Category: On The Line

Jaye & Foe – Bad Reaction is one of the lesser known swing albums from the award-winning brassy jazzy folk multi-instrumentalists Jaye & Foe. You will enjoy the brassy jazzy-tinged folk music with elements of swing jazz and gypsy jazz. The album uses such lively horn sections that are very jazzy and sophisticated.

Cloud Judgement is about a man who attempts to persuade a woman living on Regent’s Street on the West End of London, United Kingdom with his suaveness and slickness. All because his judgement is clouded and quite skewed. Only to find out to late that she had completely bowled over him and was way above his league.

Cloud Judgement deals with people who have bad judgement and skewed judgement with skewed view and contrite points. Some people have clouded judgement. Some people’s judgement is cloudy because they are not up to date with reality.

If you go past Shakespeare’s Circus and right at Regent’s Street, you’ll find a woman living with the world tucked at her feet. Her beauty knows no trying. Her gaze will hold you still.

This man who attempted to persuade the woman living on Regent’s Street on the West End of London, United Kingdom thought he could persuade her with his suaveness and slickness. However the man is overwhelmed and unprepared for the foot of this great bill because his judgement is clouded and quite skewed frankly. He was all undone and caught in a state of slight distress. He thought he was the strong one. He thought he could impress her with his suaveness and slickness. Not to mention swiftness. But she’s completely bowled him over. She’s overflowed his cup. She left him proud in awe and open-mouthed. Lying down but looking up at Cloud Judgement.

Bad Reaction told the story of a bad reaction Faye had when a doctor gave her a shot because she had a bad reaction to that creature in the sea that attacked her.

It was a day in late August. Faye was bathing in the sea. The air was hot and heavy like a lover’s breath on her. She felt a sharp and sudden pain that took her by surprise. She saw these tentacles arising and wrapped around her thigh. Faye said, “Not this time. Not this way. You’re not having me.”

Her ego’s black and blue. She is a physical disaster that she has grown accustomed to. Later Faye admits herself to the Emergency Room. And through the needles and the pain relief, the doctor says to her, “My dear, you’ve had a bad reaction. That’s how it seems to me. My dear, your bad reaction just shows your sensitivity.”

As the doctor administered the medicine, he said “You might hallucinate and realise the world around you just reflects your current state. I’ve seen your punch-bag heart stop beating during cardiac arrest. That’s 32 years of inhaling without exhaling the excess. You’re full of bad reactions to those creatures in the sea. Don’t push your bad reactions back on me.”

The song Brave told the story about a man who is trying to impress Faye for his own gain and personal satisfaction as he said the world was for his taking.

Faye met a man who said the world was for his taking. He used his kit and his charming wit in an attempt to impress her. His spirit was not one for breaking. She watched him punch the air and then the door. She was unimpressed. He’s used to getting what he wants. And bizarrely we all want more of him.

Outrageous statements turn the air blue sending shocks and shivers. Tingles of excitement through the ones who know that he’ll deliver. But then he comes a’ cropper as he battles with his beloved lover. Faye understand how this stuff happens. She watched him so bemused skipping past her on the floor.

He can attack, fight, bite, and drink through the night. Shout, swear, and drive fast to show his might. He spends half his lifetime on the phone trying to sort stuff out with his other half. Still he finds the time to make us laugh at his intoxicated history and its wavering integrity. Faye dislikes it but it still happens.

So that’s the man who said the world was for his taking. His spirit was not made for breaking. He laughs at himself in both wonder and depreciation. His quest for love and thrill seek dedication. This man is desperate for thrill seeking attention. He knows not how to separate. Faye wishes him all the best because he’s captivating company for her.

I rate this album 5/5*****!!

Julie Dexter – Dexterity is one of the lesser known soul-jazz albums of the year 2002 which people hardly even knew existed. Julie sung in the style of Marsha Ambrosius and Norah Jones with a super laid-back soul-jazz vibe, sound, and style throughout the whole record. The entire soundscape of this album is calming and subtle. Any fans of soul-jazz, easy listening, lounge music, and neo-soul should definitely buy this album if they have not already had the chance.

