Carl Thomas
Chicago, Illinois, United States | MAJOR
Music
Press
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The reviews are in and four years later Carl Thomas' new album shows critics he can still "Conquer" the music world. Grammy® nominated, platinum-selling R&B artist Carl Thomas has released his highly anticipated new album Conquer today, available in stores and with digital retailers. Fans can tune in to Carl's website www.carlthomaslive.com; LiveStream.com; Vibe.com and CentricTV.com to see a live webcast of his performance from SOB's Thursday, December 8th at 9:45 PM EST.
After a brief personal hiatus, Thomas returned to the studio armed with an arsenal of hit songs, award-winning producers and a triumphant spirit to deliver his highly anticipated new album, released on Verve Forecast. Conquer has already been declared by USA Today as the "Pick of the Week" and has garnered rave reviews from AOL Boombox, Singersroom and Soul Tracks. In the AOL Boombox Track by Track preview of the album one track was called "the one you want playing as you cozy up by the fireplace next to your loved one. Clothing is optional," while the Examiner said, "The album is perhaps Thomas' most accomplished and well rounded romantic offering."
His smoldering lead single, "Don't Kiss Me" produced by Rico Love (Usher, Beyonce), a modern-day ode to the oldie R&B track with Thomas' signature vocal styling—with a reminiscent touch of Al Green and Marvin Gaye for good measure, is currently climbing the Urban A/C Charts and is available on iTunes. The "Don't Kiss Me" remix featuring Snoop Dogg is also available on iTunes and for free on Carl's Facebook page: on.fb.me/carlthomaschallenge
A lot has happened since Carl Thomas' debut album Emotional climbed the charts to become an instant R&B classic. After the tragic murder of his brother in 2004 on the eve of the release of Thomas' sophomore album Let's Talk About It, a devastated Thomas put writing and recording on pause and went abroad to escape the pain from his shocking loss. With frequent international travels and remaining incognito in the States, Thomas embarked on a personal journey of recovery.
Still grieving the loss of his brother, Thomas was invited to the studio to record for "fun" resulting in 2007's So Much Better. "That not only gave me legs to stand on again," Thomas recalls, "but it showed me that I was supposed to be standing." And even as an independent release, So Much Better hit the Top 50 on the Billboard 200 chart: A cathartic process serving to ease Thomas back into writing and recording with a whole new outlook, paving the way for Conquer. For the recording of Conquer, Thomas enlisted some of today's top producers, including Andre Harris (formerly of multi-platinum production duo Dre & Vidal) who produced the smooth and seductive title track which opens with a quiet tempest of strings—the kind you hear during a pivotal scene of a spaghetti Western—and "Round Two," about his request to repeat an intimate encounter with a beautiful woman to jar his memory. Conquer continues with the Rex Rideout-(Ledisi) produced "It Is What It Is" which was written by hip-hop legend Heavy D and showcases Thomas' effortless ability to ride rhythms and skillfully ad-lib all at once; the romantic wedding ballad "I Do" which was written by Thomas and produced by The Internz (Justin Bieber) conveys the groom's point of view as he watches his gorgeous bride walk down the aisle; and the Mario Winans-produced "It Ain't Fair" whose production style works in perfect tandem with Thomas' subtle yet urgent delivery as he continues his grown-man flirts and adulation of a angelically beautiful woman.
Once a protege of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs (who signed Carl Thomas after hearing him sing at an open mic night in New York in the mid '90s), the Chicago native was the first heartthrob R&B songster on Bad Boy Entertainment. After a string of recordings with other Bad Boy artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Black Rob and Mase, Thomas finally got his chance and released his full-length debut album, Emotional, in April 2000 that reached No. 2 on the R&B chart, Top 20 on the Billboard 200 and sold nearly two million copies-— with the single "I Wish" hitting No. 1 on the R&B Singles chart. His follow-up, 2004's Let's Talk About It, hit No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200. And in 2006, Thomas earned a Grammy® Award nomination for "Everyday (Family Reunion)," along with Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams and the late Gerald Levert, for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals.
For up-to-date Social Media, please follow Carl Thomas on @Mr_Carl_Thomas and Carl Thomas: Conquer New Album.
SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises - "The album is perhaps Thomas' most accomplished and well rounded romantic offering" - EXAMINER
Review: Carl Thomas drops new album 'Conquer'
December 12, 2011|By BIANCA ROACH, Associated Press
(12-12) 09:08 PST , , — (12-12) 09:08 PST , (AP) --
Carl Thomas, "Conquer" (Verve)
Four years after releasing "So Much Better," Carl Thomas returns with his aptly entitled fourth album, "Conquer." Instead of his usual slow singing style, Thomas serves up a more uptempo record with 10 tracks showing off a new found flair that brings him back to life.
The album opener "The Night is Yours" sets the mood for the record: It's a fun, upbeat song that'll have you nodding your head with approval. This refreshing new style continues on track two with "Long Distant Love Affair." His soulful vocals, set over a solid drum beat, provide a nice, laid-back vibe.
"Round 2" is sexy and seductive: His well-known falsetto and a pounding bass-line will leave you wanting more. Lead single "Don't Kiss Me" is a throwback to his old style, and has Thomas demanding total commitment from his woman — or nothing. It's a sentiment not often heard from men in the sex-focused R&B realm, and it's bound to become a classic.
