The Way I See It (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Raphael Saadiq (vocals, guitar, sitar, piano, bass guitar, drums); Charles "CJ" Hilton, Jr. (vocals, piano, drums, bongos); Joss Stone (vocals); Paul Baker , Maurice Draughn, Paul Baker (harp); Assa Drori, Al Hershberger, Rocío Marron, Joe Ketendjian, Anatoly Rosinsky, Johana Krejci, Raphael Price, Marla Smith, Daniel Stachyra, Melody Wootton, Kyoko Kashiwagi, Constance Markwick, Sally Berman, Elizabeth Rowin, Robert Brosseau, Molly Hughes, Elizabeth Wilson, Andrew Wu, Agnes Gottschewski, Armen Garabedian (violin); Jerry Epstein, Shanda Lowery, Lynn Grants, Karolina Naziemiec, Jody Robin, Leah Lucas, John Madison, Scott Stefanko, Raymond Tischer, Robert Berg (viola); Maurice Grants, Christina Soule, Judith VanderWeg, Vahe Jayrikyan, Miguel Martinez, Robert Reed (cello); Stevie Wonder (harmonica); Greg Curtis (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Jack Ashford (vibraphone, shaker, tambourine, bells); Bobby Ozuna (drums, bongos, shaker, tambourine); Gerry Brown .

Audio Mixers: Charles "Biscuits" Brungardt; Raphael Saadiq.

Recording information: Blakeslee Recording Company, North Hollywood, CA; Harmonie Park Studios, Detroit, MI; The Music Shed Studios, New Orleans, LA.

Photographer: Norman Seeff.

Former Tony! Toni! Tone! member Raphael Saadiq proved he could push his sound in new and intriguing ways on solo albums like INSTANT VINTAGE, mixing in soul, gospel, and contemporary flourishes. Saadiq plants his foot more firmly in the past on 2008's THE WAY I SEE IT, offering up a set that recalls the classic sound of Motown and other Northern soul from the 1960s. Melody and groove are paramount on these songs, making each a little soul-pop nugget complete with old-school arrangements (it sounds as though Motown's the Funk Brothers are backing Saadiq throughout). In addition to excellent material, the singer welcomes Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Joss Stone, and the Rebirth Brass Band as guests.

When Raphael Saadiq, along with his partners in Tony! Toni! Toné!, wrote and recorded songs like "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "Whatever You Want," he earned himself a lifetime "Do Whatever You Want" card. One could disregard his third solo studio album for being the equivalent of a Civil War reenactment, sounding much more like "instant vintage" R&B than 2002's Instant Vintage. If you want to listen to some '60s and early-'70s soul, play some soul that came out in the '60s and early '70s, right? Save for an intrusive Jay-Z appearance on a bonus version of "Oh Girl," however, this time warp never loosens its grip, unless you cannot help but position the protagonist in "Big Easy" -- where Saadiq nails a classic tactic exemplified by the likes of Holland-Dozier-Holland, matching bliss-inducing music with saddening lyrics -- squarely within 2005 New Orleans. ("They say them levees broke, and my baby's gone.") Saadiq, with the occasional assist, wrote each song, and they're all graced with the songwriting, arranging, and production touches of the recordings the man evidently cherishes and knows inside out. Here's where a modern master, backed by living and breathing session musicians (including Funk Brother Jack Ashford), masters the masters with startling accuracy. ~ Andy Kellman minimize