Van Hunt - Van Hunt

Van Hunt’s self-titled debut record is a sultry trip back in time, where the single named musician conjures up the heady specter of '70s R&B, channeling vintage Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, then punctuating that smooth soul with some Sly Stone rhythm and grit, and early Prince naughtiness, without managing to sound hopelessly derivative. Why? Because behind every old school nuance is an ingenious vocal tic or instrumental fillip that reveals the quirky genius of this newcomer who not only sings but writes, produces, and arranges all his own material. The sinuous guitar, brash off-rhythms, and bubbling bass lines are perfect foils for the musician’s decidedly modern tales of thwarted love and commitment. Van Hunt may be a fan of retro soul, but to his credit he doesn’t even attempt to resurrect some the social anachronisms of the times. --Jaan Uhelszki Amazon.com

I love Van Hunt's CD

I really enjoy this CD. I put "Seconds of Pleasure" on repeat and can listen to it all day. Van Hunt has a very sexy voice and he is very handsome. July 22, 2008

Hooked on Hunt

What can I say? This cd exhibits a level of creativity I haven't seen in a while. It reminds me of the Curtis mayfield, prince, and Hendrix albums my father plays without sounding like cheap imitation or being dated. I heard on the jungle floor first and I had to listen t this. I must say I think it is a great debut. Better than the second. (I love the 2nd one too.)It is a nice blend of funk, soul, r&b, and a few others. April 8, 2008

CDs like these remind me why I fell in love with Music.

Do you remember the first time you heard (Insert your favorite group/singer here) How you kept rewinding that particular track, you know the last song on the first side ( for all the vinyl junkies out there) how you would learn the words, line by line, and recite them. How that song (s) would stay with you throughout the days, weeks to come. Well I do. But of late these moments have been few & far between. Maybe it's my age. Or the product being released nowadays. Who knows? The thing is I'm a simple man who LOVES his music. This CD reminds me why I do. I'm at working and I vibing to 'Who Will Love Me in winter' and contemplating the deep lyrics to this great song. I'm at the gym listening to ' Down Here in Hell (With You)' and loving the music, and, again smiling at the deepness of his lyrical content. Just know I was explaining to my wife the deepness to my favorite tracks. Yes I can hear Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and others in these songs, but unlike a lot of artists that wear the love of these artists on their sleeves, and copy verbatim, it's the deepness of his lyrics, and how they expand upon the love relationships we have that set him apart. the tracks that I 'm feeling, hard are :'Who Will Love Me In Winter'(my favorite that I can play on constant repeat) ' Out Of The Sky' ( which I think deals with fame, again some deep retrospect lyrics)'Anything (To Get Your Attention)' ( the first song that I fell in love with),'Down Here In Hell (With You) ( again deep lyrics, dealing with imperfection in relationships), 'Highlights' ( I love the an allergy with an ex-girlfriend, and a aspiring movie star) and Hello,Goodbye . Brother Kayode thanks for the heads up regarding this. Respect due, bro :) November 23, 2007

Stop Sleeping

This CD has a continuous flow. I don't know what took me so long to get it!! I would suggest this for anyone who likes real music. This is a great CD to just listen to and ride in the car! I am going to purchase everything he has made! November 17, 2007

Best debut album I've come across in a decade or more.

Wow! I never write record reviews, but as I logged in today to order a couple more copies of this disc to give to friends, I'll chime in:

A musician friend turned me on to this album and I've had it in play non-stop for two months...and am nowhere near tired of it. I'm thinking about easing off just because I'm afraid I'll burn out on it, and I'd hate to lose the pleasure of playing it.
-It's that good.

I wouldn't say he's the next Marvin Gaye, in part since that comment seems to invite response from the *remarkably small* number of naysayers out there. But he easily has soul in the degree of a Curtis Mayfield or any number of the top soul players of 30+ years ago, yet he still sounds fresh and modern at the same time -NEVER sounds like he's trying for (imitating) some retro sound that is not his own. -The Prince comparisons also ring true for me since Hunt is so talented in terms of songwriting as well as playing many of the instruments on his records.

Some people say he's got some Lenny Kravitz aspects, but I'm not feeling that reference at all. This man's music sounds more original, with more soul, funk, diversity and depth.

-The production values are also excellent, with the music having the right amount of layering to really make it stand out: take a simple melody like 'Who will love me in winter?' and really listen to how much he has going on in terms of instruments and vocals - that richness, without losing accessibility, on almost every track, a big part of what makes everything on this album so good. That's why it blows me away as a *debut*.

Though he's clearly doing well, Van Hunt ought to be seeing a vastly higher level of commercial success than we see today; I think that's purely a testament to the state of our music biz (& media outlet ownership) for the past 15 years, and the increasingly shallow pop culture it creates, which, in both the top-40 and the 'dead-end' hip-hop sectors, is the only culture that the "wall-street comes first" industry can nurture anymore.

But enough about all that...this album is amazing. Buy one for you and one to give away because music this good, you'll want to share! September 22, 2007

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