
If it wasn't for a recent feature on USA Today, I might just have slept on Allen Stone. Though he independently released his debut back in 2009, I had surprisingly not yet heard about what might just be one of the most soulful cats around. Soulful enough to convince high-profile bass player Calvin Turner - together with Raphael Saadiq's whole rhythm section - to perform on his self-titled sophomore effort, due out October 4th. Of course, even if I was tempted to, I couldn't post all of the stellar material taken from the upcoming record, that he already made available online for our listening pleasure. You might have to head over to his Facebook page to hear more. But what I'm pretty sure of, is that "Unaware", a personal favorite, will be enough to capture the greatness of this funkilicious 24 year old singer/songwriter. Don't forget the name, as I'm sure this guy is about to blow with that obvious "next big thing in music" stamp written all over his face.
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Un nouveau talent Blue Eyed Soul en chasse un autre sur mysoul, puisque le hasard a voulu que la lecture d'un article de USA Today, consacré aux artistes émergents sur lesquels il faudra compter en cette rentrée musicale 2011, m'invite à découvrir un certain Allen Stone. Il faut dire que le news mag n'y est pas allé avec le dos de la cuillère pour nous présenter ce quasi inconnu de 24 ans et par la même occasion, titiller ma curiosité. Comparé d'entrée à Stevie Wonder et Marvin Gaye à l'aube de la sortie de son album éponyme, voilà qui pose le bonhomme ! Et nécessite forcément à une oreille attentive mais néanmoins circonspecte comme la mienne d'aller vérifier si l'intéressé est digne de recevoir un tel concert d'éloges.