Longtime readers of my articles know that I don't review singles often.
However, when I do make an exception, it's always for a good reason. In the case of "Lucky Boy" from Lea Jones (http://www.jmwestentertainment.com), it's as simple as this: The tune has been stuck in my head for a week. Fortunately, it's not an annoyance.
On the contrary, "Lucky Boy" is among the better singles released this year. Upbeat and charming, it's almost old-school funk in that it doesn't rely on processed synthesized beats to drive it. Instead, the track is pushed forward by a looped, nearly folk guitar riff that is actually danceable and quite memorable.
If Norah Jones stumbled upon a sweltering R&B groove, then the end result wouldn't be too far removed from "Lucky Boy." However, Jones is taking a different approach; her singing is more flirty than soulful. This is pure pop music, the stuff that Madonna should be doing now instead of all that pseudo-electronica garbage.
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Guest Mike Pye gives the cut a hip-hop vibe, and thankfully his rapping doesn't upset the softness of Jones' singing. Producer Jean-Michel Soupraya keeps everything in control, making sure that Jones is the star of the show. Too often in these collaborations with hip-hop the female lead vocalist gets buried by the testosterone, but not here. Jones shines like the brightest suns.
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