Rafael Saadiq - The Way I See It

So, I think I remember Tony! Toni! Tone!... I think... Certainly not as well as some people may. It wasn't my thing. I drew the line with Bel Biv Devoe. (Those of you that know him, I think my parents have a video of Chris Wilger dancing to 'Poison' in the middle school talent show... shhh! If I find it, I'll post it on Youtube)... But the sun has gone down on the Motown Phili crew and all their assorted contemporaries. It certainly doesn't appear Tony! Toni! Tone! is selling a lot of albums these days, but if you're looking for a cd that'll set you back less than its shipping cost, well... (Which reminds me to have all of you remind to do a list of albums that were once awesome and now sell for less than a $1 on Amazon).

But the thing is lead vocalist for the group, Rafael Saadiq, aka Rafael Wiggins, aka Charlie Ray Wiggins put out an absolutely mindblowing album toward the end of last year, The Way I See It, which I heard over the weekend (thank god for midwest girls and their interest in the later careers of dudes they listened to when they were young). Now from what I can tell, most of the American music press panned the album: Pitchfork gave it a 6.8, Rolling Stone essentially argued that it was only a good album because Amy Winehouse had restabilized R&B, etc. But I found the forelinked review on British site, The Independent, from the end of last month. Better late than never... And Reckless Records in Chicago said they've been seeing an increased demand, so hopefully Saadiq will get the attention he deserves.