What Do I Do explained the story of a strained relationship Julie was in. She didn’t know what to do because her lover was had a change of heart.

Julie doesn’t know what she is going to do about her lover. She is staring at his face. He doesn’t say a word. Feelings have now surpassed. Those feelings she had for him are no longer special since he ignores her. He had a change of heart. He told Julie they should part and break up. That’s what went wrong. Was it his plan or was it how it was meant?

Julie must’ve got confused somehow along the way. She thought they had something special. But sadly she was mistaken. She learned her lesson from her heart and experience. It’s time to make a nеw start.

Ketch a Vibe is a super laid-back soul-jazz song about how Julie is searching for ideas and trying find some inspiration so she can write songs. The song is also about catching a vibe. You know. Catching that vibe. Catch a vibe while the feeling’s live. You don’t wanna lose it. You will know when the feelin’s right. The song is also.

Julie is waiting on an idea to appear inside of her head. She is tryin’ to find some inspiration wondering if it will appear
so she can write away in her songs. This is how she writes her songs. Does anybody here feel they need consultation? Take a piece of her advice and just feel. Ketch a vibe while the feelin’s live. You don’t wanna lose it. You will know when the feelin’s right. Don’t let it pass you by. You cannot afford to lose it. Don’t undermine this feeling.

Lyrics flow like deep waters. Rippling with emotion. She got a notion. It’s what she believes in. Because it’s the love that she is guilty of. When she floats, she sails like a ship on the ocean. When the tide is high, her heart rides in motion. When the sea is calm, she thinks of sweet melodies of Jupiter.

By Verse 3, she is putting down her ideas as she has found her inspiration. Now it has appeared Julie can write away.

[Verse 3]
Puttin’ down my ideas
Yes, I’ve found my inspiration
Now it has appeared
I can write away
Did anybody here
Reach that same destination
Vibes are what I feel

Anyone can easily tell Julie put her heart and emotion into her songwriting and her lyrics based off what inspired her by reading the lyrics to Verse 2.

[Verse 2]
Lyrics flow like deep waters
Ripplin with emotion, I got a notion
Don’t undermine this feelin’
It’s what I believe in
‘Cause it’s the love that I’m guilty of
When I float I sail like a
Ship on the ocean
When the tide is high
My heart rides in motion
When the sea is calm I think of
Sweet melodies of Jupiter
Let my mind drift with the breeze
Let my eyes see what I see
Let my thoughts fall from the sky
Let me ride, let me vibe

Faith is a piano driven song about Julie trying to find her faith and way in life. She explained how she was gonna take a chance in life. “You gotta have a little faith because fear only holds you back. If your heart’s in the right place, having faith will be a love that lasts. You can do it if you believe you can do it.” These are the messages of the song.

Julie got up one morning and she said to herself she gonna take a chance in life.Then she booked herself a one-way flight and then got on to a plane. She didn’t really know what she was doing but somehow it felt right. Julie said goodbye to foggy weather of the United Kingdom and England. But she knew this wouldn’t be forever. The place where she was born is part of what she has become. One English girl from Birmingham, England, UK. Her friends and family guided her. She can’t forget her mother.

Julie had her reservations weighted against temptations. But the will was stronger for temptation over yonder. She had to put aside her insecurities. Which she tried to hide of course. Now she is steppin’ out with her pride. Self-belief is the train she rides. And to her surprise those words that were wise led her to receive so much love, from the ATLiens, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia and then some. Julie thought the love she had was only home grown. She didn’t believe she could make it happen. Then she found out faith was the key. Everyone else could see that Julie could make it happen.

Julie explains how faith is the key in the lyrics to the chorus, bridge, and outro.

