Audiences Will Agree Apollo Brown’s New Album Was Worth The Eight-Year Wait

Courtesy: Mello Music Group

Hip-hop producer and artist Apollo Brown released his latest album last week in the form of This Must Be the Place.  Released Friday through Mello Music Group, the 21-song instrumental collection is a record that will appeal not just to hip-hop fans, but those of rhythm and blues, too.  That is evidenced throughout its varied arrangements, which will be discussed shortly.  The sequencing of those songs makes for its own appeal here and will be examined a little later.  The record’s production rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined later.  Each item noted does its own share to make This Must Be the Place engaging and entertaining.  All things considered they make the album a welcome addition to this year’s field of new rap and hip-hop albums.

This Must Be the Place, the new album from Apollo Brown, is a strong first outing from the veteran producer and artist.  That is especially the case being that it is Brown’s first new instrumental record in eight years.  The record’s success comes in part through its featured musical arrangements, which vary widely from the record’s start to end.  The first handful of songs featured in the record’s body lean very heavily in a R&B direction.  Some of those early arrangements lend themselves to comparison to works that are featured in so much of Mary J. Blige’s work.  As the record progresses, the arrangements start to change somewhat, leaning more in the direction of works that one might expect from works from the likes of Common.  Even deeper into the album’s run, audiences get arrangements that would be a solid fit with the likes of Mos Def and Black Star.  In other words, the arrangements that make up the album’s body are diverse in their sounds and styles from one to the next and fully engaging from one to the next.  One of the absolute best of the arrangements comes a little more than halfway through its 68-minute run time in the form of ‘Butter.’  The gentle, flowing keyboard line, paired with the steady hip-hop beat and strings is so infectious in its subtle, simple approach and sound.  ‘Changes in the Truth,’ which comes almost midway through the record, is a prime example of one of those arrangements that would fit well with any song from Common.  That is evidenced through the use of its vocals, keyboard, and beats.  ‘Catching Moments,’ which closes out the record, is one of the handful of works that could easily be heard in songs from the likes of Mos Def and Blackstar.  The vintage style from the keyboard alongside the tambourine and beats blends old school and modern sounds and styles so well, which again, is very much along the lines of such works.  Again, the sounds and styles in all of the record’s songs are diverse and change from one to the next, ensuring in their own way, audiences’ engagement and entertainment.

As much as the diversity in the songs does to keep audiences engaged and entertained in Brown’s new album, they are just part of what makes it appealing.  The songs’ sequencing makes for its own interest.  The sequencing ensures that the record’s energy remains stable from beginning to end of its hour-plus runtime even as the arrangements’ styles and sounds change from one arrangement to the next.  From the laid back vibe of the record’s R&B leaning first quarter (roughly) to the vintage hip-hop sound to the more modern-leaning works, each song maintains the record’s laid back vibe.  Considering a statement that Brown made about the record’s title, that stable, relaxed vibe makes even more sense.

“It’s that peaceful place in your existence where you’ve always dreamt of being, the attainment of certain emotional, physical, and spiritual elements that make you whole, and being so comfortable with life that you could sit on the edge of a cliff and fly a kite,” he said. 

That vibe is exactly what audiences will attain thanks to the noted sequencing.  It will keep listeners so relaxed in that positive state of mind.  Together with the songs themselves, the two elements go a long way toward making the record overall so enjoyable.

As much as the record’s songs and their sequencing does to make the album so enjoyable, they are still not all that is worth noting.  Its production puts the finishing touch to its presentation and makes for even more appeal.

The production that went into the record’s creation is so important to note because it is what was responsible for bringing out the best of each arrangement, making sure that each instrumentation was balanced.  From the subtle guitar lines that show up occasionally to the use of the equally casual piano lines that make up so much of the record’s work, to the steady beats that serve as each arrangement’s backbone, each arrangement’s production balances its elements expertly from one to the next.  That balance in the songs’ arrangements creates such a positive general effect throughout the record that will leave listeners wanting more in the best way possible.  Keeping that in mind along with the impact of the songs and their sequencing, the whole makes the album overall a successful first new offering from Brown in nearly a decade.

