If you are looking for a dose of quality music maybe soul music inspired by the '60s and '70s then you must listen to "Wake Up!" released on Sept. 21. The album is a collaboration between R&B superstar John Legend and one of the best backing bands in hip-hop, The Roots.
Released Sept. 21, "Wake Up!" is primarily a musical exploration of soulful songs from the past that never quite made it to the mainstream. The Roots and Legend wanted to remind the world of these songs about social change and awareness by making them almost sound like new original songs. In covering songs from the '60s and '70s, the album draws links between the Civil Rights Movement and the political climate of the 2008 presidential election. Legend, who campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008, gives these songs a new relevance.
The album, taking its title name from the song "Wake Up" by Canadian rockers Arcade Fire, includes 10 cover tracks and an inspirational song written by Legend, "Shine," which is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's style of empowerment and education.
"Hard Times," a song originally released by Baby Huey and the Babysitters in 1971, opens the album with a bang and a much needed one at that. The Roots' jazzy and instrumental style can be heard throughout the track, with group member Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter dropping a modern rap verse into the mix. The personal pain and strength in Legend's voice is distinct as he sings about "Having hard times in this crazy town."
The album is indisputably catchy the grooves, lyrics and timbre of "Compared to What," a cover of Les McCann and Eddie Harris's hit; Donny Hathaway's "Little Ghetto Boy," which is accompanied by a prelude featuring Malik Yusef; and the cover of Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy" are all contagious. Legend and The Roots do these classics justice, and not one track feels like the filler songs that plague many new releases.
The first single off the album, "Wake Up Everybody" originally performed by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes features the vocals of Canadian R&B singer Melanie Fiona and a rap section by hip-hop artist Common. The song is extremely soulful and smooth, expressing deep and heavy messages about taking immediate action to improve the world a sentiment that should not be taken lightly.
Fiona's powerful voice and Common's intelligent rhymes including the line "And even in this generation living through computers, only love love love can reboot us" are the perfect balance to the rhythms set up by The Roots and Legend's strong lead on the track. This is the perfect song to set as an alarm clock, or maybe even just the perfect song, period.
All of the tracks have messages, but there are a few in particular that touched me such as the cover of Bill Wither's "I Can't Write Left Handed," which was written about the Vietnam War, but is also relevant to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Hang on in There," originally performed by Mike James Kirkland, is one of my favorite songs off the album, with a Jackson Five-esque vibe to it and the repetition of the simple message: "Don't give in, hang on in there."
"Wake Up!" can be streamed online in its entirety at John Legend's website and can also be purchased there through iTunes and Amazon.com or in stores. Legend's website includes parts of the album's clever and simple artwork, which includes images of a large record in between two city buildings with John Legend and The Roots gathering around it. The record spins as the songs play on the site, and you could easily listen to this album over and over again, as it received great reviews all around. I would highly recommend picking this album up, if you care about the success of good quality music, social change and awareness, or simply just waking up.