[Chorus]
Gotta have a little faith
‘Cause fear only holds you back
If your heart’s in the right place
Havin’ faith will be a love that lasts
Gotta have a little faith
‘Cause fear only holds you back
If your heart’s in the right place
Havin’ faith will be a love that lasts

[Bridge]
First, I couldn’t believe it
While everyone else could see it
That I could make it happen
I didn’t believe I could make it happen
Never thought I had it in me
To be the person people say I’d be
Then I found out faith was the key

[Outro]
Anything you wanna do
You can do it if you believe you can do it, yeah
Open up your heart and let faith be your friend
Let faith be your friend
Wash your fears away, wash your fears away, wash your fears
Wash your fears, wash your fears
You will find your pot of gold if it’s faith that you hold

Julie explains her heritage and ancestral background in these lyrics. It’s just she felt the need and it was necessarily for her to tell you about my roots and where she come from. Her parents are Jamaican. That makes her West Indian somehow.

My parents are Jamaican, that makes me West Indian
I can’t forget my mother more than provided
My friends and family guided me, yeah
I have to give props to my people there out Birmingham, not forgettin’ London

You gotta have a little faith because fear only holds you back. If your heart’s in the right place, having faith will be a love that lasts. Let faith be your friend. You can do it if you believe you can do it. You will find your pot of gold if it’s faith that you hold.

I rate this album 5/5*****!

Julie Dexter – Peace of Mind The EP is one of the lesser known soul-jazz EPs of the year 2000 which people hardly even knew existed. Julie sung in the style of Marsha Ambrosius and Norah Jones with a super laid-back soul-jazz vibe, sound, and style throughout the whole record. The entire soundscape of this EP is calming and subtle. Any fans of soul-jazz, easy listening, lounge music, and neo-soul should definitely buy this EP if they have not already had the chance. You have the deep poetic songs such as Burning. You also have inspirational songs such as Peace of Mind and Ketch a Vibe.

Ketch a Vibe is a super laid-back soul-jazz song about how Julie is searching for ideas and trying find some inspiration so she can write songs. The song is also about catching a vibe. You know. Catching that vibe. Catch a vibe while the feeling’s live. You don’t wanna lose it. You will know when the feelin’s right. The song is also.

Julie is waiting on an idea to appear inside of her head. She is tryin’ to find some inspiration wondering if it will appear
so she can write away in her songs. This is how she writes her songs. Does anybody here feel they need consultation? Take a piece of her advice and just feel. Ketch a vibe while the feelin’s live. You don’t wanna lose it. You will know when the feelin’s right. Don’t let it pass you by. You cannot afford to lose it. Don’t undermine this feeling.

Lyrics flow like deep waters. Rippling with emotion. She got a notion. It’s what she believes in. Because it’s the love that she is guilty of. When she floats, she sails like a ship on the ocean. When the tide is high, her heart rides in motion. When the sea is calm, she thinks of sweet melodies of Jupiter.

By Verse 3, she is putting down her ideas as she has found her inspiration. Now it has appeared Julie can write away.

[Verse 3]
Puttin’ down my ideas
Yes, I’ve found my inspiration
Now it has appeared
I can write away
Did anybody here
Reach that same destination
Vibes are what I feel

Anyone can easily tell Julie put her heart and emotion into her songwriting and her lyrics based off what inspired her by reading the lyrics to Verse 2.

[Verse 2]
Lyrics flow like deep waters
Ripplin with emotion, I got a notion
Don’t undermine this feelin’
It’s what I believe in
‘Cause it’s the love that I’m guilty of
When I float I sail like a
Ship on the ocean
When the tide is high
My heart rides in motion
When the sea is calm I think of
Sweet melodies of Jupiter
Let my mind drift with the breeze
Let my eyes see what I see
Let my thoughts fall from the sky
Let me ride, let me vibe

Burning uses a calming world music based soundscape with the drums, bass, and animal noises which add to the jungle effects. World music meets soul-jazz on the deep poetic Burning. Julie sings about how she yearns to take control of this flame inside of her which is something she can no longer hide.

Oh how Julie years to take control of this flame inside of her. Oh how it burns, how it burns. She finds this flame dances in circles in her mind. This feeling inside is something she can no longer hide. It is making her weak. She can hardly speak. And it’s something she cannot explain. This is something that has taken a hold of her. It’s so hard to conquer this feeling.