This Must Be the Place, is an impressive new offering from veteran producer and hip-hop artist Apollo Brown in eight years, especially being his first new instrumental record is eight years.  Its success comes in part through its featured songs, which offer audiences a variety of hip-hop arrangements.  Some having R&B leanings, others vintage hip-hop, and others still have more modern leanings.  That diversity is sure to keep listeners engaged and entertained in its own right.  The songs’ sequencing makes for its own appeal because it makes sure that the record’s energy stable throughout even as the songs’ styles and sounds change.  The record’s production puts the finishing touch to its presentation, ensuring its general effect is just as positive as its content.  Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the album, as noted.  All things considered they make This Must Be the Place a truly great new addition to this year’s field of new hip-hop and rap albums.

This Must Be the Place is available now. More information on Apollo Brown’s new album is available along with all of his latest news at:

Website: https://apollobrown360.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApolloBrown

Twitter: https://twitter.com/apollobrown

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Infectious Beats, Hard-Hitting Lyrics Make Free Radicals’ New Album Well Worth Hearing

Courtesy: Free Rads Music

Two years after the release of its then latest album, White Power Outage, music collective Free Radicals has released that record’s companion album, White Power Outage Vol. 2.  Released April 8, the 25-song (yes, 25 songs) record proves itself a successful new offering from the group.  That is due in part to its featured musical arrangements.  They will be discussed shortly.  The lyrical themes that accompany the musical content makes for its own interest and will be discussed a little later.  The record’s production rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this record.  All things considered, they make White Power Outage Vol. 2 another positive new offering from Free Radicals.

White Power Outage Vol. 2, the latest offering from Free Radicals, is another positive offering from the group that will engage and entertain the group’s established audiences, as well as a wide range of rap fans.  That is due in large part to its featured musical arrangements.  From beginning to end, the compositions are mostly rap and hip-hop style compositions whose beats are completely infectious. The use of the horns and occasional R&B style vocals cross with those hip-hop elements to make the whole so enjoyable.  There are some full songs and some that are instrumentals tossed in for good measure, too.  Sometimes modern, other times a throwback and others still, a blend of both, the arrangements are comparable to works from the likes of Jurassic 5, Mos Def, and at times, Public Enemy, the arrangements are so funky and friendly to the ears.

The engagement and entertainment that the album’s musical content is sure to generate means, too, that audiences are certain to pay close attention to the record’s lyrical themes just as much.  Throughout the course of the record’s hour-plus run time (one hour 16 minutes to be exact), the themes are all socially and politically conscious.  The group pulls no punches, going after Democrats and Republicans alike, and pretty much all of the powers that be.  It really is content that will appeal to fans of acts, such as Run The Jewels and Public Enemy.  The album’s very lead single, ‘Bipartisan Baby Jail’ goes after Vice President Kamala Harris, comparing her to Donald Trump for comments she made during a visit to America’s southern border, where children were being detained in facilities there.  So right there, the group goes after both sides.  In another song, ‘If You Don’t Vote For Me, You’re Not White’ the group goes after President Biden for comments he made during the 2020 election about black voters and whether they were voting for him.  ‘America’s Blues,’ which comes a little later in the album, is a direct commentary about the oppression that African-Americans have experienced throughout America’s history.  ‘Other Holocausts’ is a direct discussion on the mistreatment of so many minority groups by Americans of European history throughout history.  It is a discussion that many will find uncomfortable, but to that end, it is also needed and just one more of so many hard-hitting topics that fill out the album.  From the Native Americans wiped out by Americans of European descent, to the centuries of mistreatment of African-Americans by whites throughout history, to the killing of innocent people overseas as a result of wars waged by Americans and even the KKK and Proud Boys and their racist actions, the lyrical themes that make up the body of this new record do just as much to keep this record engaging and entertaining as the album’s musical content.  When the album’s musical and lyrical content is collectively considered, the whole of that material gives audiences all the more reason to take in this record.

