D’Angelo’s stirring songs cultivate consciousness

Following the massive success of his second record, "Voodoo," released in 2000, D'Angelo stayed mostly out of sight until the past year. Soured by the sexualization of his perceived persona and how it subverted the substance of his art, the singer, born Michael Archer, retreated and remained sequestered, suppressed by the squeamishness of that, coupled with subsequent substance abuse and other pressing personal setbacks.

Aside from attracting attention for a 2005 arrest for driving under the influence, which produced an unflattering image of him that circulated, and the intrigue the alluring arc of his absence inspired, which spurred scrutiny of when he'd finally resurface with new music, the multitalented musician didn't generate many headlines in recent years.

That all changed in an instant when D'Angelo dramatically returned with "Black Messiah" on Dec. 15. Despite the fact that the year had all but expired, the unexpected release was universally acclaimed, as reflected in the Village Voice's annual Pazz and Jop poll, which compiles the consensus of more than 600 pundits.

A powerful and pivotal presence, "Black Messiah" is worthy of all the praise. As satisfying as it sounds musically, the record — which has drawn countless comparisons to "There's a Riot Goin' On" by Sly and the Family Stone — is stirring thematically. D'Angelo cultivates consciousness with songs such as "The Charade" with lines like: "All we wanted was a chance to talk/'Stead we only got outlined in chalk/Feet have bled a million miles we've walked/Revealing at the end of the day, the charade."

"We did that because ain't nobody talking about nothing," he explained in a conversation with Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale in a recent New York Times video clip. "The music that's coming out now, everybody's talking about, you know, how many drugs you sold, or how many bottles of champagne they poppin' at the club. Ain't nobody talking about no real s--t. I know for a fact that the music, back then in that day, it fed the movement. We as artists, I really feel like we've got a responsibility. These kids, they paying attention to us. They looking at us."

Read more from Dave Herrera at bestoflasvegas.com. Contact him at dherrera@reviewjournal.com.