|
Sketches of a Man | 
| Artist: Dwele
Label: Koch Records
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $10.49
You Save: $7.49 (42%)
New (38) Used (9) from $9.44
Rating:  41 reviews
Sales Rank: 2427
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 5049
UPC: 099923504924
EAN: 0099923504924
ASIN: B00189MHF8
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new and factory sealed. Order from our huge inventory and we ship directly from our warehouse to you within 24 hours. Buy from us with 100% confidence.
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Sketches Of A Man (Intro) | | • | Free As A Bird | | • | Feels So Good | | • | Blow Your Mind | | • | A Few Reasons (Truth Pt. 2) | | • | Open Your Eyes | | • | Workin' On It | | • | Brandi | | • | 5 Dolla Mic | | • | I'm Cheatin' | | • | You Won't Be Lonely | | • | Love Ultra | | • | Travelin' Girl | | • | If You Want To | | • | Shady | | • | 70's | | • | Vain | | • | Spiritual | | • | I'm Sorry (Wake The Musical Baby) | | • | Body Rock |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
The 2008 album from Dwele, is Sketches of a Man. This album brings Dwele back to a more gritty, experimental, and non-overproduced sound - one that originally caught listener's ears with his first EP demo Rize released in 1998.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 Very nice sketch! June 25, 2008
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
20 out of 27 found this review helpful
I'm a fan of Neo Soul crooner Dwele and have his previous studio releases "Subject", "Some kinda", and even a bootleg called "Beat dat". However, I must confess, I was totally unaware that he had a new album coming out until I saw it on my Amazon friend Olukayode Balogun's list of recent purchases (thanks bud).
Well, now signed to a different (and independent) label, Dwele releases the music he's always wanted to; experimental, free flowing and from the heart. His music is still jazz infused retro soul with lovely harmonies.
At first, I was taken quite aback when I saw the tracklist; 20 tracks, blimey!!! However, the songs are not too long (with quite a few being interludes, like the lovely acoustic instrumental "70's" with Marvin Gaye-like harmonies, or the horn sprinkled groovy intro which finds him name checking his previous album titles) and the entire CD runs at just over 60 minutes with quite a few songs segueing one into another.
For slower songs, there's the acoustic "Love ultra", the horn peppered pair of "Travelin' girl" and "Vain", the brief Jazzy meandering "Spiritual" and the piano ballad "I'm sorry (wake the music baby)".
"Free as a bird" is a midtempo groovy number with a sketchy bassline, and similar is the sunny "Shady". The horn sprinkled "Feels so good" features a wall of cascading vocals set to a funky bassline. "Brandi" features Slum Village and is a midtempo Jazzy groove about a girl who loves money. The string swathed "If you want to" features Lloyd Dwayne & J. Tait. "A few reasons (truth pt.2)" has a Reggae feel.
Upping the tempo even more are the pair of "Body rock" (which as others have pointed out sounds like something Usher would do, complete with Techno sounding strings in parts) and the brief "Workin' on it". Both feature edgy driving guitar sounds.
Be warned, there's nothing overtly commercial sounding here. It does take a few spins to get into Dwele's new groove but once you do, you'll find it tough letting go.
Dwele's Best June 24, 2008
Marlon Amprey (Baltimore, MD)
7 out of 13 found this review helpful
This album is by far Dwele's best as of yet. He does a great job combining what worked the best on his two previous albums from Virgin while also giving us what allowed "Rize" to get him signed. Tracks like "Body Rock", "Brandi", and "Shady" show great hip-hop influence without sacrificing musicianship. Hearing "Body Rock" one may never even think this is a Dwele track it feels like something Usher would do but Dwele shows us that if he wanted to he could give us some club songs. "Open your Eyes" originally performed by Bobby Caldwell also used in Common's "The Light", might be one of the best songs on the album as it allows Dwele to really showcase his vocal abilities, other songs that showcase Dwele's ranges are "Love Ultra"," Vain", and "Spiritual". Dwele also provides us with the great funk infused jams like "Feel So Good" and "A Few Reasons", a sequel to the classic "The Truth" from Subject. What truly makes this album Dwele's best is the writing he gives us great ballads, several great stories and creative writing in tracks like "I'm Cheatin" where you have to really pay attention. The Slum Village appearance which makes a Dwele album official is there best collaboration since "Tainted" when the world was introduced to Dwele, "Brandi" allows the three to share the track instead of just a rhyme or two after the last hook. This album is definitely a classic and might be the best R&B album of the summer and year, Dwele gave us more than a sketch this is definitely a masterpiece.
Dwele - Sketches of a Man June 24, 2008
J. A. Oshaughnessy (Ghettoville)
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
This album is so dirty. Its a classic. Like an earlier reviewer said, this is easily his best work to date. Its got that gritty soul, and then he mixes in that jazzy feel as well, and then on top of that he actually takes on the task of making a club song for the first time. And he actually does it better than most other cats can do it surprisingly. After i heard "Body Rock", i was blown away. I thought i accidently put in my Here I Stand cd, because this song is club banger very similar to something Usher or even Ne-Yo would do. Its easily one of the many highlights on this album. But the biggest problem i had with this album was how incredibly hard it was to find. I went to two Targets, a Wal-Mart, and finally a Best Buy where they only had one copy of it. Whats up with that? I saw more copies of Anthony David's new album sitting around those stores than i did Dwele's. But honestly, you really have to appreciate an artist like Dwele, because among all the R&B singers out today, he sticks to his guns and does the type of music that he wants to. Thats also why he is now indie on Koch records, because the major label he was on before, Virgin Records, didnt give him much control over his own music. Basically, on Virgin Records, They were trying to make him be a radio singer, which he is not, but when he moved to Koch, they gave him all the freedom in the world to create an album that is true to his style, not the style of the radio. And it is crystal clear after one listen to this very gentle Neo Soul album. Dwele's silky smooth vocals are at their best on gentle mid tempo piano tinged tracks like "A Few Reasons" and the first single with an early morning soul feel to it "I'm Cheatin". I am so pleased with this album, because i knew Dwele talented and he hadnt had an album that truly justified has talent like Sketches of a Man does, but this album is a homerun. Yes better than Here I Stand!
Grade:
A-
Nothing to Say June 24, 2008
D. A. Mcdaniel
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Sit still and listen, you can hear it in the winds Dwele has done it again. I am so full from this Cd's I have nothing to say. This year so far hands down this is one of the best cd's of 2008. Dwele makes you the canvass and his words and melodies become the paint by song 20 you see and become part of his artistry. Dwele gave us more than a sketch this is definitely a masterpiece!!!!
He did again! June 26, 2008
La'kesa Reese (Atlanta, GA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
A friend of mine turned me onto Dwele years ago with his "Subject" album and I've been a loyal follower since then. I even got to see Dwele on my birthday and he sang to me.
This album will go down as one of his best, along with the others. He takes you on a journey of the relationship between him and his girl (his music). At first listen I was able to pick up that the album is broken into two parts: the first part being the beginnings of the relationships and the second part being past the honeymoon phase of the relationship. The beats on this album are his grassroots. I mean, Dwele makes you feel his music in your soul. "Love Ultra" and "Vain" are my two favorite tracks.
Even if you're just not getting into Dwele, you need to get this album. This will be a guaranteed constant rotation album in my car and iPod. Get yours NOW!
|
|
|
We'll be adding even more exciting features to assist you in the coming year.
Thank you for shopping at the Depot.com online shopping depot.
©2008 Depot.com | |
