Despite popular belief to the contrary,
soul music was alive and well through much of the 1980s and '90s, but while Southern specialist labels like
Malaco and
Ichiban were still giving traditional
R&B shouters a place to be heard, most of their records were made on the cheap with synths and drum machines taking the place of live bands and imaginative productions and arrangements. Thankfully, a new generation of
soul enthusiasts has gotten into the act, attempting to capture a more dynamic and sympathetic sound on-stage and in the studio, with
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings providing the new
soul scene with a genuine breakout success.
Lee Fields may never sell as many records as
Jones, but his album
My World is one of boldest and most imaginative to emerge from the new
soul revival. Most of
Fields' earlier albums have focused on his vocal resemblance to
James Brown, but
My World allows him to show off other aspects of his musical personality without blunting the raw and passionate edges of his vocal style. Rather than ape
the J.B.'s,
Fields and his backing band
the Expressions conjure up a cooler, sophisticated sound that more closely resembles the
Chicago and
East Coast soul styles of the '60s while adding a percolating
hip-hop rhythmic undertow on some tracks (particularly
"Do You Love Me [Like You Say You Do]" and the title cut). While the arrangements are tight and elegant, complete with horns, strings, and vibes,
Fields isn't afraid to get gritty on these tracks, and the finished product shows a broader range and a smoother delivery than his early-'90s sides for
Ace; even though
Fields is clearly more than just a
James Brown acolyte, he can deliver a similar degree of heat and force. The instrumental selections
"These Moments" and
"Expressions Theme" give the band a well-deserved opportunity to show what they can do, but it's when
the Expressions lock in with
Fields on strong but pleading numbers like
"The Only One Loving You" and a spectral version of
"My World Is Empty Without You," or more socially conscious tunes like
"Money I$ King" that
My World hits its highest points and
Lee Fields shows himself to be one of the most compelling
soul singers at work today. ~ Mark Deming
