Soul singer Bobby V was already eight years into his solo career, with five solid albums and one EP to his credit, when he released the very soulful Peach Moon in 2013. Serving as the singer’s second EP, Peach Moon found the singer taking a different approach to give fans a sound in the vein of Neo-Soul.
Bobby opens the EP with the intro titled “Peach Moon,” which features a spoken word by Big Rube. It’s a great mood setter for the EP, which has the vibe of a soulful jazz café. After the intro, Bobby smoothly transitions into “Back To Love,” where I get the vibe that the singer was perfectly in tune with his band while recording this one.
The live instrumentation comes through flawlessly, while Bobby croons about his affection for his lady love. “Koko Lovely” is up next, which is textbook D’Angelo and Bobby and his band create a vibe that will have you snapping your fingers. Southern soul shines through on “Who Am I To Change,” which I could easily see as an inspirational number in an off-Broadway play.
“Love Abuse” is next, where Bobby gives us a story about a player trying to change his ways and get his lady back. The inspirational vibes continue on the album’s closer, “Never Give Up.” If I did have one gripe with the project, it would be the lack of one of Bobby’s signature slow jams for an intimate night with your lady.
However, Bobby’s instrumentation and dedication to this project more than make up for it. While Bobby V has a catalog of club bangers and slow jams, Peach Moon is easily one of the singer’s top projects. I sincerely hope he revisits the vibe he created with this wonderful EP one day.
Final Grade: A
Peach Moon is available on all streaming platforms.
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2025, I wanted to return to 2005 and highlight “Gemini,” the eighth album from iconic singer & balladeer Brian McKnight. The album hit stores on February 8th, 2005, and would serve as the singer’s last release on the legendary Motown label. The album’s title pays homage to the singer’s astrological sign.
When discussing families in R&B music, three names are usually at the top: Jackson, Debarge, and Isley. For the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2025, I wanted to show love to Isley Jasper Isley and their hit “Insatiable Woman” from their 1985 album “Caravan of Love.”
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.