The E-Store for Dummies

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The blurb on the back of the disc says this: "Fuses together a flavorful mix of pioneering soulful artists." These artists aren't pioneering in the least, at least not when compared to their forebears: Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and several others. That's why they've been labeled neo-soul. (If you're coming at this from more of a rock angle, it's not much different than referring to modern-day rock bands as neo-rock.) What we're dealing with here is basically '90s and 2000s R&B that, while heavy on melody, isn't as chart-oriented as what you're likely to hear from Monica or Usher. Seventies soul plays a significant factor in sound and in spirit. This type of thing tends to be more sophisticated, meaning that it's geared toward twentysomethings and thirtysomethings instead of teenagers. The problem with Neo-Soul for Dummies is that it drops the ball by not including songs from many of the era's leading players. D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Alicia Keys are just some of the biggest MIAs, perhaps due to steep licensing costs. That doesn't mean that the disc isn't enjoyable (highlights come from Terence Trent D'Arby, Musiq, and Neneh Cherry), but it does mean that it doesn't make for a great introduction.