Hugo (28/09/2005 18:55:07)
Mr. 1980; thanx for a good and informative review. I haven't downloaded the album yet, because I'm using someone else's computer and I don't have iTunes or something else. I think I might wait for the CD! Anyway, I have listened to the clips at MSN and Yahoo, and I'm surprised that you didn't mention "My love is on Fire", because it sounds like a magnificent song to me, a real feel-good tune written and performed like only Stevie can do! So tell me; how's the song? Is it as great as it sounds like from the clips? :)

Mr. 1980 (28/09/2005 18:40:52)
(continued...)
And let me just say that the title song, which was wisely placed as the album's closer, is one of the most incredibly powerful and moving songs I've ever heard in ANY genre. The message and lyrics of that song are powerful enough, but add that haunting melody and those African drums and I LITERALLY GET CHILLS. What a masterpiece.

Now, on to the album's first two singles (which everybody's well familiar with by now anyway). I knew when I first heard it on the Oprah show that "From The Bottom Of My Heart" was going to become one of my favorite Stevie songs, and I can say without a doubt that it has. It fits perfectly on AT2L, and is one of the album's best songs. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for "So What The Fuss". Although I like the song, and enjoy listening to it, I just cannot categorize it as some of Stevie's best work. In fact, I think it's one of the weakest tracks on AT2L. Please don't bite my head off for saying that.

Before I close my review, I would like to add that as much as I love neo-soul, I grow tired of how many of today's young artists try to imitate Stevie and his musical style. I'm so happy that there is still a place for Stevie in the music scene after all these years, and it's great to see an old master step into today's modern soul scene and show 'em how it's really done.

Mr. 1980 (28/09/2005 18:39:06)
Okay, as promised, here is my "AT2L" review:

This album is Stevie Wonder's best collection of material for an album since "Songs In The Key of Life". As many have mentioned, there is not a single weak track on the album, and, believe it or not, NO FILLER!! I can't remember the last time I heard an album like this - So focused, and so FILLED to the brim with GREAT songs. And I mean GREAT SONGS. Stevie has truly outdone himself, and you come away from listening to this album wanting more. (It may be a bit early to be screaming "follow-up", but ... I want one!) A decade is a long time for an artist to be "out of the business" (as Stevie put it), and whatever work Stevie did do during that period was mostly movie soundtracks and duets (the music being mostly hit-or-miss in terms of quality). "A Time 2 Love" is the perfect return for him.

Even after just one listen, it is clear that Stevie has improved upon the things that have dragged his past albums down, such as the overly long running time of his songs, self-indulgent production, the absense of live instruments, sappy lyrics, meandering melodies, and lack of real focus. There is no way this album won't garner some serious attention for Stevie, and I will predict right now that he'll be placing some more Grammys upon his mantle very soon.

Stevie starts off the album with the intense, pounding rythym of "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved", letting us know that this time around he means business. It's a great song, with fantastic vocals, and a serious message. From there he dives right into the soft, funky, and VERY infectious "Sweetest Somebody", which has officially become one of my all-time favorite Stevie Wonder songs. If that song doesn't get you tapping your feet, then I suggest you check to make sure you're still alive. Next, Stevie keeps things rolling with one of his most beautiful, mature, and touching songs to date: "Moon Blue". I just cannot say enough about this song. It needs to be heard to be believed.

One of the things that delighted me about AT2L is it's raw funkiness. "Please Don't Hurt My Baby" (which sounds like a track right out of the 1970's) and "Positivity" in particular are some of his best funk work ever. I'm so glad to hear Stevie going back to old-school funk, and using some of his trusty old instruments like the clavinet and the vocoder, instead of that silly, cartoonish synth he used on "Characters" and such.

Another thing that delighted me about the album is the amount of humor Stevie has brought to it. Altough some songs are dealing with serious subject matter, Stevie has managed to offset them with some great little light moments, such as allowing himself to chuckle about that slightly off-key falsetto at the end of "Moon Blue", and those cartoon sound-effects cleverly placed in "Please Don't Hurt My Baby" (which, even without the sound effects, is a humorous, playful tune).

And let me just say that the title song, which was wisely placed as the...

wonderfan (28/09/2005 16:45:29)
Believe me Dave B,
You will enjoy this album!!!
I'm listening again to it on my ipod.

jeff (28/09/2005 16:09:03)
Hello!
Is there any bonus track in the japanese edition of ATTL!
Thanks

Dave B (28/09/2005 15:26:57)
wonderfan!

Although I haven't heard ATTL outside of the two single releases I agree w/you on the merits of ATTL. The ONLY thing I would disagree w/you about is the "dull heavy" feel of Conversation Peace. I personally think that the sonic characteristics of the recording itself is off the hook. These are subjective views that change from one listener to another so it is not a big deal. I hope you are right about the Album of the Year. What the Grammy committee has recognized as "talent" lately leaves much to be desired.

At any rate I am looking forward to Oct 18! It is only a few days away and then I'l add my two cents worth to this forum of my impressions on this release.

Mr. 1980!

Where's the review you spoke of? I want to read your impressions as well!

To the rest of the contributors of this forum:

THANK YOU for posting your impressions of ATTL! I'm using them to keep me psyched up for the 18th.

tootles!
Summer Soft
Dave B

James44 (28/09/2005 13:04:46)
BIG ANT,

I agree wholeheartedly with your "nominations." And thanks for your words.....to be honest, I've worked at my present job for 18 years and this was the most "blessed" moment ever when I was able to listen to A Time To Love. Not so much because I heard it before much of the world, but because I am a long time Stevie fan and I got to hear it PERIOD.......all the while getting paid to do it! :) I knew that everyone would be as excited as I was when I first heard it. I'll admit, it was fun posting all of my comments before everyone got a chance to hear it, and then knowing all the while they would say "Hey, he was right!" But the greatest thing in that was finding a site where people loved Stevie and his work and being able to share in the great event. You are right.....it would have been nice if we could have all heard it together!