Working with the record’s content is the production thereof.  The production brings out the best elements of the arrangements and even the vocals therein.  The beats are just subtle enough at some points, and stronger at others, complimenting the vocals and other instruments in each composition.  Whether it be the horns in some songs, or the steady rapping, or the beats themselves, each part of each song expertly compliments its fellow parts throughout.  The end result is a general effect that makes the album just as engaging and entertaining as the record’s content.  When that content is considered along with the record’s production, the whole makes White Power Outage a record that easily makes itself worth hearing at least once.

White Power Outage Vol. 2, the latest album from Free Radicals, is a hard-hitting presentation that is sure to get plenty of attention among audiences and critics alike.  That is due in part to its featured musical arrangements.  Largely rap style works, the arrangements present beats that are completely engaging and entertaining.  The lyrical themes that accompany those immersive arrangements add their own interest because of their hard-hitting content.  It goes without saying that the content presented in the themes is true, many might find it militant at the level of Public Enemy.  That is sure to cause the overall lyrical content to be very divisive and in turn quite engaging.  That is not necessarily a bad thing.  It just means it will bring that much more attention to the record.  The record’s production rounds out its most important elements, ensuring the most impacting general effect.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of White Power Outage Vol. 2.  All things considered, they make the album one of the best of the year’s new rap albums.

White Power Outage Vol. 2 is available through Free Rads Music. More information on the album is available online now along with all of Free Radicals’ latest news and more at:

Website: http://freerads.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freerads

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news ,g o online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Life Of Crime Is Anything But The Standard Crime Drama

Courtesy: Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions/Hyde Park Entertainment/Image Nation/Starstream Entertainment/Abbolita Productions/The Gotham Group

Lionsgate’s new drama Life Of Crime is an interesting movie.  The movie, which is based on author Elmore Leonard’s book The Switch is the polar opposite of all of the prequels, sequels, and remakes being churned out by Hollywood’s ‘Power Five” studios today.  It stands out completely from everything else on theaters and in the realm of home entertainment primarily because of its story.  The story centers on the kidnapping of a woman that is married to a rather unpleasant man by two ex-cons, one of which just got out of jail.  That aspect is discussed in the movie’s bonus features.  So it will be touched on later.  The story though, is rather interesting in that it doesn’t necessarily turn out the way that audiences might think.  In fact it actually turns the classic crime story a bit on its ear as audiences will see.  Another reason that the movie works as well as it does is the acting on the part of the cast.  The cast’s acting really serves to highlight the character development that takes place over the course of the movie’s near two-hour run time.  Last but not least of note in this recent release is the movie’s bonus material.  The behind-the-scenes featurette and the discussion on how the movie came to be adapted from Leonard’s book both shed their own light on the movie, making the whole viewing experience all the richer.  That isn’t to take away from the movie’s bonus commentary.  It serves its own purpose in the grand scheme of things, too.  The end result is a movie that while it definitely walks off the beaten path is well worth the watch if only once.

Life of Crime is a welcome respite from all of the prequels, sequels, and remakes currently being churned out by Hollywood’s “Power Five” studios.  The central reason for this is its script.  While adapted from author Elmore Leonard’s book The Switch, it stays true to the source material, as audiences will learn in watching the movie’s bonus material.  The story centers on the kidnapping of well-to-do wife Mickey Dawson (Jennifer Aniston).  Mickey is kidnapped by two ex-cons named Louis (John Hawkes—American Gangster, The Sessions, Lincoln) and Ordell (Yasiin Bey a.k.a. Mos Def—The Italian Job, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, 16 Blocks).  The pair originally sets out to kidnap her and extort $1 million from her husband Frank (Tim Robbins—The Shawshank Redemption, The Hudsucker Proxy, Mystic River).  There’s just one problem.  He is getting ready to file for divorce unbeknownst to both her and her captors.  As things progress, a friendship of sorts forms between Mickey and Louis.  On the other end, Ordell ends up with Frank’s mistress Melanie (Isla Fisher—Now You See Me, Rango, Wedding Crashers).  Considering all of this, one would think that the movie is a comedy.  But that isn’t the case.  Writer/Director Daniel Schecter took the story in a more dramatic direction, again staying true to the source material.  The only way that this is a bad thing is the story’s pacing.  It does tend to drag somewhat as the story progresses.  But it is still a story worth at least one watch despite this.

