Aaron Neville Albums (11)
'Bring It on Home... The Soul Classics'
Release Date 9/19/2006
Tracks 13
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
For Aaron Neville, the impact of Hurricane Katrina could only be expressed through music, specifically on songs that are uplifting, meaningful, and close to the heart. Bring It on Home...The Soul Classics is about recovery: a positive response not only to the natural disaster of the hurricane, but undoubtedly to the blasé attitude about it from the federal government. Tragedy can bring out the best in people, and Neville's disc not only aims to deal with his personal pain, but specifically reaches out to those who survived the storm the best way he knows how. These songs are familiar enough to deliver the listener a sense of warmth which hopefully opens the door to healing, grace, and power. Out of the 13 tracks, four are duets: with Mavis Staples on "Respect Yourself," Chaka Khan on "Let's Stay Together," brother Art Neville with David Sanborn for "People Get Ready," and Chris Botti on "Rainy Night in Georgia." Katrina's aftermath found other musicians reaching out to their audience as well, musicians who have created a few painfully triumphant releases like Dr. John & the Lower 911's Sippiana Hericane, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's reworking of Marvin Gaye's 1971 album What's Goin' On, and the various artists who contributed to Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast. It's safe to say Aaron Neville's Bring it on Home...The Soul Classics should be added to that list. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A generous single-disc, 18-song selection of Aaron Neville's late-'60s and early-'70s solo recordings for New Orleans producers Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn, Mojo Soul shows that Neville's emotive, tremolo-laden vocal style is not a recent approach. Neville's voice wavers, breaks, and bends in all the right places here, and if he isn't exactly a soul shouter in the Otis Redding mold, there is no denying his soulfulness, and when nestled into Toussaint and Sehorn's lush, swampy arrangements, the singing oozes up on you like sweet honey. Neville's signature tune, the beautiful "Tell It Like It Is," is here, along with the confidence and freedom of "Strutting on Sunday" and the Curtis Mayfield-like story-song "Hercules." Then there are the love songs, like the impressive "You Can Give But You Can't Take" and the elegant "Where Is My Baby," which make up most of the set. Love songs are Neville's true calling as a singer, and he mixes tenderness with regret and a kind of pure loneliness in his vocal approach, making these songs feel full of a whispered intimacy. A nice set, rich and varied. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Aaron Neville is not the type to go on singing Christmas songs like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" or "Jingle Bells." The deeply spiritual tone of his mellifluous tenor is here singing carols, beautiful carols that deeply reflect the character of the season. His interpretations of usual favorites like "Joy to the World" (with the Blind Boys of Alabama), "O Come All Ye Faithful," "The First Noel," and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" are complemented by more unexpected choices like "Ava Maria," "Mary's Boy Child," and "Go Tell It on the Mountain." There is one concession to the popular songbook here, in "White Christmas," but it is not only out of place here, but is simply a negligible version. Neville brings home the Christmas season and its good news origins with a quiet passion, a deep sense of reflection, and elegance. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Nature Boy: The Standards Album'
Release Date 7/1/2003
Tracks 12
Label Verve
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What The Critics Say
Aaron Neville's voice exists in that rarefied air occupied by only the most lyrical musicians, including Paul Desmond's alto saxophone and Miles Davis' muted trumpet. Sweet and throaty, reedy and always crying, it's capable of bewitching anyone within hailing distance -- including, in some cases, the singer himself. Nature Boy: The Standards Album, his first record for Verve, is naturally a jazz/vocal date; Neville tackled a dozen songs from the popular songbook, with accompaniment from a backing trio comprised of pianist (and arranger/conductor) Rob Mounsey, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Grady Tate (plus one or two appearances each from Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Ry Cooder on guitar, and Ray Anderson on trombone). Though he has never recorded an album of pre-rock standards before, over the four decades of his career Neville has gained a deep familiarity with songs of this weight -- "Summertime," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "In the Still of the Night," and "Cry Me a River." Understanding their power, he treats them with the utmost respect, a measure of feeling and devotion that causes him to always meet expectations but, unfortunately, never exceed them. Any Aaron Neville fan will know exactly what to expect from his version of "Summertime" or "Nature Boy" or even "Danny Boy," and Neville never displays the focused interaction between song and singer that's necessary to pull off a standard with decades of baggage attached. On several tracks, he does approach deserving the lofty term of jazz singer; he and Linda Ronstadt use their shared affection to anchor "The Very Thought of You," and the burly singer goes along for a splendid ride when the band adds a delicious hint of suspense into "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Neville's voice usually sounds better on darker material, lending a chill as when the sun passes behind a cloud). The American songbook should belong to him, an exceptional vocalist with such a deeply rooted performing persona, but it will do so only when he recognizes that the singer should never humble himself before the song. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Devotion is Aaron Neville's latest full-length disc committed exclusively to spirituals. The singer's voice remains in great shape on reverential covers of traditional spirituals "Banks of River Jordan," "Jesus Loves Me," "Mary Don't You Weep," combined with modern rock classics possessing a sacred nature; "I Shall Be Released," "Morning Has Broken," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" fit in the context of the album beautifully. Making special appearances on Devotion are Avalon, Ivan Neville, and Rachel Lampa. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Thanks to a few inspired collaborations, To Make Me Who I Am finds Aaron Neville continuing his streak of solid contemporary R&B albums. Divided between co-written originals by Neville and covers of professional songwriters like Babyface and Diane Warren, To Make Me Who I Am is filled with strong material, highlighted by two duets with Linda Ronstadt ("First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Please Remember Me"). Longtime fans might find the polished surfaces of the album a bit too slick, but Neville's singing remains elegant and graceful, helping to push the album past its MOR leanings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Aaron Neville is an unlikely example of a '60s soul hero who managed to reinvent himself as a '90s pop star without compromising his integrity. Drawing on pop as well as the type of New Orleans soul that put him on the map, Neville proved that he could once again be quite marketable. Like Warm Your Heart, The Tattooed Heart isn't on a par with Neville's early efforts, but nonetheless has a lot going for it. Though not breathtaking, material ranging from the soul ballad "Show Some Emotion" to the earthy rock number "Down Into Muddy Water" and the reggae-influenced hit "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You (The Rain Song)" is honest and enjoyable. Another high point of this CD is an inspired remake of Bill Withers' "Use Me." Because an urban contemporary approach didn't interest him, the "new" Neville received little support from Black radio -- but on pop stations, he'd become a high priority. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas'
Release Date 10/19/1993
Tracks 11
Label A&M
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas is at once familiar yet progressive, traditional, prayerful, heartfelt, fun, and sexy. Neville lends his angelic voice to timeless holiday standards, resulting in one of the more compelling American holiday albums of the 1990s. Neville's treatment of classics such as "O Holy Night," "Silent Night," and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is absolutely stirring, and he infuses these lullabies with so much warmth and sincerity that they can even touch the hardest, most cynical audiences. Neville also covers more contemporary tunes, such as "Please Come Home for Christmas," and augments his warm renditions of "The Christmas Song" and "White Christmas" with classic pop arrangements, filled with lush strings, piano, and even saxophone. The real gems, however, include the irresistibly swingin' "Such a Night," which should become mandatory for any Christmas party, and the equally intoxicating, hand clapping "Louisiana Christmas Day." The album ends on a spiritual tone with the tender "Star Carol" and the moving, organ-accompanied "The Bells of St. Mary's." Neville wholly succeeds in crafting a fun, Cajun-spiced yet traditional Christmas album, which manages to capture all of the joy, passion, spirituality ,and nostalgia which goes along with the holiday season. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Although Steve Lindsey tries a little too hard to make The Grand Tour appeal to everyone, Aaron Neville manages to make the album another solid addition to his latter-day catalog. Lindsey keeps the sound of the album strictly in the mainstream, piling on layers of keyboards, vocalists, and drum machines which neuter any rootsy elements in the music. This is particularly unfortunate, since the selection of songs is interesting, ranging from George Jones and Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Nevertheless, Neville rises to the material, not the production, giving the music an emotional core. Not every teaming works, but enough songs hit the target to make The Grand Tour worthwhile for dedicated fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