BIG ANT (28/09/2005 12:00:10)
producer of the year:stevie wonder
song writer of the year:stevie wonder
best male vocalist jazz:stevie wonder
best male vocalist r&b:stevie wonder
album of the year:A time 2 love
I'm not waiting.james44 thanks for your insight that could have been bias being that your a fan your excitement got us hyped...not many fans can say they have an inside contact to hear the cd and give feedback.mr.1980 I WISH ALL OF US COULD HAVE HEARD THIS CD TOGETHER AND TOAST TO A CLASSIC!!!

Vic (28/09/2005 10:41:59)
So many things about the album that are great. Check the left to right positioning of Stevie and Aisha's voices on How Will I Know - just perfect; like they are standing next to one another. Very end piano note on True Love. No wonder he spent so much time on it. He's the best!

wonderfan (28/09/2005 03:52:16)
I like the dynamics in the way this album was mastered. It has a definite light, airy feel about it. Conversation Peace had a "dull heavy" feel that diluted the intricate instrumentation to a great extent.
His voice is in great shape and the melodies are lovely, familiar yet very new. One thing I loved about his classic 70s albums were how he made the instruments "talk to each other" in the background. That quirky unpredictable quality in his chord changes are back and the background vocal arrangements are stunning! Moon Blue is a DEFINITE CLASSIC as well as Sweetest Somebody I Know, Can't Imagine Love Without You, How Will I Know, and Shelter In The Rain. Really, there's not a bad cut in the album. His songwriting skills just floor me. Anyone else at his age would just rest on his laurels. But I think he's come up with the best album of his career, and that's saying alot! If this doesn't get nominated for and win the Grammy for album of the year, there is no justice in this world.

BaldEagle (28/09/2005 03:26:53)
This album is AWESOME! NO weak cuts and some true classics! I agree with Steeloneder about Moon Blue- You can hear Stevie chuckle after the riff! I Think that Passionate Raindrops is going to be one of the classics- WHAT a awesome song in lyric, arragnement and all!!!
This WILL be ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!! at the Grammys!

steeloneder (28/09/2005 00:00:40)
It is jaw-dropping! Every single track I waited, only guessing and imagining what each song would sound like. Just like everyone else was or will probably feel when they first hear it, I was almost ready to cry when it got to the last song because I wanted MORE!

Sweetest Somebody I Know is probably my favorite track, at first I didn't have a full appreciation for If Your Love Cannot Be Moved and Passionate Raindrops, and truthfully that appreciation still hasn't reached its peak, but I was able to listen to IYLCBM on my way to work and I kept zoning out because the lyrics will really capture your mind.

My Love is On Fire sounds like it is straight from the "shoulda been a Luther/Stevie duo" factory.

Moon Blue absolutely floored me, especially when he hit that high note toward the end. It sounded like he was just having fun.

Positivity, I like the extra drum kicks that he put into that. It all sounds very nice. Something that every Stevie fan should be happy with for at least 6 months before we start clamouring for more material. We know he's got it in there somewhere...;) Just give it all to us...:)~

Dave B (27/09/2005 21:49:54)
steeloneder!

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it!

I assume you have downloaded it and are singing along w/Steverino as you listen. What's your thoughts on Stevie's new release?

Later,
Summer Soft
Dave B

steeloneder (27/09/2005 21:35:19)
Dave B - You don't need an IPod to play this. If you have a PC and a CD burner you can download it from itunes and burn it to WAV format onto a CD. Cost is 10 bucks if you buy the whole album right there.

Dave B (27/09/2005 17:07:37)
Mr. 1980!

Glad to hear your pre-review!

I am still in the last century so I have to wait for the CD release next month since I don't have an iPod. I was sure once this dropped it would be vintage Steverino!

I already have chills down my own spine in anticipation of rhe 18th of October! I feel the same way I did when "Songs in the Key of Life" dropped- I KNOW ATTL is on par w/that release. There's something magical when Stevie releases new music- can't explain it.

Later,
Summer Soft
Dave B

Eric Anim (27/09/2005 15:53:34)
plz can anybody give me the email address of stevie wonder?
i was his driver when he came to Ghana last year.
i hope i will hear from you very soon.

Eric Anim

James44 (27/09/2005 15:25:24)
Mr 1980-

I knew you would feel this way! 'Ain't it great!!!!!

Cliff (27/09/2005 15:20:09)
Mr 1980,
It was definitely worth the wait.
Stevie, all's forgiven - now gon' get that follow-up ready (he he)!

Mr. 1980 (27/09/2005 15:14:10)
Hey all,
I just listened to the album. I am completely speechless. I am really blown away. What a work of art. EVERY SONG sends chills down my spine. I'd like to post a little review here, but I'm still processing it all. So much to take in!! This type of album is just what the world needs right now. And as frustrated as we all were getting with the delays, I can truly say it was worth the wait!! I'll be posting a more comprehensive review as soon as I get the chance.
Peace.

Vic (27/09/2005 14:36:04)
The album is terrific and many of the songs will become standards in years to come (How Will I Know,True Love, Shelter From The Rain and so on...). I can see a lot of these songs being covered by other artists but of course Stevie is the best! Moon Blue is my early favourite along with the funky Tell Your Heart I Love You. Worth the wait - wouldn't it be wonderful if he gave us another album with all the stuff he left off (or perhaps bonus tracks will appear).