Stone Rollin'

Raphael’s creative development

Born in sunny California, Raphael Saadiq has been inseparable with the music since his very childhood. He played various instruments, sang in choirs and developed his talent in every way in general, combining pleasant and useful at the same time. Nowadays the artist is justly considered to be a representative of old school of rhythm and blues, which is foremost – honorary, and secondly – logical, as soon as for many listeners Saadiq’s name is primarily associated with the legendary band Tony! Toni! Tone!. However Raphael’s solo career proved to be quite successful as well: in 2008 he issued the record The Way I See It, which was nominated for three Grammy Awards simultaneously. After such a strong long play Saadiq’s fans were waiting for not less interesting continuation. Three years later they got Stone Rollin’. What did the musician present them this time? The answer is within ten tracks of the album.

Modern classics of Stone Rollin’

The musical industry is in permanent development. New sound, fresh arrangements, fashionable trends and all that kind of innovations became an important part of modern show business. However it seems that these things did not touch Saadiq. No-no, it is not because he is inveterate conservative, everything is much simpler. The thing is that wonderful sound and arrangements had been invented a long time ago. One may call them rhythm and blues, soul and so on. Raphael found himself in these genres, and it seems that they were created for each other: the music and the musician in an ideal harmony. Just listen to the first notes of Heart Attack and you will understand that Saadiq’s voice fits perfectly. The second track Go To Hell is not less energetic and it will be remembered for sure due to its bright keyboard part. Listening to Stone Rollin’ music lovers will pay attention to the sound, which is of a high quality but not supersaturated with fashionable effects. Just the right thing for the true connoisseurs of traditional R&B. In the middle of the record you will find the song, the name of which migrated to the title of the whole studio work - Stone Rollin will make anyone tap a rhythm, that is for sure. It is simply amazing how many positive emotions are called by every single composition of the album. As a closing act for Stone Rollin’ the musician chose the lyrical and very melodic song The Answer. Thus Raphael answered all the questions concerning his new studio work.

Raphael Saadiq’s honest music

Ten is not such a big number of tracks for the modern long play. However Saadiq always put stakes on the quality, not the quantity. This time the artist remained faithful to his ideals, so the musician’s fans’ expectations were completely satisfied. Bright and sunny arrangements, incredible energy and easy recognizable manner of Raphael’s singing are the basic elements of Stone Rollin’. The general sound takes music lovers to the golden age of R&B, when people did not have autotunes and all these digital wonder studios. Saadiq knows perfectly what he is doing, and Stone Rollin’ turned out to be the best proof that the musician truly enjoys the creative process. A very strong and distinctive album Stone Rollin’, which does not have a single average composition, is a great present to the connoisseurs of vivid and sincere music.