Back to Then

Most people out here simply refuse to look at Darius Rucker without seeing him in only one role: the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish and singing only one type of music. This is unfortunate because BACK TO THEN is a very good solo effort, a celebration of old school soul. If that's not your thing, and you're looking for Hootie's style of music, then perhaps you should pass on this...but if you are a fan of old school R&B, then you will love it!

Darius enlists the assistance of some of today's R&B heavy hitters (Musiq, Jimmy Cozier, Lil Mo, Jill Scott, and Dre and Vidal of DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch of Jazz Productions) and the result is an eclectic neo soul-type vibe. Okay, it does have its flaws (the unnecessary hip-hop track with Snoop Dogg, "Sleeping In My Bed" in particular - I played it once and once was enough), but Darius proves to us that he has far more versatility than what you hear on the Hootie records. Upon hearing the head-bopping opener "Wild One" for...Read more

For people thinking this is an extension of Hootie and the Blowfish's style of music, you will be disappointed, but don't despair. Darius has ventured into the R&B world with a tight and suave album of soul. I am big Hootie fan, but after waiting months for the long anticipated album I was not disappointed. Working with Musiq, Jill Scott, and Jimmy Cozier (R&B fans are well aware of those artists) to name a few, Darius delivers one of the best produced albums in some time. Jill Scott lends her voice for "Sometimes I wonder" and their voices match like peanut butter and jelly. This isn't Usher or Sisqo, but someone with more talent and a more sophisticated arrangement. If you are a fan of the so called "Neo-Soul" and artists like Jill Scott, Bilal, and Musiq or even fans of classic R&B like Al Green (Darius covers "I'm Glad You're Mine"), Sam Cook, and Marvin Gaye, you will love this album by Darius Rucker! From the first song, "Wild...Read more

If you're like me, you started to get into music around 1994-95, you just couldn't resist the fun, catchy tunes of a little band from South Carolina called Hootie & The Blowfish. As the years have gone by my taste has gotten heavier and heavier, and a band like Hootie would be last on my list, but I'll admit it, I still have Cracked Rear View to this day. The one thing about Hootie that always really stood out in my point of view, was the voice of frontman Darius Rucker. Very few bands I like actually have lead singers who can sing, but Darius is one of them. He just, sings with so much emotion, like you can really tell how he feels about what he's singing about.

Well recently I was on Hootie's web site just for old time's sake, and I saw news of Darius making a solo cd, and I heard that it was going to be an R&B record, not pop-rock. Well I'm not really into R&B, but I decided to check it out, considering I always loved Darius's voice so much. I was shocked. There was...Read more