Courtesy: Press Junkie PR
Nooky Jones released its new record this weekend. The Minneapolis, MN-based sextet released its new EP Like Candy Friday. The five-song record is aptly titled. That is because R&B fans everywhere will agree it is “sweet.” Yes, that awful pun was intended. That is thanks to its musical arrangements, which couple old school r&b influences with its own modern touches for a whole that makes it no surprise that even National Public Radio has picked up on the 22-minute record. The record’s lyrical content plays its own important part to the whole of the EP, too. The two elements together make the EP a surprisingly enjoyable offering. The EP’s title track is just one example of the power of that combination of elements. It will be discussed shortly. ‘After Two (ft. Cory Wong)’ is another example of how that crossing of elements makes this EP so enjoyable. It will be addressed a little later. The same can be said of ‘Pardon Me,’ which will also be discussed later. When all three of these songs are considered along with the EP’s other two songs – ‘Gimme Some More’ and ‘Everything You Do’ – the whole of the EP proves itself a record that r&b fans of all ages will appreciate and that is one more of this year’s top new EPs.
Nooky Jones’ new EP Like Candy is a work that r&b fans of all ages will enjoy. It is a record that is easily accessible for audiences and r&b radio programmers alike. One of the record’s most notable entries that serves to support those statements is the EP’s title track. The song’s piano-driven arrangement and the vocal delivery of front man Cameron Klinghorn lends itself to comparisons to works from the likes of D’Angelo, Maxwell and Robert Glasper. Interestingly enough, the actual sound of Klinghorn’s vocals conjures thoughts of Marcy Playground front man John Wozniak. Yes, it sounds like one heck of a combination, but it’s there. Even with that in mind, the whole of the arrangement is a smooth jam that comes across like a modern take on Marvin Gaye’s timeless song ‘Let’s Get It On.’ That is meant in the absolute best way.
The song’s lyrical content adds just as much to the song’s presentation as does its musical arrangement. Again, it plays its own part in the noted comparison to Marvin Gaye’s timeless groove. That is proven as Klinghorn sings in the song’s lead verse, “Darlin’ I’m unwrapping you/And you know what’s on my mind/A soft, sweet, tasty treat/You’re my favorite kind/Got this cravin’/And your lips look devine/And we know what happens when the cookies and the cream combine.” There is absolutely no doubt as to what he is saying here. If this doesn’t serve as the soundtrack for a couple’s romantic evening, nothing does. Klinghorn continues in the song’s second verse, “Can’t stop sampling you/And that flavor I adore/Call me Russel Stover/Till the/Night is over/I got everything that you’re hungering for/Oh, sugar, I keep coming back for more/Of your/Cocoa butter/With your/Chocolate covered/Silky caramel core…you could open up a candy store.” Yet again, there’s no doubt what’s going on here. This is about as pure as a r&b song can be and as entertaining. If this doesn’t get a couple in the moon, nothing will. That is especially when this content is considered alongside the song’s musical elements, which late in the song also include gentle, flowing strings to add to the song’s general effect. Simply put, the song in whole is without doubt, a clear example of why Nooky Jones’ new EP could be the record that breaks this group into the mainstream. It is just one of the EP’s most notable tracks, too. ‘After Two (ft. Cory Wong)’ is another example of what makes this record one that every r&b fan will enjoy.
‘After Two (ft. Cory Wong)’ stands out in part because of its own musical arrangement. This song’s funky, bass and keyboard-centered arrangement wastes no time conjuring thoughts of the one and only Stevie Wonder and of acts, such as Sly and the Family Stone and Tower of Power. That’s just as much due to the arrangement’s horn lines as it is the composition’s keyboard, bass and percussion. The whole of the noted elements makes this arrangement a funky work that won’t take long getting listeners on the dance floor. The song’s arrangement is just one part of what makes it notable. That part of the song works with the song’s lyrical content to make the presentation in whole even more engaging and entertaining for the group’s target audiences.
The song’s lyrical content is notable because it is just fun material that encourages dancing happily just as much as the song’s musical arrangement. This is proven as Klinghorn sings in the song’s lead verse, “Candle’s burning low/Is it really after 1 (not yet)/My glass ain’t empty, though/So I don’t have to run, baby/Maxwell on the stereo/And the record’s almost done/And all my people know/the night’s just begun (we’re just getting started/Someone caught my by surprise/And she got that look in her eyes/Hey baby/See you watching me/And maybe/You like what you see/Hey lady/Make your move this way/So crazy/What I’m ‘bout to say.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Body’s movin’ slow/Temptaion fills the air, yes it does/I said we’re wraped up in the floor/I wanna feel you everywhere (all over your body, baby)/Girl, you caught me by surprise and you got that look right in your eyes.” Once again, there is no doubt as to the song’s message in this case. This is one of those straight-up ‘Come hither, let’s get dancing and get busy’ songs that works just as well in the club as in the bedroom. That is even more evident when this content is coupled with the song’s light, funky musical arrangement. All things considered, they show just as much why this song is as notable as Like Candy’s title track. It is not the last of the EP’s most notable tracks. The more reserved break-up song (yes, the group even features a break-up song in this record, too) ‘Pardon Me’ is notable in its own right, too.
The musical arrangement at the center of ‘Pardon Me’ does a good job of illustrating the emotions of someone who has been played by another one time too many. This one presents a more modern r&b vibe, again akin to works from D’Angelo, Maxwell and other similar acts, with its subtle horn lines, keyboards and drums. It is just one part of what makes the song stand out. The noted lyrical content plays into this just as much as the engaging musical arrangement.
Klinghorn sings in the song’s lead verse, “I can see you wear that smile…try to pretend/That you would never make me feel like this again/Now it’s on my mind/That you lied/The first and second time/When you told me not to worry about your friend/Had me thinking/Everything would be okay/And believing every word I heard you say/Now I know/When you said/You love sleeping in my bed/You were getting what you want another way/I’m not here for you/I ran out of sympathy/The moment you ran out on me/I’m not here for you/Excuse me miss/Pardon me/You don’t get my loyalty.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Hold up/Back up/What the hell/You lying for/Telling me/You don’t see it anymore/Why don’t you call up your number one/So you can him that we’re we’re done/Say what’s up for me.” Klinghorn’s subject makes no bones about his feelings over the situation of this broken relationship. This is a song, with these lyrics and content, to which many listeners will relate with such straight-forward lyrics. The reserved nature of the arrangement will help the noted listeners connect with the song just as much as the song’s lyrics. Both elements together make this song a song that is just as radio ready as the other songs noted here and the EP’s other two songs. All things considered, the EP in whole proves to be a solid new offering from Nooky Jones and a work that could – with the right support – be the record that breaks the group into the r&b mainstream.
Nooky Jones’ new EP Like Candy is a sweet musical treat for r&b fans of all ages. That is thanks to its musical and lyrical content. That is explained through analysis of three of the EP’s songs here. The combination of the modern and old school r&b and funk musical elements and the equally accessible lyrical content exhibited in each of the three songs discussed here – and the EP’s other two songs not directly discussed – go a long way toward making the EP appealing for the noted audiences. All things considered, they make the EP a “sweet” new offering for r&b audiences of all ages. More information on Like Candy is available online along with all of the group’s latest news at:
Website: http://nookyjones.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nookyjones
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nookyjones
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