Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hall & Oates - Our Kind of Soul

Our Kind of Soul, the follow-up to 2003's VH1-propelled Do It for Love, is mostly a can't-miss proposition: Daryl Hall's smooth, expressive voice, synonymous with the Philly soul sound, is so well suited to this material that it feels shrink-wrapped overtop. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love," the Barry White classic, is given a breezy makeover (and, maybe more impressively considering that most artists wouldn't touch it, not mangled); Teddy Pendergrass' "Love TKO" is dusted off and tinkered with till it takes on a signature H&O sound; and "After the Dance," one of Marvin Gaye's most cryptic compositions, comes across like a solved mystery--there's a gentleness and a reverie in the reading will prompt thoughtful listeners to return to it more than a few times. That said, a couple of these covers--the O'Jays "Used to Be My Girl" and Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady"--seem cursory, and the duo can count on a cranky contingent decrying their lack of fresh material. But the strength of three songs introduced here should keep them at bay. First track "Let Love Take Control" gutsily and convincingly glides into Four Tops' "Standing in the Shadows of Love," "Soul Violins" strikes notes at once heartfelt and spontaneous, and "Don't Turn Your Back" has the classic Hall & Oates marks of their-kind-of-soul songs like "Out of Touch." --Tammy La Gorce Amazon.com

Great album!

I just recently saw Hall and Oates in concert for the first time. I have been listening since I was a teenager. I was amazed by their talent...so much more than the popular songs on the radio let on. What I love about them is their ability to make a well known, loved song their own and it is still fanatastic to listen to. So many groups when they redo an "oldie but goodie" try to sound just like the original group that did it. Hall and Oates remain true to themselves and true to their style and are able to incorporate that into the oldies. I have a new found respect for their abilities and this album truly demonstrates that. If you have the chance to see them in concert....DO IT! August 29, 2007

Great renditions of some soul standards

This is a great album, well sung, well produced. Good choice of songs. These guys are aging like a fine wine - just getting better and better. July 29, 2007

Gettin Back to the Basics

This is their best work in a long time. They recorded a lot of classic soul songs. What makes this collection so unique is they recorded them close to how the songs were originally written. They use acoustic guitars and violins. Of course they put the classic H&O style. In many cases their version is better than the original.

There are a couple of new songs on the CD also. I like those also. I notice the boys are getting back to their roots the older they get. I would give this CD a 10 out of 10. With the best song being Soul Violins. If you like soul music this is a must for your collection.

The more I listen to this CD the more I like it! There is nothing better than sweet soul music done with acoustic instruments. I started reading the cover and found the CD was recorded in 5 weeks at Daryl's home in the Bahamas!

The background vocals are amazing. I just love the way they harmonize with each other. Daryl still has his pipes and can still hit those really high notes. He does a great rendition of the Al Green classic "Still in Love".

I heard an interview with John Oates one time were he said "he brings a certain shortness to the group". I think he is selling himself short! (Ha I made a pun) His rendition of "Ooh Child" is remarkable. It's like the song was written for him.

I noticed that on many of the songs some of the lyrics and the key were changed. At first I had a problem with this, because I am used to hearing the songs done a certain way. I get it now! They took these classic R&B songs and made them Hall & Oates songs. This was done intentionally and I have to say it works.
May 26, 2007

Timeless, Ageless, Music

When I heard #3 played on the radio, I looked everywhere for the CD. I recognized D.Hall's voice right away. This is MUSIC,timeless, ageless talent and style. Thank you AMAZON.com and Thanks to Hall and Oates.

Call me! May 12, 2007

Daryl Still knows what Soul is all about.

Hall and Oats were one of the only Blue Eye Soul groups I believed understood what soul is about. Over the years I haven't heard much from them. I just happen to catch the concert on tv, it looked like it was at some big bar in the suburbs at first. But I understand it was in the Bahama's.
I was very delighted to hear that Daryl Hall still can sing. The songs were not songs from their music but covers of various R&B songs from people such as Gladys Knght and the O'Jays and the Four Tops. and one or two newer original songs. Whoever said their version of the O'Jays, She Use to Be My Girl was the worst song he ever heard must not of listened to any of the 10,000 cd's he has. It was fine, I get nervous when people sing covers of great R&B songs. Most do it pretty horrendously. Not Daryl Hall even 34 years later the man can still sing and he does a very good job singing that song. Surprisingly he took on sacred cows like Neither One of Us, by Gladys Knight and he was excellent. He did not try to over sing Gladys, he made the song his own. He sang Rock Steady like he has been singing it all of his life.
Same with Marvin Gaye's song.
Again I will say Hall and Oates were the only Blue Eye Soul group particulary Daryl Hall who knows what soul is about and that is why they were able to tackle songs most singers would sound foolish singing. This CD proves it. April 24, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...