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The return of old school soul in the
hearts, minds, and voices of singers like D'Angelo, Maxwell, Alicia Keys,
and others comes as one of pop music's most welcome surprises. Heartfelt and
genuine, with actual instruments replacing formerly de rigueur studio
gadgetry, The Way I Feel, the debut album from 23-year-old Canadian Remy
Shand, is one of the finest recent examples of the trend.
Saturated with the organic vibe of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, as well as
later acts like Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire, The Way I Feel exhilarates
with its lush and lovely soul, its uncannily authentic early '70s vibe, and
its utter admiration for the work of the genre's masters.
Songs like "Everlasting" and the gorgeous quiet storm of "Looking Back on
Vanity" come complete with Shand's dexterous guitar playing, licks clipped
directly from '70s-era heroes like Curtis Mayfield, Santana, and Ernie Isley.
(In fact, the admittedly obsessive musician played virtually all of the
instruments on the album, including bass, keyboards, and guitars.)
In the end, it's his deep identification with the vintage sentiment of old
school soul that makes Shand such a magical guest at this flourishing new
party.
Bob Gulla
CDNOW Contributing Writer
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