The Gift and the Curse

January 29, 2012 8:45 AM

After years of rumored depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and legal issues, D'Angelo is poised to make a comeback.

He's released a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", embarked on a European tour, and his James River album, the Chinese Democracy of R&B, is reportedly "90% done".

posted by reenum (26 comments total)

HIS ABS, HOW ARE HIS ABS?
posted by nathancaswell at 8:55 AM on January 29, 2012 [18 favorites]

In a fit of alcoholism, he drank his own six-pack. oh the humanity.

(seriously, I look forward to the record. Dude could sing)
posted by jonmc at 8:56 AM on January 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

All I remember about D'Angelo is that he was the first guy to have the weird V-muscle thing going on in the crotch area. Because he made damn sure to include that in his video. And, honestly, I probably would have done the same thing if I have those crazy abs.
posted by asnider at 8:57 AM on January 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

Part of what drove him offstage in the first place was the constant barrage of "Take off your shirt!" during shows. Maybe he created this hell of his own accord, what with the "Untitled" video mentioned earlier, but he set off to be a neo-soul Marvin Gaye and ended up man-candy.

Footage from the Stockholm show is amazing, and if the man is maybe not as fit and trim as before, all the better. Folks can appreciate is talent over the results of a workout routine.
posted by grabbingsand at 9:12 AM on January 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

So disappointed that this has nothing to do with Avon Barksdale.
posted by Fizz at 9:19 AM on January 29, 2012 [5 favorites]

So disappointed that this has nothing to do with...

sandwiches
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 9:33 AM on January 29, 2012 [8 favorites]

Beverly
posted by jonmc at 9:34 AM on January 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

sandwiches

Nobody south of Connecticut understands this comment.
posted by briank at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

Brown Sugar is a great album. I hope he pulls together.
posted by Bookhouse at 9:53 AM on January 29, 2012

Reasonable people might reasonably disagree, but I think Voodoo is the Soulquarian high-water mark.
posted by box at 9:58 AM on January 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

He's released a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun"
8 years ago.
"According to ?uestlove, D'Angelo's cover of "Black Hole Sun" was recorded close to eight years ago and it will not be on his upcoming album."
posted by FreezBoy at 10:12 AM on January 29, 2012

I used to think that having that body and that voice was one more hit with the magic stick than a single person deserved, but I've since realized that jealously is a supremely ugly trait. This is great news and I look forward to the album.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:14 AM on January 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

(I was kind of hoping this involved cheese steaks, too.)
posted by R. Mutt at 10:39 AM on January 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I always loved his cover of Smokey Robinson's Cruisin'
posted by beisny at 10:44 AM on January 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I used to think that having that body and that voice was one more hit with the magic stick than a single person deserved

you don't just get a body like that, it's the payoff of a lot of effort
posted by nathancaswell at 11:23 AM on January 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

Yeah, I'm excited. Voodoo is a straight classic so I hope this lives up. Either way, good to hear.
posted by saul wright at 11:43 AM on January 29, 2012

Fantastic that he has Pino on-board - his playing on Voodoo is just huge.
posted by SNACKeR at 12:06 PM on January 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Footage from the Stockholm show is amazing, and if the man is maybe not as fit and trim as before, all the better. Folks can appreciate is talent over the results of a workout routine.

Maybe, but if he ever sings "How Does it Feel" again, many folks are going to demand to see dem abs. He'd better be ready for it. Oh, let me go, I'm getting the vapors just thinking about that video...
posted by fuse theorem at 12:07 PM on January 29, 2012

Hoping this post was about sandwiches and cheese steaks --> that which is standing between Metafilter and D'Angelo's abs.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 1:05 PM on January 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

I spent a period of like a year trying to get as many people as possible to read that Spin article about D'Angelo, which also highlights other struggles of artists who had disappeared or gone under the radar, such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Maxwell. I look forward to supporting him.
posted by koucha at 1:11 PM on January 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I recall after the album’s success there were rumours abound [sic] of D’Angelo’s constant weed smokin’ and weight gain.

Coincidence? DON'T THINK SO.
posted by Gordion Knott at 5:16 PM on January 29, 2012

Last night, in Paris (via Jay Smooth).
posted by box at 4:27 AM on January 30, 2012

I spent a period of like a year trying to get as many people as possible to read that Spin article

I would look at Spin, but I can't figure out what that damn Digital magazine thing wants from me.
posted by R. Mutt at 4:29 AM on January 30, 2012

Last night, in Paris

Um, no. That's not what I wanted to see or hear. I'm glad he's on his way back but he's not quite there yet.

(BTW, his original "How Does it Feel" video is now age-restricted on YouTube.)
posted by fuse theorem at 5:50 AM on January 30, 2012

Apparently, he covered David Bowie's Space Oddity in that Paris show (via mixtapemaestro)
posted by beisny at 9:44 AM on January 30, 2012

Last night, in Paris

I saw that movie, it was shot in night vision, right?
posted by nathancaswell at 10:14 AM on January 30, 2012