Lee Fields and the Expressions
June 10, 2009
You know what I’ve been itching for lately? Some R&B. 2009 is pretty sparse on it, and aside from the excellent Platinum Pied Pipers LP “Abundance”, nothing else has filled my need for some good old soul.. “My World” probably could’ve been released in the era of Don Julian/Dorsey Brown era and it would fit in just fine.. And it makes sense, Lee Fields has been performing since the 60’s, he released a sole LP in the 70’s (now a collectors item) that I haven’t heard.. One thing is apparent though, Lee Fields is a nostalgic man, and god bless him for it.
Points:
Nostalgia as inspiration is spotty, to do it right, an artist has to carve his niche, and for Lee Fields, old school R&B is his niche, the thing he’s done as a performer for years. His experience shows, not a single melody is misplaced. After years of work, he and his new band have crafted a sharp, uncannily ‘retro’ sound that works as music and as a slice of the past.
That isn’t to say that Fields hasn’t added a few bells and whistles to his style, throughout, small electronic flourishes pop up, the mix is incredibly sophisticated and layered, Fields hasn’t become a dinosaur like many of his active peers, he’s adapted incredibly well to the modern musical world. He’s used modern tools to make his work more complex, and ultimately smoother sounding.
My World’s sole flaw has a lot to do with what Fields is saying. Like his sound, which is fittingly nostalgic, his lyrics haven’t moved. This isn’t an immediate flaw, his delivery is exceptional, I just feel like singing about women and social evils sort of limits him as an artist. His talent is there, no denying it.. He does what he set out to do with flying colors, I hope he incorporates stronger modern influences as time goes on. This isn’t so much a flaw as it is something that bothers me. “My World” is exemplary, classy music, it all flows nicely and it hits it’s emotional center 95% of the time. “My World” fits a niche, it’s pure, modern (yet vintage) clean-cut R&B, and right now, it’s just what I want.