The story on which Life of Crime is centered is an important reason that audiences should give this movie at least one watch.  Again as Writer/Director Daniel Schecter notes in the movie’s bonus material, he wanted to stay true to the movie’s source material. That’s because, as he notes, he didn’t like all of the movies that changed the story in its adaptation from its source material.  The story itself would be nothing without a cast to carry out the story.  And the movie’s cast does quite the job of bringing the story to life.  Their interpretation of Schecter’s script makes up for the story’s issues with pacing.  Audiences will love the fact that Aniston’s Mickey is such a strong female lead.  This goes back to the fact that the story turns the typical crime drama genre on its ear.  Mickey isn’t afraid to stand up to her captors, which is what leads to her budding friendship with Louis.  Women especially will cheer as Mickey uses a lit cigarette to burn Richard (Mark Boone, Jr.) in his eye.  Her overall interactions with Louis and Ordell display so much character development throughout the story.  That mix of development and interaction will pull in audiences with ease and keep them engaged right to the end again despite the story’s pacing issue.  It’s one more way in which Life of Crime stands out from all of the other major blockbuster prequels, sequels, and remakes currently out there and that are on the way.  It still is not the last factor that makes the movie work, either.  The last factor that makes Life of Crime work as well as it does is the movie’s bonus material.

The last factor involved in Life of Crime’s home release is the bonus material included in the movie’s Blu-ray/Digital HD release.  The bonus behind-the-scenes featurette itself offers quite a bit of insight into the movie.  That insight includes the thoughts on the movie’s source material from both the cast and director.  Aniston also has the chance to discuss her character’s portrayal to some length in the behind-the-scenes featurette.  The companion featurette entitled “Envisioning The Big Picture: Shooting Crime” allows Schecter to discuss his reasoning for staying as close as possible to Leonard’s original book in adapting it and the surprise that Leonard actually liked Schecter’s script for his adaptation.  There is much more discussed in both features.  And audiences will find in taking in the rest of those discussions, they add even more interest to Life of Crime in whole.  The same can be said of the movie’s bonus commentary from Schecter and actor Will Forte (Saturday Night Live) who plays a slightly overbearing man trying to win over Mickey throughout the movie.  The end result of all of these discussions is a viewing experience that makes Life of Crime even more a story worth at least one watch.

Whether it be for the story, the acting on the part of the cast or the movie’s companion bonus material, every one of these factors plays an integral role in the overall success and enjoyment of Life of Crime.  All three factors together make it an unsuspecting and rather interesting work worth at least one watch and a potential candidate for a spot on any critic’s list of this year’s best new independent movies.  Life of Crime is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered direct through Lionsgate’s online store at http://www.lionsgateshop.com/search_results.asp?Search=life%20of%20crime.  More information on this and other titles from Lionsgate is available online at:

Website: http://www.lionsgatefilms.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lionsgate

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

NYPD Blue’s Sixth Season One Of The Series’ Best

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory released the sixth season of ABC’s crime drama NYPD Blue today.  NYPD Blue was one of the most polarizing series on television over the course of its run on ABC from beginning to end.  The series’ sixth season is no less powerful than the seasons that had come before.  That’s not only because of the drama surrounding the cases in each episode, either.  The writing has shown a different side of the characters this season, especially in one particular story arc.  And that growth in the series’ writing is just part of what makes Season Six enjoyable for the show’s fans. The acting on the part of the series’ cast ties directly in to the writing. The cast expertly interprets the scripts for each episode, adding even more depth to the series this time out. The acting and writing that bring Season Six together are of equal importance to its success. On another level, the show’s overall production values—its gritty look, its cinematography, and music—round out the whole package, making NYPD Blue: Season Six another win for fans of this landmark series and for Shout! Factory.

