Record Review: Derek Samuel Reese
by Emily Taylor | May 1, 2011 | Reviews
Derek Samuel Reese
Brooklyn, NY
“Heart and soul, to the tune of music”
Even if you’re convinced you don’t like R&B music, listen to Derek Reese. The great thing about the album is that each element – the drums, the guitars, and the vocals – is distinct, but they meld together at all the right moments to create a cohesive sound. Each track is full of soul, though a few stand above the rest.
“Come Over” gives listeners an idea of what to expect from Reese: soaring vocals, clean drumming and killer acoustic guitars. You also get a little surprise in a short but sweet electric guitar solo. “Compatible” is definitely the track where Reese’s voice shines. He’s singing about a girl, his best friend, telling him she thinks they’re incompatible, which makes him feel like “an umbrella when the wind blows it inside out.” The lyrics, vocals, and instrumentals work well to convey the heart he puts in his artistry.
“Mama Reese,” then, helps finish the album and solidifies the singer as a soulful R&B artist – it’s the best example of his passion for music. He puts it all out there: all you have to do is push play and you’ll hear it. (ACE Records)
Songs composed, arranged, produced, engineered and mixed by Derek Reese // All instruments performed by Derek Reese // Mastered by Don Grossinger.
by Jim Testa
2011
Derek Samuel Reese really impresses with this lovely, lulling, and gently melodic acoustic soul album.
Derek not only wrote and sings every last song, but also produced, composed, mixed, and played all the instruments as well. Derek's smooth and reassuring vocals go over well. Ditto his jaunty and easy dexterity with a guitar. Better still, Reese's songwriting possesses a warmth, thoughtfulness, and intelligence that's both affecting and engaging in equal measure. The speedy tempos and snappy beats keep things pleasantly hoppin' throughout. A total treat!
DEREK SAMUEL REESE:
Even at the age four, his music talents were evident. As a child, Derek Reese was involved in drum and piano lessons. His love for music, passed down from his family of successful musicians, was apparent for his whole life. He recorded his first single, “Big Boy,” when he was only 8 years old. He cites a wide variety of influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Stevie Wonder to Dizzy Gillespie. And his interesting mix of pop, soul and R&B shine through on his self-titled album.
He played every instrument on this album, as well as recorded, and engineered it himself. His passions become clear when listening to his songs. Derek Reese’s voice shines through beginning at the first track, backed by a truly remarkable mix of rock, soul and R&B. His music is soothing and relaxing. Most of the songs had a slow tempo, and a soft dynamic.
At one point, it seemed as if some of the songs shared all of the same characteristics, but with subtle changes in each. Slow acoustics, steady drumbeats and sometimes a little electric guitar riff sprinkled in. Although Derek Samuel Reese is a talented musician, whether he is on drums, guitar or vocals, I was only mildly impressed with this first full-length release. At first listen, I liked it, but the songs started to sound the same and lyrics became repetitive. After a while, I found myself bored with this album. All in all, in small doses, this could be nice, but as a whole it fell a bit short.
In A Word: Pleasant
Create Your Own Website With Webador