Comparing Donnie's music to the "soul" music of today is wrong. Why? Because Donnie's music is what soul music used to be - music from the soul.

Although I like many of the soul/neo-soul/R&B-artists out there, it is obvious that commercial demands set limits to what they can do. Almost all songs now seem to follow some blueprint; what harmonies can be used, how many bars the intro/verse/chorus/bridge should be, and so on. Stuff like instrument solos and "too much shouting" - as one other reviewer put it - is outlawed.

Donnie on the other hand is simply true, raw, unfiltered, unbridled S-O-U-L! If this music would've come out in the 70's, it would've hit hard, and Donnie would've been ranked up there with Sly Stone, Stevie, Donnie Hathaway, Commodores (I mean the 70's Commodores, the pre-Nightshift Commodores), and EWF. Unfortunately, Donnie's breath-taking talent is most likely never to get anyware near that level of appreciation today, since everybody's ears are so tuned to the bridled, conformed-to-MTV-and-radio kind of soul that is the order of the day.

To all who love true, fonky, gritty, in-your-face soul with a message - support Donnie and BUY this album! You will NOT regret it!

This man is genius! If you like old school, then you can again have faith in our younger generation! Political content, soul and originality wrapped neatly in the daily news.....And if you have never seen him live...shame shame shame.....can a brother get on the radio instead of the garbage they play....

I don't think it's as good as his debut CD,but it is a great collaboration. As usual,Donnie is deep with his lyrics. A true talent, a gifted brother.

Donnie's talent knows no limits. His vocal skills and delivery packs a punch. I love the way he deals with topics tha most artists would not conceive of singing/writing about. He has depth and breadth of knowledge as it relates to being socially conscious. He understand the struggle and he offers his audience a mirror in which to check ourselves. I am sorry most of mainstream radio (Urban Contemporary, R&B and Hip-Hop etc.) will not be courageous enough to play his music on the air. Donnie is a reincarnated soul from the Civil Rights Era. He has a fan for life.

I was watching Tavis Smiley one day and his guest was the one and only Denzel Washington. Usually when Denzel makes his movie premiere talk show rounds he is donned in a NY fitted, jeans or an occasional collared shirt. When Washington sat down to chat with Tavis; he chilled in a dark tailored two piece that could make the most heterosexual man, mutter damn!! Smiley, not missing the obvious opportunity, asked: Man, why the suit? And, Denzel in an effortless manner that only he could script simply replied: "I wore this suit to show you how much I appreciate what you do." Silence.


Well, as many of you know I am a HUGE music fan and in honor of this spectacular CD, this will be one of the few times where I check my dry-witted sarcasm at the door.

After a four-year lay-off singer/ songwriter extraordinaire, Donnie unleashes his second LP called The Daily News and (honestly) my simple review will never do it justice. In spite of that fact, here it goes. Wait, before I get started, there are a couple of things you have to absorb.

a) Don't for a minute think that you are going to drop the top or swing your hips to this one--it is simply not that type of party. Donnie is much too complex for that. 9-1-1 will be the closest track to a toe-tapping single that you will get from Marvin Gaye's nephew; and believe me, his legendary uncle will be extremely proud of this one. Add Donnie Hathaway to that (would-be) proud list, who Marvin's nephew is named after.

b) You will also notice the inability to categorize this CD, hence the Independent distribution from SoulThought Records--I can only imagine the faces in the recording studio as these lyrics were being recited.

Not so ironically, The Daily News tackles subjects like sexism, racism, drug abuse, homophobia, child molestation, the Atlanta Child Murders, suicide and even the prescription drug companies. Yeah, it is hard to snap your finger to that one--although the brilliant TRUE gospel-like music arrangements actually attempts to do just that.

If you didn't like the debut LP The Colored Section, don't waste your time with this one. Just turn on your urban contemporary radio and watch your soul get washed down the sewer. Who knows, maybe one day it'll make the daily news.