If you appreciate soulful ballads, this album is for you. It's takes you back to the old days of real R&B.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Round 2" will be on constant repeat. - December 12, 2011|By BIANCA ROACH, Associated Press
Discography
The single “I Wish” was released in late 1999, topping the R&B charts for six consecutive weeks, creating strong interest Emotional his debut album was released April 18, 2000. On the strength of this single, and the album’s other singles, “Summer Rain” at #18 and the title track “Emotional” at #8 on the R&B charts: The album was certified platinum (certification) with over 1 million in sales. Later rapper Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” featuring Pharrell sampled Thomas’ “I Wish” on his 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia.
His second album, Let’s Talk About It, was released March 23, 2004. Although two singles She Is and Let’s Talk About It were released they charted poorly. Lack of promotion caused by the death of Thomas’s step brother, Duranthony Evans who was killed in a drive by on Halloween night on Aurora’s east side was a contributing factor. This devastated Thomas, causing him to take a sabbatical from his music and the promotion of the album. The album, was highly anticipated due to the length of time that had passed since Emotional but wasn’t well received by fans. He is featured on Amerie’s album Touch (2005).
On the 2006 2Pac album Pac’s Life, he was featured beside Hussein Fatal and Papoose on the track “Dumpin’”.
On December 7, 2006, Thomas earned a Grammy Award nomination along with Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, and the late Gerald Levert for “Everyday (Family Reunion)” a song from the soundtrack of Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion. The song received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocals.
His third album, So Much Better, was released May 30, 2007 and reached number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
He is now signed to Verve Music Group. Thomas plans to have a new album entitled “Conquer” due out Dec 2011! He is featured on Trey Songz 2009 song “Feels So Good”.
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Bio
“I am back,” declares celebrated and respected R&B singer Carl Thomas. “Do you know why?” he asks almost rhetorically. His confidence and smooth, hood yet high-post eloquence betray even the thought of you offering any possible guesses. You know he is ready with the answer. “I am back because this game will tell the truth on you. If you are meant for it, it won’t allow you to stray away for too long,” he says.
Once a protégé of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs (who signed Thomas after hearing him sing at an open mic night in New York in the mid – 90s), he was the first heartthrob R&B songster on Bad Boy Entertainment. Thomas is best known for his #1 R&B smash “I Wish” from the album So Emotional, which debuted in the Top 20 on Billboard and was a critical and commercial success, selling nearly 2 million copies.
Lothario & Leader
When Thomas crooned “I wish I had never met her,” with equal parts pleading and regret, women found his white wine cool vocals and Marvin Gaye meets Nat King Cole sex appeal irresistible, while guys immediately identified with his worldly yet around the way lyricism and spot on relationship observations. With a solid debut —also yielding the windswept hit single “Summer Rain”—Carl Thomas instantly transformed from a Chicago native son singing for his supper into both an in demand lothario and voice of masculine romance for an entire generation. However, it was his indefatigable passion and not industry position or fanfare that beckoned him back to the studio for his new album, Conquer.
Death & A Bad Boy Dips
It has been a long road back home. In 2004, on the eve of the release of his highly anticipated sophomore project, Let’s Talk About It, Thomas’ brother was murdered in Aurora, Illinois, the Chicago suburb where they grew up. Instead of basking in the glory and glamour of another hit album, a devastated Thomas left his career behind fled abroad and rendered himself incognito in the states—much to the chagrin of Combs. “Puff fought me on that one. But, we were at different points of communication at the time,” he says. Thomas also makes it clear that his eventual departure from the iconic the hip-hop/R&B label had nothing to do with the swirl of rumors that surfaced regarding the situation. “My leaving Bad Boy had nothing to do with dollars and cents, points and percentages or contractual issues. But, it had everything to do with a shift in personal priorities. I lost my biggest cheerleader, my big brother. The label was the greatest college of the music industry that I ever attended,” he admits.
Legs to Stand On
After leaving Bad Boy and still in the grief-stricken process, friend and producer Mike City (Brandy, Usher, Dave Hollister) reached out and invited him to the studio just to record for fun, with the hopes of getting his mind off his troubles. He ended up working with industry legends Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well and the project resulted in his third album, So Much Better. “That not only gave me legs to stand on again, but it showed me that I was supposed to be standing.”
A few years later, he would hear an album by one of his contemporaries that would change his life. “I saw my good brother Maxwell and I listened to his last project before it came out and it reminded me of the integrity that we are supposed to be having as R&B artists. It reminded me of how much of an honor it was to uphold this lineage of Black music. It got the ball rolling for me again.”
Battle Ready
“There is nothing more passionate to me than music,” he says. Like a soldier confident in his skill for battle, this singer/songwriter is ready to reclaim his territory—a land now saturated by their over-active libidos and southern sounds as thick and gritty as Georgia’s infamous red clay. In stark contrast,
Carl Thomas is the epitome of New York 70s and 80s soul: breezy and funky; the absolute perfect storm of class, charisma and cool. He’s returned with a new respect for the music and his craft. “I know now that I was absolutely built for this.”
Ready to Conquer
Conquer, his first album in 4 years, is bursting with lush orchestrations and entrancing chords. The core of Conquer is comparable to Coldplay’s soulful sparseness. It’s the spirited pop of Maroon Five on a hot Harlem night. Its Sting meets Lamont Dozier. Not wishing to travel the same, traditional R&B course, Thomas has carved his own melodious niche. “As a songwriter, I hear songs and say, ‘Man, I wish I had written that record.’ There are types of records that have eluded me most of my career. Those are the records that I managed to find for Conquer.”
The title track, produced by Andre Harris (formerly of multi-platinum production duo Dre & Vidal), opens with a quiet tempest of strings—the kind you hear during a pivotal scene of a spaghetti western, where the hero faces danger or, even worse, doom. Carl Thomas has his own particular brand of hero music. “The heroes always seem to lose at the end
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