Top 10 D'Angelo Joints

Every once in awhile greatness manifests itself. No one knows when, where or how. But to celebrate the greatness of Union Beer Co. one must celebrate all greatness. Listen closely children, here is our first installment of GREATNESS KNOWS GREATNESS.

The Top 10 D'Angelo Joints

Yes, the "R'n'B Jesus" only has two albums out but the magnitude of the two releases cannot be emphasized enough. Neo-soul's Patriarch on Cocaine. Soul Brother Number Two. He really can't be blamed for the lackluster development of Neo-soul (I'm looking at you John Legend). He was busy getting "HIGHER". Let's start the list kids.

10) "Alright"

Following the smoothness of our #1 on the man's debut album, "Alright" feels just right. Coming from a man who's life has been trapped in addiction and demons, "Alright" offers not only the listener but the tormented speaker some solace and peace if only for five minutes and sixteen seconds. 

9) "Sh*t, Damn, Motherf*cker"
The ultimate revenge song... so long as you are planning on going to jail for murder. "Why are you sleeping with my woman?" D' croons in a way that can be described as content, not angry, with the situation and the untimely end of his woman and his best friend. "Why the both of you bleeding so much?" Sinister.

8) "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"

Remember, this list is about the song, not the video.

7) "Higher"

D'Angelo gets all gospel on our asses during the final track on his debut. But, don't you worry, you can still easily get down to this tune. And unlike Al Green getting gospel on his final track on "Call Me," this spiritual experience works for both the body and the soul.

6) "Feel Like Makin' Love"

Roberta who? Just kidding, of course. But the opening drum from Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson may even make Ms. Flack start to blush.

5) "Lady"

With the #5 track on our list we truly enter greatness. From the pop-teen to the soul-connoisseur, no other D' joint can get the entire party started like "Lady". I'll tell you what really makes this song: the smooth stab of the keyboards emphasizing the chord progression. This type of keyboard player usually results in Nintendo-type corniness, but, by God, he wouldn't be known as the "R'n'B Jesus" if he didn't make greatness from the traditional.

4) "One Mo'gin"

What seems at first like a typical "Voodoo" track turns into one of the best hooks D' every sang. The song comforts you on the album, giving you just what you think you want (a song with a smooth beat, love/sexy lyrics). But the hook takes it above and beyond. And not in a loud-soft-loud way either. Just shut up and listen.

3) "I Found My Smile Again"

It's a shame that there aren't more D'angelo non-album tracks. But for the few that are out there, "I Found My Smile Again" is the best. So good that it earns its place as #3 on this prestigious list. D' raises the soul of one his his idols, Prince ( especially with uncanny ability to sound like The Purple One counting "One... Two... One Two Three" at the beginning, am I right?) and, like "Alright," it offers the listener solace in a mad world, if only for the time being.

2) "Devil's Pie"

If ever a song had the ability to express a conflicted soul, this is it. All I really want to do is display the chorus and argue it is a beautiful piece of poetry written by a modern-day John Donne.

 Fuck the slice we want the pie

Why ask why till we fry
Watch us all stand in line
For a slice of the devil's pie
Drugs and thugs womeN wine
Three or four at a time
Watch them stand all in line
For a slice of the devil's pie

1) "Brown Sugar"

Could we really make an argument for another #1? Enjoy!