D'ANGELO, "VOODOO"

Soul music, just like any good genre, needs an album to redraw its blueprint every now and then.Marvin did it with "What's Goin' On?", and Prince did it with "Sign O'The Times", and now D'Angelo unleashes his "Voodoo", changing theboundaries yet again. With his lengthy liner notes expressing bothpurpose (embracing women, life, and his muse) and disgust (rapperswhose muse is the almighty dollar), D sets his sights on making trulyspiritual music, inspired by his idol, Jimi Hendrix. Scrubbing most ofthe traces of hip-hop/R&B found on his debut, D'Angelo also setsaside the machine-built tracks in favor of live instruments (featuringsome of The Roots, 8-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, and Roy Hargrove)and heavy soul-funk sound. "The Line", with it's slow-and-low groovethat's sexy as fuck, casts D in the Al Green spotlight, complete withsexual/spiritual double entendres. D serves up a gooey slice of NewOrleans funk on "Chicken Grease", then takes us south of the borderwith the fiery "Spanish Joint", which conjures up images of Santanabacking up Stevie Wonder on the latter's "Innervisions." "Voodoo" is amusical milestone, one that bleeds honesty, thoughtfulness, andsexuality. Put this on at your next backyard barbecue, or the next timeyou turn the lights down low when you're with "that special someone".You'll be glad you did.