The Rundown: Aloe Blacc, Lift Your Spirit

A track-by-track look at the soul rebel's third album.

The Rundown: Aloe Blacc, Lift Your Spirit - Nouveau‎ soul crooner Aloe Blacc cracked the global R&B market when his 2010 recession-themed hit "I Need a Dollar" topped the charts all over Europe. Now he's following up his gold selling sophomore LP Good Things with the promising disc Lift Your Spirit, which matches the sounds of classic R&B with spiritually and socially conscious lyrics. With a voice reminiscent of Jeffrey Osbourne and Sam Cooke, Aloe Blacc offers another powerful project. Check out this track-by-track breakdown of his new LP.

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The Rundown: Aloe Blacc, Lift Your Spirit - Nouveau‎ soul crooner Aloe Blacc cracked the global R&B market when his 2010 recession-themed hit "I Need a Dollar" topped the charts all over Europe. Now he's following up his gold selling sophomore LP Good Things with the promising disc Lift Your Spirit, which matches the sounds of classic R&B with spiritually and socially conscious lyrics. With a voice reminiscent of Jeffrey Osbourne and Sam Cooke, Aloe Blacc offers another powerful project. Check out this track-by-track breakdown of his new LP.

"The Man" - Aloe sets off his newest LP with a boom bap-flavored soul display of masculine confidence. "I've been through the worst, but I still give my best," he sings. "God made my mold different from the rest." It's self-affirmation with a head nod.  (Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Guild of Music Supervisors)

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"The Man" - Aloe sets off his newest LP with a boom bap-flavored soul display of masculine confidence. "I've been through the worst, but I still give my best," he sings. "God made my mold different from the rest." It's self-affirmation with a head nod.  (Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Guild of Music Supervisors)

"The Man," Aloe Blacc - Aloe Blacc's musical pat on the back is the perfect anthem for anyone walking across the stage. "I been through the worst, but I gave my best," he sings.(Photo: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images for IWC)

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"Love Is the Answer" - This track is anchored in late '70s disco-fied funk (think the group Slave) with a deep bassline and hand claps. Atop this dance-able cut, Mr. Blacc croons about the power of love to heal society.  (Photo: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images for IWC)

"Wake Me Up" - Aloe taps southern gospel with this joy-filled single armed with foot stomps and handclaps accompanied by accoustic guitar licks. But instead of getting righteous, Blacc sings of the importance of self-awareness.  (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

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"Wake Me Up" - Aloe taps southern gospel with this joy-filled single armed with foot stomps and handclaps accompanied by accoustic guitar licks. But instead of getting righteous, Blacc sings of the importance of self-awareness.  (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

"Here Today" - With "Here Today," listeners arrive at the inspirational turn of the LP as Aloe belts out about the fleeting time one has in life and the importance of discovering your purpose.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Chrysalis)

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"Here Today" - With "Here Today," listeners arrive at the inspirational turn of the LP as Aloe belts out about the fleeting time one has in life and the importance of discovering your purpose.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Chrysalis)

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"Can You Do This" - Aloe reaches into the sounds of '60s shinding music to craft this kinetic dance party track.  (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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"Can You Do This" - Aloe reaches into the sounds of '60s shinding music to craft this kinetic dance party track.  (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

"Chasing" - Sam Cooke's 1963 classic "Having a Party" inspired this tune's melody. Only, instead of a festive celebration of dancing on the weekend, Aloe sings about the pressure of bill collectors.  (Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Guild of Music Supervisors)

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"Chasing" - Sam Cooke's 1963 classic "Having a Party" inspired this tune's melody. Only, instead of a festive celebration of dancing on the weekend, Aloe sings about the pressure of bill collectors.  (Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Guild of Music Supervisors)

Centric Award: Aloe Blacc – “The Man” - Aloe Blacc redefined soul with his hit hit single "The Man" and latest album Lift Your Spirit, earning him a nomination for the Centric Award.(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for IWC )

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"The Hand Is Quicker" - Boldly melding funk and hardcore country, Aloe flexes some soulful R&B machismo. "I was the one that all the ladies wanted to see," he sings. "And I was the one all the fellas wanted to be." (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for IWC )

"Ticking Bomb" - Crafted with a spaghetti western guitar, this track is about the ills of the world that threaten our very existence.  (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Soho House)

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"Ticking Bomb" - Crafted with a spaghetti western guitar, this track is about the ills of the world that threaten our very existence.  (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Soho House)

"Red Velvet Seat" - This tune, once again, takes listeners back to '60s love balladry, replete with swaying church piano. "In my red velvet seat," Blacc sings to his lady, "you can sit next to me." (Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for NCLR)

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"Red Velvet Seat" - This tune, once again, takes listeners back to '60s love balladry, replete with swaying church piano. "In my red velvet seat," Blacc sings to his lady, "you can sit next to me." (Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for NCLR)

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Time to Shine - Aloe Blacc, whose new song, "The Man," has been featured everywhere, visits the Kiss FM Studios in London.  (Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

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"Owe It All" - With a track reminiscent of '70s Lou Rawls, Aloe pays homage to the person who's been there for him through the rough and smooth times of his career.  (Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

"Lift Your Spirit" - For the listeners who've supported his non-conformist brand of R&B, Aloe reinstitues a spirited boom-bap for this joyous cut, on which he gives it up to the fans.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NCLR)

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"Lift Your Spirit" - For the listeners who've supported his non-conformist brand of R&B, Aloe reinstitues a spirited boom-bap for this joyous cut, on which he gives it up to the fans.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NCLR)

"Eyes of a Child" - Aloe Blacc closes out this LP with an airy tune for thought and an interpolation of a Mahatma Ghandi quote. "Remember if you want to change the world," Blacc offers, "then remember: be the change you want to see." (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Chrysalis)

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"Eyes of a Child" - Aloe Blacc closes out this LP with an airy tune for thought and an interpolation of a Mahatma Ghandi quote. "Remember if you want to change the world," Blacc offers, "then remember: be the change you want to see." (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Chrysalis)