The calming inspirational song Peace of Mind explained how people have to find a way to find their own piece of mind.

We ourselves gotta find a way to get our own peace of mind. Of the many things in our life that we ask, one of them is reassurance. Sometimes it can be a heart rendering task to ask reassurance at any point in life. And we’re too afraid to show it. What we’ve been searching for and what we’ve been yearning for are almost always the same things. I hope one day we’ll find it.

Of the many things in our life that we ask one of them is understanding All we need is someone’s helping hand. For them to show their love and kindness. Of the many things in our life that we ask. What we’ve been searching for and what we’ve been yearning for are almost always the same things. I hope one day we’ll find it. Will we find peace of mind?

Sweet Melodies is a sweet soul-jazz song filled with sweet melodies for all to enjoy. Especially at night around a fire. The song is sung in rich harmony. The song is a Julie Dexter & Mykey Supa duo. Philosophies are super. The song was about two lovers who were separated from each other trying to reconnect with one another.

Mykey Supa told Julie Dexter to remember him. Then she sent him letters telling him how much she misses his presence. Thanks for the memory is what they tell him. The pen will be the key for her. When other women say they want him to bust material to enable them before. That’s why other women can’t chill with him. It must be jealousy. Because Mykey Supa like a zealot quick with zealous-y. He is very zealous. Julie ate a melody. Awritten track come like celery. The soup’ll add flavor kinda lemony. Mykey will breathe into the African, Israeli, and the Yemeni.

Julie is aware of the hard times they are living in. She has been singing the same song ever since then. Circumstance never change. But the blues still remain. Everybody’s taken.

The lyrics Mykey Supa sung are quite riveting and deep. He brought that neo-soul flavor in lyrics to his verse.

That’s why they can’t chill with me, it must be jealousy
‘Cause I’m like a zealot I’m quick with zealous-y
I’m very zealous, see? Hey
You ate a melody, written track come like celery, celery
The soup’ll add flavor kinda lemony
I breathe into the African, Israeli, and the Yemeni

What Do I Do explained the story of a strained relationship Julie was in. She didn’t know what to do because her lover was had a change of heart.

Julie doesn’t know what she is going to do about her lover. She is staring at his face. He doesn’t say a word. Feelings have now surpassed. Those feelings she had for him are no longer special since he ignores her. He had a change of heart. He told Julie they should part and break up. That’s what went wrong. Was it his plan or was it how it was meant?

Julie must’ve got confused somehow along the way. She thought they had something special. But sadly she was mistaken. She learned her lesson from her heart and experience. It’s time to make a nеw start.

I rate this EP 5/5*****!!

The Souljazz Orchestra – Manifesto is of the most politically and socially conscious soul jazz albums with a heavy of sense of political awareness and social awareness especially with songs such as Kapital, Parasite, People People and Interested Benevolence. Manifesto is their most political album. The horn section is very lively and vibrant. The album is very Afrobeat.

Kapital is one of the many songs on the album with a heavy of sense of political awareness and social awareness. The band shows their politically conscious side and socially conscious side during the song. The band exposes how rich people exploit poor people for manual labor. The song has a very anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, and anti-establishment stance.

Rich people offer poor people jobs and act like holy saviors when what rich people are really doing is exploiting poor people for manual labor. Rich people exploit poor people by making them work in a factory, sweatshop, on a plantation, and even coerced into prostitution. But some of us are more equal than others. That’s what they say.

These lyrics on Verse 1 and Verse 2 explain how rich people exploit the poor people.

[Verse 1]
Rich man says come work for me oh
Take care of you your family oh
Rich man act like holy savior
Exploit the poor man for manual labor
He make the poor man work in factory
(Work on work, work on work.)
He make poor women work in sweatshop
(Work on work, work on work.)
He’ll make the poor man work on plantation
(Work on work, work on work.)
He’ll make poor women work prostitution
(Work on work, work on work.)

