Various Artists

"Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers"

Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers is a compilation album. It is largely produced by Nujabes, with support from features artists Uyama Hiroto, Naoki Maeda, Dwele, Golden Boy, Sora, Takagi Masakatsu, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Rei Harakami.

One word that defines this album in its entirety is 'relaxing'. I can put a guarantee label on this to promise that it might sooth someone. However, maybe there is too much relaxing going on here for me...<-<

I like how I'm experiencing these new genres. This one for example, 'mellow rap' or 'lounge rap', whatever you want to call it, makes this CD for me. Vaguely reminds me of a poetry slam with a Jazz band in the background that you see in those classic films (none that come off the top of my head). Grooveman Spot's "Maintain" featuring O.C. sounds like a song from the cartoon 'Boondocks'. No joke, it's one hell of a rap/lounge combo. Along with "Maintain", "Vision Eyes" by Uyama Hiroto featuring Golden Boy is quite similar but also it another 'golden' track. Nujabes, the main producer of compilation, commits to this with my favorite track "Kiss of Life". It features Giovanca & Benny Sings; with their two alluring vocals, the track's beat and piano in the background to atone with the two women definitely makes it a numero uno.

HOWEVER, one of the major flaws for me were super long songs with the exception of "Aurora". "The Session" was barely listenable for me, and I sadly had to skip through it...along with others. But not saying this is a bad album for any jazzy type listener, it just didn't suit me completely.

FAVORITE TRACKS: Maintain, Aurora, Kiss of Life, Jazzy Point.

DISLIKED TRACKS: The Sessions, Sitting on The Beach, Revans.

Rating: 6.9/10