Aloe Blacc: Wake Me Up – $4.99
Chances are you had never heard of Aloe Blacc until last summer. I’d venture to say that many are still unfamiliar with the man who’s voice elevated one of last year’s biggest hits. Blacc’s song “Wake Me Up” was refashioned by Avicii
A graduate of USC, Aloe Blacc (real name Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III) is a So-Cal native of Panamanian parents, which I only bring up because Blacc’s musical identity is fluid and multicultural. And this style conscious, self managed artist is bound for something big. “The Man” opens the ep and highlights Blacc’s effortless segue from style to style as horns, a shuffling beat, and a big backing choir bolster the positivity inherent in the song.
The version of “Wake Me Up” included on the EP is acoustic. Violins and piano replace the synth-washes prominent on Avicii’s album. It becomes evident that the Swedish DJ/model merely added a few EDM bells and whistles to what was an already fully formed piece of music. That this version is more organic and Americana-esque illustrates Aloe’s ease in blurring genres. And while you’ve probably heard the original more that you’d want, hearing this made me appreciate the song in a whole new way.
“Love Is The Answer” is undeniably sexy, as dub-style horns and a sauntering groove propel this track that brings to mind some of the classic soul sides of the seventies. “Can’t Do This” sports a retro R&B feel and would sound great as a duet with Janelle Monae. And “Ticking Bomb” brings to mind a spiritual with terrific percussion and passion.
Despite two previous full length albums, this ep feels like a statement of intent. Confident, strong, and natural. There are no borders for Aloe and no boundaries as to where he can go from here.
Tim Johnstone is a former Virgin Records Label Rep and current award winning Program Director and on-air host at KRVB, which was awarded the FMQB AAA station of the year markets 50+. He also writes our weekly best-of-the-web Dossier, which you can find here on Dappered every Friday.
Oh also do yourself a favor and youtube Aloe Blacc – A take away show. It’s two parts of some live sets that are great.
I was thinking how the music totally took the attention from the headphones. Gonna check it out.
Saw him live a few years back and he had us doing a Soul Train line during the concert. He’s amazing live!
Stumble across him a few years ago when I was getting into the music of Mayer Hawthorne (another you should check out). At the time, they were on the same label- Stones Throw Records. The second I heard “I Need A Dollar”, I was hooked. He did a rendition of Micheal Jackson’s song “Billy Jean” that is too good.
FYI – you can preorder Aloe Blacc Lift Your Spirit from itunes for $7.99. The 5 tracks offered on this LP will download immediately and the remaining tracks will be available when the LP is released in March.
So $5 for 5 tracks or $8 for 5 now and another 8 later.
Great review! Look forward to reading more.
Back when I was on the air, his song You Make Me Smile was a track played quite frequently. I’ve dug his voice since I first heard it. Was glad he got the recognition he deserved via Avicii.
It’s a shame EDM fanatics are crying at Avicii for trying to cross over to mainstream, but Aloe Blacc is a brilliant example of the outcome of what can happen when crossing over is done correctly.
“I Need A Dollar” was a staple in DJ sets 4 years ago. This guy regularly hosted an LA party known as ‘The Do-Over’ when DJ AM was still around. If you slept on his sound, you’re definitely missing out.
As usual dappered, proving that a well dressed man adorns his acoustic canal with as much precision as his lapels.
It is a cold album.
By a cold artist.
And is the first time since high school that I’ve ever wanted beats more than seinhausers
Wiki isn’t always correct. Aloe gets the songwriting credit on this one.
What, no one watched How To Make it in America when Aloe Blacc’s song ‘I Need a Dollar’ was the title track?! Great song, great show, great artist. Not really new, but I guess it’s a good thing he’s getting more mainstream recognition (of course, Wake Me Up needs to stop being played every 5 minutes!!).
Good stuff, Tim! The musical recommendations on here usually aren’t in tune with what I listen to. But this… THIS!!
Aloe’s One Inna from ’06, is the jam. On Stones Throw Records, produced by Madlib.
Great music. Google him and Exile (an amazing producer) and listen to his rap stuff. Amazingly talented.
Great album and I’m really happy you used the Kaepernick commercial in your post. Makes me simultaneously happy and sad.
agreed, but the commentary was about the instrumental which was written by Avicii first
There are obviously different stories for this. Aloe’s label reports this to be an Aloe/Mike (from Incubus) original.