You waited on Voodoo like a lost cat. You knew how revolutionary it would be, so you marked days on the calendar, held prayer vigils and tithed your affections to the anticipated rapture of D’Angelo’s second coming. You ladies licked your lips watching the video for "Untitled." You men joined the cult of Fitness Works.
After combing the streets for a mom-and-pop that would sell you a copy before the street release date, you rushed home to analyze the contents of the latest musical revelation. One hour later, you came away with a raised eyebrow, a few questions and uncertainty about just how much you like it.
Well, here’s the bottom line. Voodoo is a damned good CD that certainly lives up to its hype. But let’s sift through your issues. After a five-year hiatus, you want more than 13 songs. And a lot of the songs sound alike. Plus, why has D’Angelo become a thugged-out amalgamation of Prince, Marvin Gaye and Al Green?
Synopsis: Quit trippin’. Thirteen good tunes work better than a wack double album. Also, consider that your favorite artists are just that because they stick to winning formulas. Finally, anyone who blends Prince, Marvin and Al (who sound nothing like one another) into one voice is visionary.
Voodoo is hypnotic, with a transcendent vibe that blends each song together. You’ll get lost in it the way you get lost in Gaye’s What’s Going On? And you’ll realize that D’Angelo, like his influences, is way ahead of his time.
