Voodoo

01/25/2000 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Billy Johnson Jr

There's not one radio-hit single on this album, and that's a good thing. Instead, Voodoo lives up to its title's definition with 13 extended mixes of hypnotic, rhythm & blues jam sessions that are the antithesis of today's simplistic pop R&B. There's no denying the live bass guitar, trumpets, and handclaps throughout. D'Angelo's humming vocals even have a raw, unpolished edge that adds to the project's authenticity.

Every song warrants attention. Behind the hype of "Untitled"'s buck-naked video, is an incredibly sincere tribute to the Artist, in his own slow, rock guitar-ed fashion. "One Mo Gin" and an untainted husky remake of Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Luv," will also keep the women smiling. Despite his whisper-y sexy skats, and rapport with the ladies, however, Voodoo's depth exceeds pulling honeys. The rumbling hip-hop grooved "Devil's Pie," mid-tempo grind "GreatDayInDaMornin'," and angelic "Africa" with its tribal tone, offer much-needed encouragement. Plus, the shortest song on the album is five minutes long; all are fashioned as extended remixes complete with climatic grand finales.

Though nothing on Voodoo encompasses the magnetism of his 1995 debut single "Brown Sugar" or remake of smokey ballad "Lady," Voodoo is unquestionably a respectable follow-up.