Home > Detroit Music > CD Review > Anthony David, 'Acey Duecy'

Backstory: Raised in Savannah, Georgia, guitarist and singer Anthony David relocated to the urban music mecca of Atlanta. There he met India.Arie, traveled the world with her singing backup and wrote her song “Part of My Life.” “Acey Duecy” compiles the best of David’s first two independently released albums, “Three Chords and the Truth” (2004) and “The Red Clay Chronicles” (2006).

Why you should care: David’s music is a smart combination of hip-hop, R&B and blues that is soulful without ever coming across as sappy, oversexed or too macho. The album is an interesting way to infuse the taste of the old with the flavor of the new.

Verdict: These varied songs don’t sound old, and some will last for a long time. “Cold Turkey” could have been written in any era, and “GA Peach” pays tribute to the big-bootied honeys from his home state, a much cuter and classier cut than the numerous rap songs that have done the same in crass fashion. “Kinfolk” and “Smoke One” also show camaraderie with hip-hop without lapsing into its clichés. He even throws in a fun cover of Level 42’s hit “Something About You” for the ‘80s-loving old-timers.

X-Factor: This is the debut release from Soulbird Music, the new label from pal India.Arie, who pops up to duet with David with uncharacteristic restraint on the single “Words.”

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