Anthony Hamilton's The Point of it All
Sixth Studio Album Released by Singer of 2004 Hit Single "Charlene"
Mar 16, 2009
With his distinct, southern tinged vocals, he brings a sophisticated and nuanced album, The Point of it All (Zomba). The opening track finds you bobbing your head and intently listening to “The News.”
This incandescent depiction of the current state of the union is followed by “Cool” - a track that was complete without David Banner's repulsive interpretation - scratching dandruff out of another person's scalp and picking someone's nose is hardly “cool.” Hamilton's “Diamond in the Rough” is the exemplary R&B promise to better the relationship, set against an electrifying guitar solo and some conventional ad libs.
2nd Half of The Point of it All
Halfway through the album, the incantation that his “Soul's on Fire” could be mistaken for a prayer, one that finds you with your forehead against the cold, bathroom floor in the middle of the night. The dark and cunning lyrics are set against an upbeat collage of a vintage percussion kit and an imminent piano that could haunt one's dreams.
He follows this with an eerie melody of confession in, “I Did it For Sho,” acknowledging “All the trips abroad / max'd out credit cards / going down to Mr. Chow's / I did it for sho.” Furthermore, while “I love you” as a chorus could easily fall into the category of cliché, it's set amidst an array of subtle harmonies and finger snaps that emphasize the album title track, “The Point of it all.”
Point taken. Hamilton's polished storytelling abilities dominate the lyrical content of retro-infused bass lines all the while sending the listener to their knees, in church, with the first half of “Prayin' For You/Superman.”
Conclusion of The Point of it All
Once again, his recognition and plea for forgiveness in “Her Heart,” similar to 2004's “Charlene,” (LaFace) is utterly poignant and thoroughly expressed with dramatic lines such as, “And as you cried in my arms / you woke up my heart / and I saw again what I found in you.” Anthony Hamilton's sixth album is a masterful weave of emotions seeking to ultimately saturate your soul with a positive frame of mind, especially within his track “Fine Again.”
His ability to relate to the general public, in these difficult times, makes the hook an audible chant for those on a quest for healing. As stated on the bio section of his official website, Hamilton references The Point of it All by saying, "I've taken fans to church and baptized them; there are those who say I've healed them with my music. Now we're going to boogie in the name of the Lord."
Clearly, Hamilton was attempting a carefully executed and classic album that would be played on repeat for years to come and he succeeded.
