Posted on 11/04/2009
Ladies are definitely in the house when it comes to R&B, and anytime someone reaches a level of success, we see a lot of carbon copies, or since we are in the computer age, perhaps digital clones would be a more apt description. Joy Jones, known for her work with Bugz In The Attic, falls into the path of those duplicate singers only to interrupt the cookie cutter approach, she has a little something that makes her to be a bit more sophisticated than the others, which is a good thing.

After listening to Godchild, if one has to compare her, I would say Jones has the vocal prowess of Hilson but with the swagger of an Erykah Badu. Combine those two and what you get is a singer who knows how to move people both lyrically and musically, for she had a hand in the creation of both. Just as Lady Gaga told her audience at this year's 2009 VMA's through her performance of "Paparazzi" that artistry comes at a price, Jones asks in "Hollywood" "how do you shine? Everyone's blind." She focuses on the mainstream's view of hip-hop by staying "A rapper dies, the media flies/zzzzz on him with lies, he's immortalized/no one has time to cry, post-mordam merchandise/'cause in the blink of an eye, someone else is on the rise." In other words, hip-hop's need to become more Hollywood has resulted in its direction, so fans and artists must suffer through the end result, even if no one knows who or what is suffering. "Supernova" sounds like something Joi or Outkast would have done circa Stankonia with its accented drum chops and smooth vocal approach.

Auto-tune quota: it seems to be a way of life with a lot of artists, but Jones' use of it is (to my ears) limited to one song, and when it presents itself on the album in the form of "Over," it's actually a nice diversion that helps to focus on the top of the song. It's about someone who has had enough of a former significant other, and perhaps the effect on her vocals can be interpreted as a way to disguise the sorrow and loss expressed. As for the rest of the album, Godchild could find itself crossing over into the jazz and pop worlds along with hip-hop and R&B, but it's very much a futuristic soul album, not unlike what SA-RA have done for themselves. What I like the most about these songs is that it allows Jones to express herself through the music, it's not used as a filter to hide the lack of talent. Sometimes a singer will hire a top name artist for recognition, and their songs aren't saying much of anything. While she's not making grand statements in every track, there are messages and perhaps lessons to be told in someone who sounds much wiser than her age indicates. Those who appreciate a more spiritual side to their music will love some of these songs too. Jones is an artist with honor and pride, and in time you will see the word "prestige" nestled alongside her name.

-John Book