On first hearing this song, I did an aural double-take worthy of Laurel and Hardys James Finlayson, thinking: could this really be a modern Bill Withers song with a great groove?. On listening closer, I realised it was not Mr Withers, but damn I loved the song instantly and had to find out more!
Aloe Blacc is not a new name in the world of music, but it was a new name to me. His latest album Good Things represents a massive move away from the glitchy, boom-tick RnB of his debut 2006 album Shine Through, moving firmly over to the soulful side of RnB. This is my favourite kind of RnB, but probably the least fashionable.
I Need a Dollar has everything going for it it is catchy as hell, has a great groove, good lyrics and pretty fine singing, as well. Timing-wise, youd probably think that Egbert (Aloe Blaccs real name wonder why on earth he changed it) had written the song as the sound-track to these tough times, but that is not really the case, it just forms part of the albums theme: capitalism and America. I Need a Dollar follows the protagonist, being laid-off from work and eventual fall inspired by Blaccs own redundancy a few years back.
The version on the single is remixed slightly from the album version, with added percussion and even a bit of vinyl crackle at the very end. Also included are two remixes, one by dubstep man-of-the-moment Zinc, the other by Tensnake. Neither would ever be played by me, as they lose the whole groove of the song, but if it helps it cross over, then its all good.
Expect to hear this song on repeat in all tasteful music establishments and on the few good radio stations on the airwaves and online. Who knows, Aloe Blacc, along with contemporary Anthony Hamilton, may actually bring some good old soul vibes back into vogue?