Raphael Saadiq Brings 'Aggressive' Rock 'n' Roll on 'Stone Rollin'' Album

Posted on Jan 19th 2011 2:00PM by Mike Ayers
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After breaking out big with 2008's 'The Way I See It,' R&B mastermind Raphael Saadiq is set to return this spring with his third solo album, 'Stone Rollin.' Due out March 22 on Columbia Records, the 10-song set sees Saadiq drifting away from the classic Motown vibe he's known for and exploring more vintage rock 'n' roll and orchestral arrangements. Also along for the ride are pedal steel virtuoso Robert Randolph and Little Dragon vocalist Yukimi Nagano.

"Anybody that knows me knows that I love music. I'm overwhelmed by a lot of different music," Saadiq tells Spinner. "Rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry, I love that type of music. I wanted to step it up, raise the bar and bring that energy to the world."

Indeed, songs like 'Heart Attack,' 'Over You' and first single 'Radio' display Saadiq's voice at a heightened, energetic state. Whereas on 'The Way I See It,' he came off cool, calm and collected, the tunes on 'Stone Rollin' have a more immediate sound to them.

That said, 'Stone Rollin' finds Saadiq reflective at times, as on sweeping orchestral-backed songs 'Go to Hell' and 'The Answer.' For those that fell in love with his Motown nods, don't fret -- 'Moving Down the Line' and 'Good Man' revel in those classic sounds, but those moments are few and far between, per Saadiq's direction.

"I wanted to get away from the Motown thing and be more aggressive," he says. "I'm always doing something that feels like a throwback. I just love music and love to have fun. I wanted to make the arrangements to be orchestrated a little better. I wanted to be able to go out and play this record live."

Raphael Saadiq's 'Radio' Video