Angela Johnson They Don’t Know
At some point, people are gonna realize the neo-soul thing is not just all hype. […]
At some point, people are gonna realize the neo-soul thing is not just all hype. There’s something real happening. Quite possibly, that moment might come soon after hearing They Don’t Know, which neatly fills the space between hip-hop, R&B, jazz and downtempo. The multi-talented Johnson raises obvious comparisons to Peven Everett. Like Everett, she produces, arranges and plays keys, in addition to singing. Johnson’s sound is fairly contemporary-DJ Spinna produces a track. Still, at times, an ol’ school juke-joint feel creeps into the mix, especially on the N’Awlins-y blues romp “Cryin’ Over U.” Johnson’s voice is strident without being overpowering, while her affinity for deeply soulful grooves and subtle musical nuances makes listening to this album the second or 20th time just as good as the first.