Anthony David Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
Acey Duecy, Anthony David's first release with major-label backing, is the product of some payback from India.Arie. The longtime friends go back further than the latter's debut, Acoustic Soul, which featured a song ("Part of My Life") written by the former. Seven years later, Arie's clout has allowed her to establish a Universal-distributed boutique label called Soulbird, and its first release is this, a disc that pulls material from Anthony's independent releases 3 Chords & the Truth (2004) and The Red Clay Chronicles (2006). While he cites Bill Withers and Donny Hathaway, Anthony (last name Harrington, middle name David) is more a descendent of Terry Callier -- at least on the surface, through the tone of a rough-hewn baritone that often shines through with a relaxed intensity recalling Callier, as well as frequent use of acoustic guitar. His lyrics, also like those of Callier, can be descriptively up-front and all the more powerful for it. But he's his own artist who creates a unique mixture of vintage and modern sounds, from "Cheatin' Man" and "Cold Turkey" (stark simplicity made predominantly with voice and guitar), to "Lady" (an original that sounds too good to be anything but an update of a forgotten mid-'70s classic by a group like Enchantment or Floaters), to the Southern hip-hop boom-and-bounce of "Kinfolk." Further range is shown between the high-flying "Something About You" (it's remarkable how much this Level 42 song was made to resemble Deniece Williams' "Free," whether intentional or not) and the quietly pissed-off "Krooked Kop" ("Your royal order of fraternal brothers is really just a gang"). The past several years indicate that, unless this release should happen to go platinum (not likely), Anthony will get maybe one more shot (if that) prior to reverting back to the independent route. Regardless, this set should help add further growth to a following that will be paying attention for some time to come. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
'The Red Clay Chronicles'
Release Date 9/26/2006
Tracks 14
Label Brash Music
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
One blues man and a voodoo band have become an increasingly popular tangent for R&B as of late, combining the mellow vocal soul of the '70s with folksy guitar strum and clip-clop percussion reminiscent of Tom Waits at his most rhythmic. Atlanta singer/songwriter Anthony David might overstate his case for being a Delta bluesman, titling his album 3 Chords & the Truth, but that does little to take away from his Ben Harper-esque growl and skillful songcraft, which have already been recognized with his participation on India.Arie's Grammy-nominated Acoustic Soul album. At his best, David recalls Terry Callier or Q-Tip's highly promoed yet tragically never released "Barely in Love." At his worst, he either relies on too much saccharine production (the '70s orchestra oversaturation of "Part of My Life") or, inversely, too little (the lone pick and vocal of "Cheatin' Man," which stumbles over lines like "When the stage is set for drama/I keep thinking 'bout my momma"). But the slight sampling hip-hop feel of "Krooked Kop" hits the balance just right, as does the mechanically led "Cold Turkey" with its distant steel-on-steel quarry metronome, its metal pulse egging on the jaw-clenching subject matter. He even gets a little reggae on "50/50 Love," complete with a Jamaican backing vocalist, proving that Southern R&B is just a starting point for this promising talent. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide
