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Jun 6, 2019By paying proper homage to his soul elders, while also employing more distinctly subtle singing and a greater relatability via his plainspoken lyrics, Smith sets himself apart with 1634 Lexington Avenue.
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Jun 6, 20191634 Lexington Avenue is the album Smith through his wandering and woodshedding has been promising for decades now. It is retro to be sure, but free of artifice or false appropriation. He is personally invested in these songs and it shows. Essential.
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MojoJun 6, 2019His vocals reverberate with the passion of Bobby Womack, the sensuality of Al Green and the sincerity of Curtis Mayfield. The music, an interlocking web of bass and drums, fanfaring horns and wah wah, carry his romantic ballads and socially engaged protest. [Jun 2019, p.95]
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Jun 6, 2019Chances are that giving 1634 Lexington Avenue a spin will lead to further enjoyable listens for retro soul fans. Ultimately, though, Carlton Jumel Smith's album will probably remind people to pull out their old copies of Al Green's Greatest Hits, Curtis Mayfield's Superfly, and Motown late 1960s/early 1970s compilations.