 NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTTHUMBNAILIMAGE
|
Coko - Grateful 404 |
| Former SWV front lady, Cheryl ‘Coko’ Clemons, has another go at a solo album and this time it’s Gospel affair. Her previous solo effort spawned the hit “Sunshine” but as an overall album – you felt that the New York native was still finding her feet. With this project “Grateful” Coko seems to have tied up the loose ends and kept her signature R&B approach but enveloped it with a helping of good old Gospel which is her musical root. The emphatic opening cut “Look At Me” affirms her state of peace she’s in which soon heralds a vibrant horns section on the catchy Church number “Mighty God” produced by the renowned Donald Lawrence. “Endow Me” may start off slow but as you delve into the 7 minute-long cut, the riff exchanges between Coko and her guests Faith Evans, Fantasia and Lil’ Mo is breathe-taking and a fitting tribute to the Clark Sisters’ hit. For the R&B massive you can’t ignore the dancefloor filler “Clap Your Hands” or the retro-sampled “I Get Joy” which producer Shep Crawford (Whitney Houston, Tamia) co-worked on. He also added a Pop spin to Coko’s sound on the moody ballad “Please Don’t Forget”. Other productions come by Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy) with “The Reason” “I Promise” and the luscious R&B smooth groover “Grateful”. Without straying too far from her hit musical stylings she is known for, Coko certainly heralds a new direction in her career and as an album; she creates a good bridge between mainstream appeal and a firm Gospel sound base. By DJ El Niño © November 2006 |
|