José James
Love in a Time of Madness
Release Date: Feb 24, 2017
Genre(s): R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B
Record label: Blue Note
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy Love in a Time of Madness from Amazon
Album Review: Love in a Time of Madness by José James
Very Good, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 7.3/10
Modern jazz fans have a right to feel possessive about the singer José James. In the last decade, he's been one of the suavest vocal improvisers on the scene. His 2015 album devoted to songs made popular by Billie Holiday, Yesterday I Had the Blues, sounded to me like the most soulful tribute to come out during Lady Day's centennial. Steeped as he is in jazz, James has also shown a restlessness with strict genre categorization.
Based on rating 6/10
As he went into making his fourth Blue Note release, José James envisioned the follow-up to the Billie Holiday tribute Yesterday I Had the Blues as a double album. It was going to be split between love songs and outward-looking material inspired by persistent injustices and increasingly visible and frequent attacks upon persons of color in the U.S. At some point, James scrapped the second half of the concept, too distressed to see it through.
Opinion: Very Good
A weekly roundup of must-hear music from The Times' music staff. This week's picks include the latest from beloved, funk-leaning local star Thundercat, as well as works from Ella Mai, José James and Guy Clark. Thundercat, "Drunk" (Brainfeeder) Although the artist's primary instrument is the electric bass, he's not the kind to rely on your standard four-string variety.
'Love in a Time of Madness'
is available now