Album Review - Anthony Hamilton - "Southern Comfort" (Southern Soul/Nu Soul/Funk) ***STOP THE PRESSES THIS IS THE REAL DEAL*** Anthony Hamilton and Leela James have come to symbolize "the best of breed" in today's mainstream music marketplace among younger artists in the "post Erykah/Jill era". Both have received heavy radio and television exposure and deservedly so and yet, neither has really been able to rekindle the embers burning away slowly inside of the bellies of soul music fans. However with the album "Southern Comfort", Anthony Hamilton turns those long festering embers into a blazing inferno of the kind that can only be generated by the very best of Motown/Stax/etc. translated into a modern context. This album is so good that it has the potential to turn the entire music world inside out, if it can be exposed to the masses. The album "Southern Comfort" is by far the best album thus far released in the career of Anthony Hamilton. Yet it consists of tracks that were left on the "cutting room floor". That says volumes about the ability of major labels to actually select the correct songs for someone who could possibly be the "monster mainstream soul music artist of the decade". I am reluctant to say much more about this album, because you may accuse me of "over hype". However I will tell you a little story... The day that the album arrived in my mailbox, I took it out of the package and looked at it. A few seconds later I heard "mrs. earthjuice" calling me to hurry up and get ready to go food shopping. I threw on my coat and with the CD in my hands I jumped into the car. Once inside of the car I took the CD out of its jewel case and put it into the car CD player. "Mrs. earthjuice" then said, is that another one of your new artists that nobody ever heard of again. I said; "nah you have heard of this one". As we drove down the highway and the album advanced thru the tracks "mrs earthjuice" said to me; "who the hell is that CD by? It's pretty damn good." When I told her who it was, she said; "oh I've seen Anthony Hamilton before on VH-1 and I like him, but this is way better than anything I've heard from him previously. Remember what I said earlier... "with the album "Southern Comfort", Anthony Hamilton turns those long festering embers into a blazing inferno of the kind that can only be generated by the very best of Motown/Stax/etc. translated into a modern context." That is EXACTLY what I observed with "mrs. earthjuice". The end of the story? Well there is no end to this story. That's because "mrs. earthjuice" still has my promo copy of Anthony Hamilton - "Southern Comfort" inside of her car and she refuses to give it back to me. I suppose that I could just wait till she is asleep and go out to the car and grab it, however I don't want to face the consequences of dealing with an angry Black woman who knows that you have "stolen her music." I am pretty good health right now, so I really don't want to find out how she would react to discovering "her copy" of Anthony Hamilton - "Southern Comfort" missing from her car :) I guess I will have to go and buy a copy for myself? I strongly urge you to do the same... --Bob Davis PRESS RELEASE: Anthony Hamilton - "Southern Comfort" With the release of Southern Comfort, the Hamilton tradition - born of his Southern roots and the pathway created by soul greats such as Bill Withers, Bobby Womack, Al Green and Marvin Gaye - continues. This album was recorded before Anthony Hamilton received critical acclaim or reached multi-platinum status with his astonishing solo album, Comin' From Where I'm From. Before the Grammy's and the Fame, Southern Comfort echoes his early days of when there was only the music and a dream. Southern Comfort is a true gem uncovered from the vaults, the last album of previously recorded and unreleased Anthony Hamilton material in existence. Anthony worked closely with 3 producers (Fanatic, Doug Coleman and Ced Solo) to create songs that flow with honesty and rawness rarely found in contemporary R & B. As soon as the screeching horns and funky twang of the bass line of the first track come on, "They Don't Know Me" Anthony sings of the plight facing many men in today's society, being unfairly scrutinized and fighting daily battles of prejudice and injustice. The ultra smooth "Magnolia's Room" finds Anthony lamenting a lost, love and yearning for the woman that could no longer wait for her man to become successful. All of the love songs on the album make the heart simultaneously soar and break with bittersweet memories and long-forgotten feelings that are revealed in every soul stirring lyric. The other album cuts, "Fallin In Love Again," and "Better Love" are the other, excellent examples of classic love songs. Click here for more information about this outstanding new release... Click here to enter your suggestions Back to P*FUNK REVIEW