to listen or purchase
In 2003, Anthony Hamilton served as a breath of fresh air with his official debut album Comin' From Where I'm From. Despite the overwhelming dominance of commercial hip-hop music, the public began to spread the word about this scraggly fellow with the legendary Bill Withers/Bobby Womack sound. Anthony Hamilton then took to the stage and delivered a raw soul-stirring performance night after night. Fans couldn't get enough. Comin' From Where I'm From went platinum. 2005's follow-up disc Ain't Nobody Worryin' was certified gold. Now, there's a new release called Southern Comfort, which is a compilation of material Anthony recorded a couple of years before the release of the official debut album.
In 2003, Anthony Hamilton served as a breath of fresh air with his official debut album Comin' From Where I'm From. Despite the overwhelming dominance of commercial hip-hop music, the public began to spread the word about this scraggly fellow with the legendary Bill Withers/Bobby Womack sound. Anthony Hamilton then took to the stage and delivered a raw soul-stirring performance night after night. Fans couldn't get enough. Comin' From Where I'm From went platinum. 2005's follow-up disc Ain't Nobody Worryin' was certified gold. Now, there's a new release called Southern Comfort, which is a compilation of material Anthony recorded a couple of years before the release of the official debut album.
Southern Comfort is an album that Hamilton 's core audience will appreciate. It offers some insight into the singer's artistry before he became a household name in the soul music arena. "Glad U Called" is possibly the most disturbing and effective track on the album. Anthony sings about contemplating suicide because times are so tough. Thankfully, the song comes to a remotely optimistic end with the declaration - "it ain't worth dying y'all; if I can do it, you can too; it's all up to you."
Struggle is the common thread that binds all 11 tracks on Southern Comfort. Whether it's the triumphant "They Don't Know" or the thought-provoking "Why", Anthony Hamilton had a burden to bear. His sound and appearance had been rejected by many record labels before finally being introduced to super-producer Jermaine Dupri, who signed him to his imprint, So So Def Recordings. On "Never Give Up," Anthony asks for assistance from his loved ones by telling them to "never let me give up."
The album Southern Comfort doesn't rival any of his major label releases, but there are a few songs that are reminiscent of his most recognizable material. Tracks like the falsetto-laden "Please" and the faithful "Fallin' In Love Again" are chock full of the soul for which Anthony Hamilton is well-known.
Southern Comfort is a welcome addition to the Anthony Hamilton catalog of soul music. This album doesn't attempt to break any new ground. Its purpose is to introduce his fans to an unfamiliar and vintage sound. Raw soul has always been a part of his existence. Anthony Hamilton is one of today's soul survivors and this Southern Comfort project is the prequel to the birth of this new generation of daring soul singers.
By Akim Bryant