Go Hear Alice (Smith)

Alice Smith played Boston tonight (well, she opened for Citizen Cope, although she really should be headlining her own gigs). Work demands kept me from the show, but in writing up a concert preview post for Bostonist, I was reminded just how much I enjoyed Alice's debut album For Lovers, Dreamers & Me. (You can read my Bostonist preview post here).

Released last Fall on ultra hip UK underground hip hop label BBE (J Dilla, Pete Rock, DJ Vadim, "Return Of The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff," etc.), For Lovers made a bit of a splash in the press and around the blogs. And BBE just inked a deal a couple months ago to re-release the album through Epic -- which may help Alice garner a bit of the attention that's been showered on Amy Winehouse. (Amy plays Boston in 10 days. More on that later. Can. Not. Wait).

Not that the two chanteuses have all that much in common. As much as I love Amy's voice, there's little doubt Alice could blow her off the stage with her four octave range and bluesy pipes that can switch from pull-out-the-stops operatic bombast one moment to subtle, soulful swagger the next.

And Alice's For Lovers is much more eclectic than Amy's hip hop influenced update on early '60s R&B and girl groups, Motown, and early '70s Philly Soul. With Alice you get your hip hop beats, you get your neo-soul favor and contemporary R&B feel. Sure. But you also get swirls of groovy Beatlesesque psychedelic rock and blasts of Broadway show tune bravado. Seriously. Just check the irresistible Beatles-cum-Broadway bounce of "Dream," below, which Alice and BBE have made available for free download on Smith's myspace page and elsewhere. You can also stream three of For Lovers best tracks on Alice's myspace page: "Do I," "Gary Song," and "Woodstock."

Don't let work get in the way of your opportunity to catch Alice if you are in NYC, Philly or Hartford. Here's her upcoming schedule:

April 26 . . . . . . . Boston, MA (Avalon)
April 27 . . . . . . . New Haven, CT (Toad's Place)
May 2 . . . . . . . . .New York, NY (Tribeca Film & Music Festival)
May 6 . . . . . . . . .Philadelphia, PA (World Live Cafe)
May 7, 14 & 21. . . New York, NY (Mercury Lounge)

In case you haven't picked up For Lovers yet, here's a taste:

Dream -- For Lovers, Dreamers & Me (2006)

Love Endeavour (Freeform Five remix)

Purchase Alice's For Lovers, Dreamers & Me at underground hip hop, Dusty Groove, or emusic oops. apparently, following new deal w/ Epic, emusic distribution was pulled. well that sucks. it's probably avail on iTunes. let's hope a major label deal doesn't fuck w/ Alice originality and creativity.
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