Good Things

Good Things proves that Aloe Blacc’s solid 2006 debut Shine Through was just a warm up for greater things. A talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a warm, buttery smooth voice, Blacc (a.k.a. Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins) brilliantly soundchecks vintage R&B with such subtlety that he never comes across as a retro act. From his thoughtful socially conscious lyrics to the superb contemporary production, he’s clearly a modern soul man. There’s not a bad cut on the album but some clearly rise to the top, such as the leadoff single “I Need a Dollar,” the funky, wah-wah driven “Hey Brother,” and the irresistible “Miss Fortune,” which merges an addictive keyboard hook with a rubbery reggae groove. Other standouts include “Green Lights” and “You Make Me Smile,” a couple of sultry slices of positivity, the gospel-flavored “Mama Hold My Hand,” and an inspired reworking of the Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.” Blacc took his time delivering his sophomore release but this was certainly worth the wait. Good Things indeed.