With all the hype and fast tracking to fame, it’s astounding that the rest of the Coming Home holds up to such unreasonable expectations. Bridges pays homage to an era so judiciously and so personally that it’s hard to fault him as derivative.
All the emphasis on getting the realness down doesn't distract from Bridges's butter-smooth vocals and inventive phrasing. Instead, the understated arrangements allow us to really hear his voice, unadorned by excessive studio shaping.
The vibrant ‘Shine’ is filled with languid horns and sweet doo-wop backing vocals. Rolling ragtime piano (‘Flowers’) and hip-shaking melody (‘Better Man’) pick up the pace and there’s bluesy sass in the shape of the upbeat ‘Twistin And Groovin’.
I first heard Leon on NPR about 6 months ago. Instantly became a fan. Yes, the comparisons to Sam Cooke are accurate, and to be fair, he'sI first heard Leon on NPR about 6 months ago. Instantly became a fan. Yes, the comparisons to Sam Cooke are accurate, and to be fair, he's embracing it. There's nothing not to like here....this album is short and sweet, and packed with melody and soul. I'm also a sucker for doo-wop background singers;) It's the perfect summer record.
Leon Bridges has loads of talent, and I wish him nothing but the best in his career.
Buy this album. You won't regret it.…Expand
Bought this record on vinyl in a whim when I heard the single Coming Home. I just loved the soul I heard and he reminds me of artists like SamBought this record on vinyl in a whim when I heard the single Coming Home. I just loved the soul I heard and he reminds me of artists like Sam Cooke. I'm very glad I bought the record, he is a truly talented artist and quite refreshing although this style is of course well known.…Expand
While music critics love to drool over f-bomb, porn-shock-ghetto artists Kanye, Kendrick Lamar, Run the Jewels and Jay-Z - all artists tryingWhile music critics love to drool over f-bomb, porn-shock-ghetto artists Kanye, Kendrick Lamar, Run the Jewels and Jay-Z - all artists trying to one-up each other. It is so refreshing to hear something cool, clean and retro-new from a young black artist. Yes, it does sound like 60s soul, but that is a good thing. I can slide these songs into my daily playlist and have my kids in the same room or even play in the background while working. Well done Leon Bridges for putting out an album that is ironically new in the modern era of not-so-great, downer r&b music.…Expand
An interesting debut that seemed a little too reliant on cliched lyrics and replicating the late 1950s-early 1960s Soul sound it was going forAn interesting debut that seemed a little too reliant on cliched lyrics and replicating the late 1950s-early 1960s Soul sound it was going for to be truly great. Highlights are limited to the first four tracks.…Expand
This isn't a bad album but there are some major flaws. Leon Bridges was clearly going for a old school soul album which he hit straight on theThis isn't a bad album but there are some major flaws. Leon Bridges was clearly going for a old school soul album which he hit straight on the head. The flaw being that he didn't give it any personality. Its a cookie cutter album of what soul is if that makes any sense. The tracks are forgettable and a little boring at times.…Collapse
I found this record so boring that I had to dig out the album cover to remember this man's name for this review. Leon Bridges is sort of likeI found this record so boring that I had to dig out the album cover to remember this man's name for this review. Leon Bridges is sort of like Sam Cooke....only without the magical personality and without the excellent backing sounds of the Wrecking Crew. With contemporary vocalists like Saun & Starr, Mayer Hawthorne, Michael Kiwanuka, Charles Bradley, Aloe Blacc, Sonny Knight, Lee Fields, Naomi Shelton, and Venice Dawn on the scene, a soul singer needs tons of personality to stand out in the crowd. Taking a few instrumental cues from the Daptones, Adrian Younge, The Electric Peanut Butter, Co., The Sorcerers, Lord Newborn, Anitbalas, or the Heliocentrics might be useful to this young performer. The history of Jump Blues, R&B, Soul, Funk, and World music is there for the taking. Bridges only need reach out in any direction for a piece of this history to serve his purpose. A year of being homeless might also harden him for this role as well. Music junkies and serious crate diggers find this sort of half-assed, Uncle Tom fluff offensive. While any artist that is able to secure a record contract with a major label deserves a certain amount of respect from all of us, an artist as clueless about the depth of his cultural heritage as Bridges is should be treated with an amount of bewilderment and contempt. Anyone reading this review that enjoyed Bridges' snippets on TV ads should download this album rather than throw away good money on a copy of "Coming Home" on vinyl like I did.…Expand
