D'Angelo And The Vanguard - Black Messiah (2014) [Hi-Res]

2016 Grammy Award winner - Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song ("Really Love")

The long-awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed Voodoo album!

The first release in 14 years for the R&B singer features songs co-written with Q-Tip and Kendra Foster as well as co-production from James Gadson, Pino Palladino,and Questlove

"'Another Life' is an album-closing deep-soul epic in the spirit of Prince's 'Adore' or Al Green's 'Beware,' building on Questlove's drums, some Thom Bell-style sitar from D'Angelo himself and the man's warmest falsetto, stretching out minute after minute - because who would want this groove to stop? It will take at least 14 years to absorb all the pleasures in Black Messiah." - Rolling Stone

D'Angelo is back, folks. The prodigal son of the soul and funk canon shocked the world, dropping his ever-awaited third studio album Black Messiah on a public that never saw it coming. This long-lusted over project was recorded in full analog. And what better way to experience the gritty greatness of the release than a heavy-bodied vinyl pressing for audio junkies?

The release timing is impeccable. The politically charged record dropped in the middle of unrest over police brutality, particularly the killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Activists have led street-sweeping protests, calling for reform against decades of minority deaths at the hands of cops. Crowds chanting "Black lives matter!" and "I can't breathe!" have shut down major highways and bridges, disrupting everyday life.

This is why, after years of waiting around, D'Angelo rushed to release the record. What makes it so effective is its deliberate purpose - a protest album, not just a single dedicated to the unrest.

Tiny Mix Tapes says "Black Messiah was crafted painstakingly, that's evident, but it never sounds labored over. It sounds loose, on fire, and huge, like a truly Christian sermon." While Mashable calls it "a protest album for the ages."