[Verse 2]
He’ll poor man tense, him stick oh in hand
(Kapital make the world round oh)
Keep rich man ahead, poor man behind
(Kapital make the world round oh)
Him promise palace, give poor man box
(Kapital make the world round oh)
Promise milk and honey, give poor man shit food
(Kapital make the world round oh)

Interested Benevolence is another one of their politically and socially conscious songs on the album. Anti-imperialism is the theme of this song. The band takes an anti-imperialist stance against countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. And even friendly good old Canada.

The United States of America acts like liberators of freedom while acting as imperialists when they hijack other countries for resources and terrorism. The United Kingdom acts like liberators of freedom while acting as imperialists when they hijack other countries for resources, currency, and imperialism. They are/were imperialists.

If a country has gold, then they will come. They will take whatever they can. If a country has trouble, they will come to the rescue. At least sometime but not always. But if country has nothing, they will not come. Most of the times if a country has trouble, they will turn a blind eye. No one notices Uganda, Cambodia, Rwanda, or Sudan.

These lyrics explain how imperialist countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom will hijack other countries for resources.

[Verse 2]
If country has gold
(Them gone come. Them gone come.)
If country has trouble
(Them gone come. Them gone come.)
Well them come to the rescue
(Them gone come. Them gone come.)
Them take what them can
(Them gone come. Them gone come.)

But if country has nothing
(Them no come. Them no come.)
And if country has trouble
(Them no come. Them no come.)
Then turn a blind eye
(Them no come. Them no come.)
Don’t pay no mind
(Them no come. Them no come.)

No one notice Uganda
(Why oh, why oh.)
No one notice Cambodia
(Why oh, why oh.)
No one notice Rwanda
(Why oh, why oh.)
No one notices Sudan
(Why oh, why oh.)

I rate this album 5/5*!!

Alesha Dixon – The Alesha Show is a series of jazz-influenced concert songs with a huge incorporation of cabaret music divulged. The album is similar to a Lou Bega album but is more extravagant with more vibrance, extravagance, and pizzazz. Alesha attempts to become extravagant and noticeable even if she is trying too hard at times. Nevertheless her singing is on point. Upbeat is one word to describe this album although that may be a bit of an understatement. Of course the album is a little risqué with songs such as Italians Do It Better and Ooh Baby I Like It Like That. The sounds of pop and swing meet each other on this album.

The Boy Does Nothing is a song explained how Alesha’s man is a bad dancer with two left feet whose rhythm’s go go go. His bad dancing drives her up the wall with much annoyance.

Alesha has got a man with two left feet who can’t dance. When he dances, he dances not to the beat. Alesha really thinks that she let him know that his rhythm’s go go go. He never cleans up his dancing rhythm and syncopation. He never brushed up.

I saw you at the corner, Her vibe kicked in when she saw him at the corner in a real nice suit. She asks him for a dance. He said yes. She’s gonna feel the beat within her soul. Alesha needs a man to take control. If the man can dance, he gets a second chance. Everybody hit the rhythm. It’s on tonight. Let the melody blow you away.

Chasing Ghosts is a deep emotional and spiritual swing jazz song where Alesha believes ghosts are haunting her soul inside. She sings about she has been chasing a ghost that doesn’t exist. The story to the song is like a dark fantasy.

Hide Alesha Dixon from the glitter, glitz, glory, and fame. The part of her that can dissolve because she doesn’t wanna feel bitter and taste it deep within her soul. Alesha Dixon is just a girl who dreamt of singing. Who wants the adulation most? What is she trying to conform to? Why is she making friends with ghosts? There are so many questions that need to be answered.

It’s haunting her soul. She is scared and alone. Alesha has been running away because there is no way to resolve this problem she is facing. How did she get here? How can she get home? The story is written before she could breathe.

Sometimes she drifts away and melts into another place. It’s a fraction of her mind. She meditates. She finds the light. It is part of giving time to get the best she can in life. No more turning back now because Alesha is where she should be. No longer is she lost in a dark fantasy.

