Vibe.com, May 25th, 2005
The Mood: Soundsational is the debut release from California natives Bobby and IZ Avila, the prolific producers and songwriters who have contributed to the work of superstars including Janet Jackson, Usher, and Mya. To showcase their individual sound, The Avila Brothers run with their concept of creating a continuous vibe of mellow sexiness to unify its elements of soul, hip-hop, funk, and R&B.;
While the album does successfully create this mood by generating a mellow, sexy, funky vibe, the production on tracks like "Smile" - which has a Stevie Wonder "Songs in the Key of Life" feel and is punctured by 16 bars of freestyle - sounds forced and unwarranted. Other tracks seem to throwback to the Brothers' Mariah Carey days as on "Let It Go" and "Nic of Time" which are simple and straight R&B; songs that sound uninspired against some of the album's more genre-blending tunes.
By blending jazz flute and hip-hop, the Avila Brothers give "Boogie Jones Theme" and "Tit Ya Cups" a 1970's sex-you-up vibe, paired with rap and beats that give the songs a campy quality that's fun without being corny. "It's Over Now" sounds like a celebratory club track with a plethora of styles, accented by Ahmad Jones' leisurely rapping style that makes him one of the most fun guest artists on the album.
Periodically and with mixed results, the Avilas stick a musical interlude in between songs. Some of these interludes are funky and fun to listen to, while others come seemingly out of nowhere, diversions on the way to better songs. The bright, string-based "Sweet Symphony," only 46 seconds long, sounds like a tic before heading into the duet "Love's Mystery," a track that again pulls from Stevie Wonder's influence but combined with a disturbing light-rock melody and horns straight from Chicago's ballad, "You're The Inspiration."
With its variety of featured guest artists and blending of genres, the Brothers' The Mood: Soundsational has some exciting periods of cohesive flow and innovation, but seems more like a compilation at times, when the genres move from electronic to classical to hip-hop, and back again too quickly. The best moments of The Mood: Soundsational come when the Brothers commit to the timeless music of their soul, hip-hop, and funk influences.
