "'80s" feel. In this case, '80s often means
the sophisticated type of R&B-jazz hybrids -- the mellow grooves -- actively played on Detroit stations like WJZZ
during the earlier part of that decade. While that has always been part of Dwele's sound, it's a little more
pronounced here; there are instances where he could easily slip into some Pieces of a Dream or, given the continued
presence of his brother Antwan on trumpet, anything featuring Seawind's Jerry Hey. On "This Love," produced by
Prince "BlkMagic" Damons, the sound shifts from 1980/1981 to 1982/1983-style midtempo boogie with chunky synthesizer
bass, and a little high-pitched wriggle. There's some electro-funk bounce to "Patrick Ronald" (long for a certain
brand of tequila, featuring Monica Blaire, one of album's several Detroit guest stars) and "Special," too. If
anything, the album is looser, more relaxed and mischievous, than any Dwele album that preceded it, which is saying
something. The majority of the songwriting, as usual, concerns adventures in mature bachelorhood and courtship.
Dwele continues to appeal to both female and male listeners -- no pandering, no forced masculinity to be heard.
Track Listing
1. Greater Than One Less Than Three
2. Going Leaving
3. Takes22Tango
4. What You Gotta Do
5. What Profit
6. Obey
7. This Love
8. Must Be
9. Swank
10. PATrick RONald
11. Special
12. Love Triangle
13. Frankly My Dear (I'm Bennet I Ain't Innit)
r&b/jazz/funk
in desperate need of a good new release
but hey, it was better than yesterday
nothing I like but a few border line
1.3 from me and a converted 2.2 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - What Profit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ueAMsUrakE
released August 28th, 2012
Bio - from allmusic
Adult contemporary R&B singer/songwriter/producer Dwele grew up on Detroit's west side, listening to soul music from
Motown visionaries Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as well as jazz on the radio. Born Andwele Gardner, he began
writing songs at the age of ten, after his father was murdered outside his home, and attended Cody High in Detroit.
Dwele spent a year studying music at Wayne State but then opted for an informal education, making music at his home
while living in Dearborn and working for AAA. His demo tape, 1998's The Rize, made waves around the Motor City, and
he spent time collaborating with Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village and Philadelphia rapper Bahamadia. Signed to
Virgin on the strength of his songwriting and performance skills, Dwele released Subject in mid-2003 and cemented
his appeal with European audiences (he was a favorite on Gilles Peterson's influential Radio 1 program) with a tour
that summer. His second album, Some Kinda..., followed in 2005 and reached the Top 10 of the R&B chart. A couple
years later, he provided the hook on Kanye West's hit single "Flashing Lights" and signed to Koch/eOne to release
Sketches of a Man (2008) and W.ants W.orld W.omen (2010). Both albums maintained the singer's streak of Top Ten R&B
albums. Greater Than One (2012), also released on eOne, featured some of his breeziest, most pleasing grooves.
Album Review - from allmusic
Each Dwele album should have greater, Maxwell-level anticipation. The singer should headline over the majority of
contemporary R&B stars instead of open for Maze. (That's not a knock on Maze.) It's not like Dwele isn't in a
comfortable spot, though. His releases routinely debut in the Top Ten of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and he's
allowed to continue recording with no detectable creative restrictions, as heard on Greater Than One. Once he got
deep into the making of this, his fifth album, he noticed a pervasive "'80s" feel. In this case, '80s often means
the sophisticated type of R&B-jazz hybrids -- the mellow grooves -- actively played on Detroit stations like WJZZ
during the earlier part of that decade. While that has always been part of Dwele's sound, it's a little more
pronounced here; there are instances where he could easily slip into some Pieces of a Dream or, given the continued
presence of his brother Antwan on trumpet, anything featuring Seawind's Jerry Hey. On "This Love," produced by
Prince "BlkMagic" Damons, the sound shifts from 1980/1981 to 1982/1983-style midtempo boogie with chunky synthesizer
bass, and a little high-pitched wriggle. There's some electro-funk bounce to "Patrick Ronald" (long for a certain
brand of tequila, featuring Monica Blaire, one of album's several Detroit guest stars) and "Special," too. If
anything, the album is looser, more relaxed and mischievous, than any Dwele album that preceded it, which is saying
something. The majority of the songwriting, as usual, concerns adventures in mature bachelorhood and courtship.
Dwele continues to appeal to both female and male listeners -- no pandering, no forced masculinity to be heard.
Track Listing
1. Greater Than One Less Than Three
2. Going Leaving
3. Takes22Tango
4. What You Gotta Do
5. What Profit
6. Obey
7. This Love
8. Must Be
9. Swank
10. PATrick RONald
11. Special
12. Love Triangle
13. Frankly My Dear (I'm Bennet I Ain't Innit)