Review: Cody ChesnuTT – ‘Landing on a Hundred’
Ω Originally featured in Crack Magazine
‘Landing On a Hundred’ is the first full album in 10 years from neo-soul champion Cody ChesnuTT, and without a doubt it is a magnificently rich, diverse, and commanding record, bringing the vibes of such pinnacle ‘70s artists as Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye comfortably into the present day. Priding itself as a flavoursome mixture of classic soul, R&B, blues, swing, and funk, it’s a joy to listen to for the ease in which each song fits together whilst remaining entirely distinct. Funk-infected guitar flashes in opener ‘Til I Met Thee’ and its follow-up ‘I’ve Been Life’ are partnered with Chesnutt’s gorgeous, emotive falsetto, while a brass backing brings a sedated softness to the former, and an infectious disco rhythm to the latter.
‘Where Is All The Money Going?’, meanwhile, has a cheery off-beat hop to it, whilst the soulfulness of ‘Everybody’s Brother’ even manages to inject joy into its remorseful lyrical content: ‘I used to smoke crack back in the day’. There is plenty of down-tempo content to offset the otherwise obstinately elated mood, none better than the brilliant ‘Don’t Follow Me’, isolating Chesnutt’s reverbed voice to deliver a haunting ballad of Shirley Bassey-esque proportions.
Rating: ★★★½
