Pop Music A One Man Soul Revival
D’Angelo’s own groove has seduced the fickle but hugely profitable hip-hop-generation market with the sound of live instruments and honest-to-goodness singing. The newly released album, also titled “Brown Sugar,” is reminiscent of the late Donny Hathaway, or Teddy Pendergrass shortly after his Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes days. In contrast to the blandness of crooner Brian McKnight or the whiny Babyface ripoffs that have flooded the airwaves this past year, D’Angelo’s aching falsetto accentuates the warm mesh of thoughtful lyrics and soothing melodies....