Rest In Soul Power, James . . .

While I respect Michael Mann as a visionary filmmaker, Miami Vice was a letdown. Visually, it’s stunning. But the movie lacks in a plausible story line. And the love scenes featured in this movie should have been left on the cutting room floor—it totally slowed the movie down.

I was bored to sleep while watching this film. If you are a fan of Michael Mann’s work, I would suggest copping Heat, Ali or Collateral.

Miami Vice should have sizzled with a lot more action and less drama, but instead it fizzles.

John Legend’s CD Once Again is the most thrilling and sophiscated R&B disc released this year. No sophomore slump to speak of, just pure soul-stirring music. I was impressed with the level of musicianship John has showcased on the collection. Studio mavericks Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and will.i.am provided the soulful soundbeds and John gave us another wonderful vocal performance. Standouts include “P.D.A.,” “Again,” “Heaven” and my personal favorite, “Where Did My Baby Go.” Once Again is worth its weight in soul.

Because John Coltrane is indeed a fearless leader of jazz.

In today’s society, people want everything fast. You’ve got your fast food, your ready-to-eat microwaves dinners, fast check outs at the supermarket, fast checking at the bank and so forth. So why not have your music fast and ready to go.

Verve Records’ John Coltrane To Go is just that – a selection of John’s classic songs in just under 45 minutes. Take the CD and burn it, import it or bootleg it and you are ready to go. I went on iTunes and downloaded a couple of tracks. You can never have enough John Coltrane in your music player – or in my case, the brand new silver-colored iPod Nano (2nd Generation) – when you are ridin’ dirty on the train. Ya feel me?

If you are looking for some John Coltrane but don’t want to scour through hundreds of his greatest-hits collection, cop this disc and you got Johnny on the go!

Favorite Tracks: “After the Rain,” “My One and Only Love,” “Love Supreme”

Although UK “It Girl” Amy Winehouse is a favorite among music critics worldwide, Sweden songbird Joy Denalane also deserve equal adulations as well. Her latest CD Born & Raised is a beautiful disc of glaring soulful pop. Guests Lupe Fiasco (on the first single “Change”) and Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon (on “Heaven and Hell”) give Joy some street cred, but it’s her powerful voice that will win you over. Joy Denalane’s Born & Raised is a classic pop album. Cop the disc on iTunes, you need to have this in your music library.

Favorite Tracks: “Let Go,” “Sometimes Love,” “One In a Million”

I’m not actually listening to Lyfe Jennings’ album, just only a few songs that I downloaded via iTunes. Songs that I like are “Goodbye,” “Biggie” (his tribute to the late rhyme-spitter Notorious B.I.G.) and “Keep ya Head Up” (his tribute to the late rapper 2Pac). It’s not a bad collection.

Ahhh, I’m in heaven right now . . .

Busta Rhymes’s The Big Bang is a great disc, in which the veteran rhyme-slinger proves that despite being an old-timer in the rap game (15 years and counting), he can still bust fluent rhymes.

“Been Through the Storm” (featuring Stevie Wonder) is one of the best rap/R&B collaborations of the year—and should earned both of them a Grammy at next year’s awards ceremony.

And Busta says it best on the J Dilla-blessed “You Can’t Hold the Torch” (featuring Q-Tip):

Aiyyo, I ain’t bringin’ they names up/
These niggaz sound trash, straight foulin’ the game up/
When I see them feel like breakin’ they frame up/
DuPont registry, talkin’ about somebody else cars/
Motherfuckers better step up their bars/
Instead of frontin’ in the game like niggaz really are stars . . .

Word. Tell ‘em Bussa-Buss, these rap niggas are lame.

Elan’s Together As One CD was pass on to me by another journalist/collague of mines who thought I would enjoyed it. I’m not a real big fan of music that I like to call “Island Pop” (or “Reggae Pop”) that I associate with Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, 311 and their ilk. So knowing that No Doubt’s Tony Kanal was the executive producer of the disc, I was expected to hear some pop-tinged reggae music.

Well, there are some pop-tinged reggae music featured on Elan’s debut. However, Together As One manages to walk in a militant tradition set by roots, reggae and dancehall music. Quite frankly, this is some great summertime music and it should appeal to everyone’s ear buds. Standouts on the disc include the love ballad “Together As One”; the sexual tongue-and-cheek-iness of “Allnighter” (featuring Gwen Stefani); the dancehall burner “Don’t You Go” (featuring Tami Chynn), the political statement “I Wanna Yell,” and the rebel-rousing anthem “We Won’t Stand For This”

It’s not a bad CD, I enjoyed some of the music. I recommend listening to the disc on iTunes first and then download your favorite songs.