lambchops's Full Review: Comin' from Where I'm From by Anthony Hamilton
The act of loving music requires one to shed their safety net and occasionally step into the abyss. If you cannot open your mind to this idea, you will never learn or grow as a true musical enthusiast.
Of course that line above is all well and good in a perfect world. We are not perfect people and this is, of course, not a perfect world so often the discovery of new/different artists out of my usual taste takes some time. I often get e-mails from people saying something like “check this out, I just know you’ll love it!” Rarely do I follow-up on such suggestions—and even more rarely do I buy something and subsequently enjoy it.
The latter is the unlikely case with Anthony Hamilton’s second solo release Comin’ From Where I’m From. At first listen it would seem that the album is a contemporary brand of laid back soul. But further investigation turns up something else that appeals to me on a much deeper level. There is also some bit of rock n’ roll here, buried beneath the complex layers of R&B, soul, and even hip hop. Hamilton’s striking sound is augmented brilliantly by his lyrics. The overall picture is something to behold; Comin’ From Where I’m From tugs at the heartstrings and pleasures the mind. It is, without question, the best thing I’ve heard from soul in quite some time. Not that I’m an expert on the topic, but still I do happen to believe I know a good album when I hear it.
Hamilton, born and raised in North Carolina, rose from relative obscurity in the 1990’s. As a former backup singer for D’Angelo, he tried (vainly) to go solo. First there were two unreleased albums in the 1990’s and then there was the largely ignored XTC from 1996. But he didn’t give up and managed to instead catch the attention of Jermaine Dupri who subsequently offered Hamilton a deal with So So Def. Comin’ From Where I’m From is the product of many trials and tribulations—it is a hard fought victory for the painfully overlooked Hamilton.
The producer list reads like something of a who’s who of modern R&B—Dupri (of course) but also Mark Batson (India Arie, Seal, Arrested Development), Junius Bervine (Musiq), James Poyser (The Roots, Erykah Badu), and Cedric Solomon. Fortunately, the many hands in the pot do not taint but instead aid the overall picture. The twelve songs contained on this 2003 breakthrough release are diverse, interesting, and reflective. There are flashes of humor and of dramatic emotion but the bulk of Hamilton’s writing comments on personal and social issues. Though, at the same time, I’m pleased to note that by no means does he think himself a philosopher or self-important. It seems Hamilton is “just” an astute observer and apt writer.
Hamilton opens his heart and arms to listeners with the first track, Mama Knew Love. Listening to his music feels a bit as though you’ve been allowed into his most personal of space. This intimate aspect to Hamilton’s songs is in part what draws me closer and opens my mind up to the rest of the album. However it is not just the feeling of the song that draws me near, it is also Hamilton’s performance. His voice is crystalline and rich as he sings words which exhibit incredible devotion and respect for his mother. The arrangement is sparse and concentrates on Hamilton’s voice and melody rather than beats—this is, in my opinion, an amazing part of the album. And his lyrics are impeccable:
Up bright and early / scrambled eggs / swellin' in ya legs / bills on the bed
Still you managed to show me a smile
Then walk to work about two or three miles
Mom I'm gonna struggle witcha
I'm gonna help you see the bigger picture
You gave me something no one could take away
You made it so easy to say...I love ya mama
As the album continues on, I find myself increasingly impressed by the product on the whole. Understated humor on Cornbread, Fish, and Collard Greens is refreshing and not at all out of place. The song itself remains smooth and intelligent without digressing entirely into a diatribe about sex and class. It’s funny in a slightly off-kilter way. Even the “lesser” songs are solid. Since I Seen’t You, Better Days, and Float may not be the most memorable offerings, but they still drip passion.
The strongest songs of Comin’ from Where I’m From happen somewhere around the mid-point of the album. Charlene and I’m a Mess are just plain outstanding songs, but I think it’s the title track Comin’ from Where I’m From that I best connect on a personal level. The melody is the most memorable of the album and Hamilton’s performance is flawless. The confessional slow jam further fleshes out the complicated soul of the singer-songwriter.
Lucille is, however, the most touching offering. It’s modest and stark and most importantly gorgeous. It goes to prove that Hamilton is a real singer-songwriter. He doesn’t need all that production pomp and circumstance to record a great song—just modest percussion and keys suffice. I think it is this song that will appeal to most people whether or not they are familiar with soul.
Comin’ From Where I’m From remains consistently good through the last note. There are lesser songs, but the overall quality of the disc is outstanding. It’s the kind of thing you sit back in your armchair and chill out with—Hamilton’s vocals are such that it feels he is singing directly to you about life and love. He gives me hope for the future of soul music. He makes me realize that maybe there are still good singers of this genre who haven’t entirely sold out of radio or MTV or R. Kelly. Anthony Hamilton is, without a doubt, one of the people who will usher the genre into a new era and on to a new generation.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
01. Mama Knew Love
02. Cornbread, Fish & Collard Greens
03. Since I Seen’t You
04. Charlene
05. I’m a Mess
06. Comin’ from Where I’m From
07. Better Days
08. Lucille
09. Float
10. My First Love
11. Chyna Black
12. I Tried
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This review has been brought to you courtesy of MattA75’s fourth annual I'll Show You Mine If You'll Show Me Yours (ISYMIYSMY) write-off. I was paired with the lovely speeddemon531 for this year’s festivities. I was clearly impressed by Anthony Hamilton and hope that he too can find some room in his heart for my choice of Jim White’s No Such Place. Though, with that said, I know it’s a weird album so…luck be with him…
For links to other participants in ISYMIYSMY, please check out MattA75’s profile. This has been a blast. Again. In past years I’ve reviewed Deltron 3030 (paulyoungotti) and Frank Sinatra (foxy_shy). I can’t wait to see what I will end up with next year.
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