Update: I had hoped to go back and revisit this old post today being that Mel is opening up for Jay Sean tonight at The Pool at The Harrah’s Resort, but since I was terribly busy today and I no longer have any manhood that unfortunately did not happen today. Nonetheless, I always meet a lot of wonderful artist…some major, some underground, and some relatively unknown. The thing that they usually always have in common is they’re all very talented. I wish I had more time to write about some of them, but being that i’m usually very busy or in today’s case i’m very busy and devoid of manhood that usually does not happen. Hopefully, one day it will…my mom would like that…and she would also like if I stopped being a manchild too. I’m currently working very hard to fix the latter. The very talented Mel Alston Jr. is one of the few R&B singers I know to the millions of rappers I know. Which is kind of sad as I always like to slip into my R&B alter ego from time to time. Mel, can usually be found performing all over the city so make sure you check him out on either facebook or twitter for updates. He’s a great performer with a great voice too, kind of reminds me of Raheem DeVaughn or John Legend a little. I’m also hoping this old post doesn’t need any more proofreading today because that is not going to happen.
I started very strong this morning and then kind of fizzled out after lunch, but anyway let’s bang through some of these posts. Let me start off by saying I love Bandcamp, it’s so damn fancy, plus it’s look cool and makes my job easier…you know completely unlike the fucking iTunes Store. So anyway STORY TIME!!! I saw Mel perform back at Vixion’s album release party, I thought he was talented and had a nice voice, but he seemed a little nervous. Wait, wait that was like the worst story ever, that was like a throwback bad story I would over hype in college and then they would have no substance. So I apologize for that, I had good intentions, i’m better than that, and you all deserve better than that. Getting back on track, I definitely didn’t even realize this was his mixtape nor R&B until I started listening to it. I was actually happy it was R&B…and good, it’s always refreshing to hear something different for a change. I spend so much time listened to rap, which is still my favorite type of music. However, I appreciate all types of music, so it’s nice to mix things up a little. Anyway, as far as the actual mixtape goes, I liked it a lot and my only complaints were the track listing and the mixing. In fact here’s the email I wrote Mel…i’m such a fucking nerd
As far as the actual mixtape I liked it a lot, my only complaints would be the tracklisting was fucked up. Which is a big pet peeve of mine, especially since I listen to a lot of music. The drums were a little hot on some songs too, but i’m not sure if that is my work computer or not. I’ll have to listen on my main system and have my producer listen to it to to figure out if it’s just me or the way it was mixed. You have a good voice with a modern yet, old school sound. It comes through on the songs and the beats you picked. I need to go back and listen to the actual content again, but I thought you had good varying content throughout the mixtape. I have mixed feelings about See Your Face, it’s kind of the song I typically don’t like due to the content. However, I kind of like it…but probably for the wrong reasons. It was kind of on some R. Kelly shit with the content, so I thought that was hilarious…and that probably wasn’t your intention. I bet a lot of people will like that song, but I think a lot of serious R&B fans might not like it. I just had to say that, but overall I liked the mixtape a lot. My advice would be to think about the type of R&B artist you want to be, and focus on making that type of music…and listening again as I was writing this I really liked Never Be The Same especially the sample, but the drums definitely sound really hot on that song.
All in all I thought it was a very good, refreshing music and I even took the liberty of fixing the tracklisting for Mel and all of you wonderful people. As far as the mixing goes, even though it could have been a bit better it was far from worst mixed mixtape I have heard ever, shit Ccelli complains about mixing all the time on ALBUMS. Everyone produces, but not nearly as many people can mix…well. However, it really is something that can make a difference, so a good engineer is a very valuable resource. ***COUGH*** UERADIO STUDIO AFFORDABLE RATES, 10 HOUR SESSIONS AVAILABLE***COUGH*** ***COUGH*** NR NR STUDIO ONE OF BEST IN HOUSE STUDIOS IN THE CITY WITH ONE OF THE BEST ENGINEERS/PRODUCERS, SMALLER SESSIONS AVAILABLE***COUGH*** You get the picture, gone are the days of piece of shit cassette quality mixing on even mixtapes. As their popularity has grown and they have become one of main vehicles for many artists to get music out to the people that means the mixing has to be better. Enough with all that yipping though, check out the mixtape, P.S.P. even though i’m not from Philly as Phrillz recently found out…so as always support good music. Especially, good R&B because that shit is definitely not easy to find. Mel is always performing through the city too, so make sure you check him out on Facebook and shit for dates. Tracklisting and link below for the tape.
1. Waking Up (Intro)
2. Can It Be
3. See Your Face ft. Astro
4. Broad Street
5. Sundress
6. All Grown Up ft. Jalima Shani
7. Roll Bounce
8. Never Be The Same ft. Leirow
9. Come Back To Me
10. Like Paradise (Sade Remake)
11. Let’s Getaway
12. Pretty Poison ft. Law
13. Sundress (Remix)
14. Carried Away
Download: Waking Up Vol. 1 (Mixtape) [Bandcamp] | Doc Link
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