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I was thinking about a car. A Cadillac car at that, and not some modern day-shed like a CTS, but something like a 1960 Coupe De Ville. Yes, one of the cool Cadillacs. Of course, if I had such a cool car, I'd want the right tunes to play upon its trusty eight-track. Listening to Jamila Ford's soulful Enough album solved that problem.
In fact, it didn't take much more than the first song on this album to make me reach that conclusion. "Ordinary People" has that old-fashioned – and I mean that in a good way – groove just like you used to get in a Curtis Mayfield song, and Ms. Ford doesn't miss and hit the wall with her impassioned delivery. Make no mistake here - she's much more than a supper-club singer doing a retro turn. As a songwriter, she has a finely-honed ear for commerce, and you could imagine the likes of Mariah Carey getting right into "Thank You For Loving Me", but that's not the thing, or should that be "thang", as it is Ms. Ford's voice that steals your heart. Her timing and phrasing hit the mark every time, and it doesn't take long for her sassy and streetwise sound to take control of timeless urban grooves like "Make Me Forget", or even a super-cool, stripped-down acoustic workout like "Never Explain".
The lady can sweat pure emotion. I know it, because I can feel it. Available from CD Baby.
Right now the Billboard charts are topped by auto-tuned popsters backed by MIDI drum beats; I guess every fad has its day. Luckily, I get to hear what is happening at an independent level, and 2010 presented plenty of gorgeous pop records filled with live instrumentation. Jamila Ford's third album, Enough, is one of those gems. On her previous records, Ford was content to show off her blues and jazz roots, but on Enough, she brings out the coffee-house soul grooves.
Opening track "Ordinary People" is such a groove, testing the limits of booty-shaking as Ford's phenomenal vocals recall kindred spirits Roberta Flack and Gladys Knight. Besides that amazing voice, Ford's heartfelt songs unveil a blossoming songwriter. Songs like "Easy For You", "Thank You For Loving Me", and "A Little Too Much" are intense love ballads with incredibly catchy harmonies and insightful sentiments of the heart. Clearly, Ford is trying to break into the mainstream by selecting a wider range of material – tracks like "Not Exactly Perfect" and "Make Me Forget" remind me of Maroon 5 – but at the very core of Enough is a lust for love, life, and music. (Skinny Chick Records)
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cool and classy modern soul pop. This is the debut full-length release from Los Angeles, California's Jamila Ford... and it's a keeper. So many modern soul artists feel the need to inject/infect their music with traces of rap or blasts of hip-hop. Ford stays focused on Enough... never letting her music regress into those predictable samey genres. She's got a great voice... really, really, really great... and she comes across sounding so genuine and real that you can't help but be swept away by her music. Enough is sultry, friendly, inviting, and ultimately very real. Jamila loves music, and this is obvious in every word that she sings. She wrote all ten songs on this album, and they all hit the target. Our favorite tracks include "Ordinary People," "Make Me Forget," "A Little Too Much," and "Never Explain." One of the best soul/pop albums we've heard in months...LOVE IT. Top pick.
Los Angeles's Own Jamila Ford Joins Ra Ra Riot, Melissa Auf der Maur, Flying Lotus, Jim Campilongo, Jackson Browne, and David Lindley As Nominees for The 10th Independent Music Awards - More Than 300 Self-Released and Independent Label Talent Nominated
February, 17 2011 – Los Angeles-based Jamila Ford joins Ra Ra Riot, Melissa Auf der Maur, Flying Lotus, Hemoptysis, Darrell Scott, Jim Campilongo, Jackson Browne and David Lindley and other self-released and independent-label talent as Nominees for The 10th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans.
Representing the broad spectrum of today's global independent music scene, the more than 300 Nominees in nearly 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories were culled from submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Known for celebrating artists that follow their own muse, The 10th IMA Nominees are an eclectic mix of rising stars, including Strawfoot (Alt. Country Song), Hemoptysis (Metal/Hardcore Song), and Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three (Amerciana Album), as well as established talent, including telecaster virtuoso Jim Campilongo (Instrumental Album), experimental multi-genre artist Flying Lotus (Music Video and Dance/Electronica Song), and indie rockers Ra Ra Riot (Pop/Rock Album). Perhaps better known as major label acts, this year's Nominees strutting their independence include former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur (Indie/Alt./Hard Rock Album) and songwriting legend Jackson Browne with David Lindley (Live Performance Album).
Winners will be determined by a panel of 62 influential artist and industry judges, including Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Pete Wentz, Bettye LaVette, Seal, Adam Duritz, Ozzy Osbourne, Arturo Sandoval, Martin Atkins, Andrew W. K., Shelby Lynne, Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Pat McGuire (Filter Magazine), and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in mid-March 2011. Music fans have until July 11 to cast their votes at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.
Hear the music of all Nominees at: http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/10th/album
Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jamila Ford has the vocal ability to interpret many musical genres; her 2002 EP Fabulous was funk, soul, and R&B, and her 2010 EP Traces of the Day was jazz and soul. On her first full-length, Enough, Ford is the small woman in the coffeehouse with the big voice. Enough features Ford mixing acoustic soul with folk and rock reminiscent of Sheryl Crow and Fiona Apple. If you like that sound, Enough will make you feel right at home; if you don't know Ford's soulful execution and introspective lyrics, this will give you a new appreciation. An award-winning songwriter and accomplished background vocalist, Enough showcases Ford in her element at the forefront. Ford lets listeners in on her own appreciation of her musical gifts with the smooth, melodic track, "Music II". Ford's lyrics and voice are equally emotional and strong with her reflections on love and heartache. On "Thank You For Loving Me", Ford sings her imperfect truths ("I am a sinner /I think things I shouldn't/Don't like to make promises/Cause it's work to keep them") and shows her appreciation for a lover that continues to be there - flaws and all. "A Little Too Much" has minimal production, featuring acoustic guitar and Ford's sultry voice musing about loving too hard, and the contemporary R&B feel of "If You Ever Loved Me" is about letting go. Ford is less convincing in the slow rock of "Easy For You" and "Make Me Forget", where she softens her commanding voice that doesn't quite evoke the emotion of the lyrics. Nevertheless, on Enough, Ford takes soul to a stripped-down progression that is exceedingly insightful, and listeners will definitely want more of what Ford's expression is giving.