The Ballad of Purple Saint James: Album Review
Aug 31
This is the first “non-christian” album I believe I have reviewed, and boy oh boy did I pick the best one to do my first on.
The Ballad of Purple Saint James is the third album by YahZarah (Dana Nicole Williams) and first on The Foreign Exchange record label (www.theforeignexchange.com). I first heard her name when listening to Little Brother’s album the Minstrel Show and though you like her voice you don’t really get to hear her shine. Well…
The Ballad of Purple Saint James is probably one of the best R&B albums I have heard, especially since Jill Scott’s “Who Is Jill Scott”. You can play this album from beginning to end and over and over again. If I can say this without it sounding cliche, the album is a classic album. Don’t stop reading let me explain.
The Ballad opens up with a big band sound (“Strike Up The Band”), it is a relatively short song, but one thing you will find out in that minute and a half is that this young woman can sing and she is taking musical risks in a music industry that is saturated with over production, lack of creativity, lack of vocals and lack of writing ability. In an industry where most have sold their souls to get a deal, to be on BET to get heavy radio play, The Ballad sticks to originality, creativity, real instruments and meaningful lyrics and WOW does it pay off.
By the second song you get the feeling that she has been around Janelle Monae. “Why Doncha Call Me No More” has an infectious beat, great vocals and an unusual sound for R&B. Sort of like it is modern but belongs in another era, either way your head is bobbing and slowly you are falling in love with Ms. YahZarah. The next song features the incredibly gifted Phonte, who is one half of rap group Lil Brother and one half of soul group The Foreign Exchange (thus the record label). Phonte goes into M.C mode and flows wonderfully over the beat, it sort of has a grown folks club beat to it.
Songs such as “Come Back As a Flower”, “Dedicated” and “Shadow” have heavy jazz influences. Particularly “Dedicated” while “Come Back As a Flower” happens to be one of my favorite songs on the album.
Songs such as “The Lie” and “Change Your Mind” are hard to define, sounds like a mix of En Vogue meets Shelia E, meets Joss Stone especially “Change Your Mind”. They have a pop appeal, with pulsating beats, you know those fun songs from the late 80′s?
Then comes songs such as “All My Days” featuring the underrated Darien Brockington, “Last to Leave”, “Have a Heart” and my favorite song (which I have played about 50 times) “Starship”. “Have a Heart” picks off where Vivan Green left off on her first album, “All My Days” is one of the best duo’s in the last 10 years and “Starship” is a song in a league of its own (but so is Come Back as a Flower). The way she rides the baseline and licks on this song in Falsetto is beautiful. She shows out on this song, singing in so many different pitches that you have to wonder if someone else is with her.
I can’t give this album anything but 5 stars. Albums like Brown Sugar, Who is Jill Scott, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Embrya, Baduizm (which she maybe was heavily influenced by), Black Diamond and First Born Second, Van Hunt and now The Ballad are in my top 10 albums in this specific genre (if she would classify herself as such is something I don’t know). Go to www.theforeignexchange.comand purchase the album, or Itunes. Either way don’t go another weekend without it, you will regret you did 
Man, you threw a heavy list of albums that you compared her to. I’m definitely going to have to check her out. Anybody that calls Van Hunt one of their top 10 automatically gets credit in my book. Truly one of the most underrated albums and artists.
Detroit,
Van Hunt is that dude! Played it until I knew the pauses
. But yes this album is on that level, do you know of Zo!? I am going to review it next, very good album. Check it out at http://www.theforeignexchange.com
Lionel,
Your link is wrong. It should be:
http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com
You’ve got me interested.
I’m not hip to Zo either! I can’t wait to check them both out. There isn’t much that will add more excitement to me getting home from work than knowing have i have some exciting new music to check out.
After listening to some of the songs, I’m no longer that interested. It’s okay, but it would not be a classic to me.
Jon,
What would you put in classic category? Especially for the genre.
Detroit,
Jon is in Atlanta, they think Ciara can sing and TI can act
- Maxwell
- Lauryn Hill
- Jill Scott
I don’t recall names of their old albums, but they all have put out many classic singles.
BTW: TI and Luda should win a grammy. LOL
I meant Oscar and include Dre 3000 to that list of notables.
Maxwell – Urban Hang Suite and Embrya
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation
Jill Scott – Who is Jill Scott
Now the Miseducation is probably one of the greatest albums EVER released. I do mean EVER. It is not to far off from Thriller as it relates to singles carrying an album. She had at least 8 songs that could be the best song on most albums, so it is hard to mention in that breath, but The Ballad is Who Is Jill Scott level song for song.
I will give you that. I was kinda hesitant to list Jill Scott but I wanted to give you at least 3 to consider.
Lionel,
Ouch on the Ciara kick. That hurts. But this CD is definitely a winner. I have to give it a few more listens, and get it in my car while I’m driving to be able to confirm classic status. I’ll have to follow up on that. But a definite winner. I haven’t gotten the chance to get into Zo! just yet was in Bible Study at church until late and couldn’t dig in. Zo! is on the menu for tonight.
You got any more suggestions? I don’t really listen to too many of new artists, I’m stuck with the old cats Donnie Hathaway, Bill Withers and those guys. You familiar with an artist by the name of Donnie? His first cd is great, it’s called The Colored Section. Good stuff. Not on the level of classic like the albums that you’ve listed but definitely a good listen.
I have not Detroit.
Some of my favorites are:
Darien Brockington
Raheem Devaughn
Eric Roberson
Foreign Exchange
Dwele
Algebra
and just found out about Muhsinah
The music sounds late 70ish and early to mid 80ish. I hear a lot of prince influence, and samples taken from cuts back during this time frame.
Truth be told, the music doesn’t really move me, because the genres and styles she’s hitting on: BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
And as far as best album of all time, I’d have to go with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” That’s just my preference…
Black music has lost it’s soul. I’m not talking about literal soul, but cultural soul. Then again, this is what you have when none of the contemporary R&B singers aren’t coming from churches where traditional gospel music is played, if they do come out of the church at all.
Seekerman,
I disagree with your last statmement. Maybe “popular” Black Music but people like Maxwell, Sy Smith, Foreign Exchange, Jill Scott, Rapheal Saadiq, Ledisi, Lalah Hathaway, Kenny Lattimore, Kindred Family Soul, Algebra, Zo, John Legend, Musiq Soulchild, Bilal and quite a few others are doing great things and not selling out to the popular culture, staying true to the music. So you can maybe say popular radio but there are at least 30 artist I can name that still have the integrity of great music and lyrics without the compromise.
BTW I enjoyed the album and even more today than yesterday
I do take exception to the fact that you said she was listening to Jonelle Monae. It is the other way around and Jonelle herself has admitted that Yah is one of her influences.
I hope you know she started out in the church, so did
Ledisi, Sy Smith, Kindred etc.
The music industry as we knew it is no more. Cheep mindless music with repetitive beats is all you hear on popular radio.
Yahzarah is a breath of fresh air and FE is a great label for having her.
Barbara,
Thanks for that reference
. And yes a breath of fresh air indeed. Have you listened to FE’s new album? I also really like Bilal’s