One of the major reasons that NYPD Blue managed to remain on the air for so long was its writing staff. While Dick Wolf’s Law & Order franchises relied largely on the headlines for storylines, the storylines that ran through NYPD Blue were far more hard hitting. They showed that it was possible to craft a solid story without just re-enacting the weekly news headlines. And that expert writing continued well into this season. The season-opening story arc is proof positive of this. Season Six opens with Simone (Jimmy Smitts) ending up in the hospital due to a heart problem. It is that heart problem that eventually leads to a very difficult decision for his wife and to a very deep reaction from Sipowicz along the way. It’s definitely one of the series’ most moving and powerful story arcs as it shows that Sipowicz is human after all. Add in the discussion on the right-to-life and audiences get what is simply put a very powerful story arc; one of the best that the series had seen to date. This is just one example of the talents of the series’ writers this season. There are equally deep stories included in this season such as racism within the police force, and even the announcement of a new life coming into the world among much more. Audiences, again, will find out all of this for themselves when they purchase Season Six. Every story written for Season Six is proof of why this series was able to continue as a fan favorite for six more seasons after this one.

The writing that went into making NYPD Blue: Season Six was some of the best for any drama on television at its time. Just as key to this season’s success was the acting on the part of the cast. Dennis Franz’s acting in the season-opening story ac is some of the most powerful that any of the cast members had presented to that point. Franz presented a far more vulnerable and human side to Sipowicz as Sipwicz tried to maintain his hard-nosed façade, albeit unsuccessfully. It was, in an odd way, heart wrenching to see Sipowicz break down. Yet it was moving to see that he had that side. It makes him an even deeper character. The reaction of all of Bobby’s fellow officers was just as moving. It showed that for everything that they had to deal with, even the strongest people have to mourn. Anyone left dry-eyed after seeing this simply isn’t human. Of course, there were also the reactions in the much happier announcement in the season of a new life coming into the world late in this season. After everything that the force had dealt with since the season’s opener, the acting here proved to be just as powerful and moving. Those moments all together made Season Six all the more worth watching by any of the series’ original fans.

The writing and acting that went into bringing NYPD Blue: Season Six to life exhibited exactly why the series was still so successful this far into its run. One would be remiss to ignore one more factor that made Season Six a success. That final factor would be the show’s production values. The collective production values—its cinematography, music, and its overall gritty look—set the series apart from Dick Wolf’s Law & Order franchises from early on. The rapid fire camera work, the original music and gritty look were the antithesis of Wolf’s series. Those series always had more of a spit-shined look. Their music and the use of cameras gave those series too perfect of a look. By comparison, the collective production values used even in the sixth season of NYPD Blue made watching the series like seeing the late Robert B. Parker’s novels on television, just without Jessie Stone as the lead. That is truly something special. It really feels like a hard-boiled detective novel put to the small screen. And together with the writing and acting, it makes NYPD Blue: Season Six a completely welcome addition to the library of any fan of this series.

NYPD Blue: Season Six is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered online now direct from Shout! Factory’s online store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/product/nypd-blue-season-six. More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory is available online now at http://www.shoutfactory.com and http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Shout! Factory Announces Release Date For NYPD Blue: Season Six

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory will release the sixth season of the hit crime drama NYPD Blue this Summer.

NYPD Blue Season Six will be released on June 24^th, 2014. Season Six of the Emmy® and Peabody award-winning series will be released in a six-disc DVD set containing all twenty-two episodes from the series’ sixth season. The series’ sixth season sees the addition of actor Rick Schroder to the show’s cast. Schroder plays the part of detective Danny Sorenson. Sorenson is Sipowicz’s (Dennis Franz) new partner this season. But he isn’t fully trusted by everybody in the department. That is thanks to his questionable methods. His arrival is just one of a number of major events that arise in Season Six.

The arrival of a new detective on the force and the major events that flush out Season Six are just part of what makes it one of the show’s more talked about seasons. This season also sees a who’s who of guest stars throughout its episodes. Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow, Iron Man, Crash), Daniel Benzali (General Hospital), Mos Def (The Italian Job, Dexter, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Kevin Dillon (Entourage), and Emile Hirsch (Twice Born, Into The Wild, Milk) all make appearances.

NYPD Blue Season Six can be pre-ordered now via Shout! Factory’s online store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/product/nypd-blue-season-six. More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory is available online at http://www.shoutfactory.com and http://facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.