There's not one radio ΓÇ£hit singleΓÇ¥ to be found on this album, and that's a good thing. Instead, Voodoo lives up to its title's definition with 13 extended mixes of hypnotic, rhythm & blues jam sessions that are the antithesis of today's simplistic pop R&B. There's no denying the live bass guitar, trumpets, and handclaps throughout. D'Angelo's humming vocals even have a raw, unpolished edge that adds to the project's authenticity.
Every song warrants attention. Behind the hype of "Untitled"'s buck-naked video is an incredibly sincere tribute to the Artist, in his own slow, rock guitar-ed fashion. "One Mo Gin" and an untainted husky remake of Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Luv," will also keep the women smiling. Despite its whisper-y sexy skats and lady-friendly vibe, Voodoo's depth exceeds pulling honeys. The rumbling hip-hop grooved "Devil's Pie," mid-tempo grind "GreatDayInDaMornin'," and angelic "Africa" with its tribal tone, offer much-needed encouragement. Plus, the shortest song on the album is five minutes long; all are fashioned as extended remixes complete with climactic grand finales.
Though nothing on Voodoo encompasses the magnetism of his 1995 debut single "Brown Sugar" or remake of smokey ballad "Lady," Voodoo is unquestionably a respectable follow-up.
All recordings courtesy of Virgin Records. ΓÇ£Left & RightΓÇ¥ written by D'Angelo, R. Noble, C. Smith, K. Fareed, courtesy of Universal-PolyGram International Publishing, Inc./Ah-Choo Publishing/Funky Noble Productions/Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP)/Wu Tang Publishing, administered by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (BMI)/ Zomba Enterprises Inc. (ASCAP). ΓÇ£Untitled (How Does It Feel)ΓÇ¥ written by D'Angleo, R. Saadiq, courtesy of Universal-PolyGram International Publishing, Inc./Ah-Choo Publishing/Tony! Toni! Tone! (ASCAP). ΓÇ£Chicken GreaseΓÇ¥ written by D'Angelo, J. Poyser, A. Thompson, courtesy of Universal-PolyGram International Publishing, Inc./Ah-Choo Publishing/Ja Ja Po (ASCAP)/Grand Negaz Music, administered by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (BMI).
