Raphal Saadiq: The Way I See It

The former Charlie Wiggins has been around the block a few times, first as a member of 80s R&B-mongers Tony! Toni! Toné!, then as producer for D'Angelo and TLC. Given the company he's kept, it would have been a surprise if this album had been anything other than an impeccably wrought collection of retro soul. (Just so nobody can say they weren't warned about its vintage sound, he's wearing a 1960s suit and glasses in the cover photo.) You could argue that Saadiq's backward-looking take on things is safe and comfy, but it's impossible to deny that he does it beautifully. He's at his best on tracks such as the Motownish ballad Calling, where there's a female singer to complement his high, sweet vocals (Joss Stone, who pops up on Just One Kiss, does herself proud for a change), but is just as graceful alongside Jay-Z on Oh, Girl. The album was Grammy-nominated, and deservedly so.