to listen or purchase
Donald Sheffey sets his goals high. He is on a mission to do nothing less than to redirect contemporary popular music. And on Sheffey's new recording See You Tonight, he does display the kind the passionate, muscular and mature vocals that first turned me on to soul music.
Sheffey's vocal qualities are best displayed on See You Tonight's ballads and mid-tempo songs. He showcases a skill at caressing a lyric on those slow tunes. A good example is his cover of the Carole King classic "So Far Away." Sheffey sings the song that is often equated with female vocalists, and gives it the kind of mature, machismo feel that recalls singers like Will Downing. Sheffey's faster cuts don't work as well. With the exception of the funky "I Don't Want You Back," the upbeat joints aren't nearly as compelling lyrically. Fortunately Sheffey mainly remains in his comfort zone as a craftsman of those ballads and mid-tempo love jams.
Donald Sheffey sets his goals high. He is on a mission to do nothing less than to redirect contemporary popular music. And on Sheffey's new recording See You Tonight, he does display the kind the passionate, muscular and mature vocals that first turned me on to soul music.
Sheffey's vocal qualities are best displayed on See You Tonight's ballads and mid-tempo songs. He showcases a skill at caressing a lyric on those slow tunes. A good example is his cover of the Carole King classic "So Far Away." Sheffey sings the song that is often equated with female vocalists, and gives it the kind of mature, machismo feel that recalls singers like Will Downing. Sheffey's faster cuts don't work as well. With the exception of the funky "I Don't Want You Back," the upbeat joints aren't nearly as compelling lyrically. Fortunately Sheffey mainly remains in his comfort zone as a craftsman of those ballads and mid-tempo love jams.
Notable Tracks: My Heart, So Far Away, Waiting, On My Mind
Vocals: 4.0 stars
Lyrics: 2.5 stars
Music: 3.0 stars
Production: 2.5 stars
Soultracks call: Moderately Recommended
By Howard Dukes