Shake explains how Alesha likes to take control and be in charge in a relationship. She likes to be in charge of her man in their relationship. The only time her man can tell her what to do is when they are dancing together. Control and dominance are the themes of this song.

Alesha Dixon is a little lady with electric fever. All the guys run and hide because they’re afraid of this pioneer. She is an irrepressible little lady who walks on dangerous ground.

Alesha tells her man to stop bossing her around. She tells him the only time he can tell her what to do is when they are dancing together. She tells him, “The only time you can tell me what do is when we’re dancing. Take this chance right now to be my leader.” Then Alesha convinces him to take the lead while dancing and to take this chance right now by saying, “Take this chance right now to be my leader. Lay it on me now. Make me smile from ear to ear. Shake me up and break me down. I’ve got my dancing shoes on so make me move ’til I cry out like a hound.”

[Pre-Chorus]
The only time you can tell me what do is
When we’re dancing

[Chorus]
Take this chance right now to be my leader
Lay it on me, wow, make me smile from ear to ear
Shake me up and break me down
I’ve got my dancing shoes on so make me move
‘Til I cry out like a hound

Alesha wonders if she can relive her life and release all the pain inside because she wants to love again. In other words, she wants to be in love again. That is the synopsis of Can I Begin.

Alesha has been holding on pretending like nothing’s wrong. There’s many things she wants to seem. However life’s getting colder since she broke up with her previous lover. Can Alesha begin to relive her life and release all the pain inside of herself? She wants to be love again. Everyday is a different vibe. Up and down like a fairground ride. Overdone now. How can she begin to love again?

I’m Thru explained how Alesha was through with love. The song really captured her true feelings and emotions about love. She explains why she is through with love.

In terms of lies and filth, Alesha doesn’t amount to much. Her soul is sugar sweet with an angelic touch. Alesha would like to give every single boy who thinks she is worth a try one punch in the eye. She has had enough of giving. Now she is on the take. Alesha is changing her religion for her poor heart’s sake because she had it up to here with love. She’ll take a running jump if any boy comes near. Alesha is through with love. It didn’t do much for her. As if you really care.

She had the chance to think about the whole shebang and come to the conclusion that love is not her thing. A word to the wise, keep out of sight. Her bark ain’t worth the bite. It seems that cupid’s arrow always hits the board. Alesha plans to boldly go where no girl’s gone before. She is packing up and heading out the door.

All Out of Tune is about her relationship with a man that has gone all wrong. To leave a good man is hard. That’s what some ladies say. She explains why she and her man cannot be together.

Alesha really wants to love her man but she don’t know how. Can’t he hear how it’s playing? Like guitars with broken strings. There’s never any harmony. They both know the sounds of a long goodbye. She doesn’t have to say it. Just listen to the words of this song.

The truth is that their relationship never should’ve gone this far. And their relationship never would’ve been this hard. But Alesha was never in love. Now it’s all out of tune between Alesha and her man. She’ll be leaving him soon because it’s all out of tune. This is the end.

Can’t you hear the lyrics, the words, and melodies? They’re sharp and cut too deep. The sound is piercing. His heart keeps breaking and she can’t take it. The song’s still playing but they’re both all out of tune.

She doesn’t wanna break his heart anymore. But she can never give him what he is asking for. He has never done Alesha wrong. To leave a good man is hard. It’s harder if they stay here and just deny. They can’t be together and they both know why.

Alesha gets in touch with her musical roots with these lyrics.

[Bridge]
See, I don’t really wanna sing this part
All I wanna do is make it stop
But the song plays on, the song plays on and on and on and on…

[Chorus]
Now it’s all out of tune, between me and you
Can’t you hear the music?
I’ll be leaving soon, cause it’s all out of tune
Can’t you hear the lyrics, the words and melodies?
They’re sharp and cut too deep, the sound is piercing
And the song keeps playing, your heart keeps breaking
And I can’t take it, the song’s still playing but we’re all out of tune

I rate this album 5/5*****!!