National Music Reviews
Charles Bradley
Victim of Love
Daptone/Dunham
Street: 04.02
Charles Bradley = Dennis Coffey + Curtis Mayfield + Sam Cooke
The screaming eagle of soul, Charles Bradley became a breakthrough artist at the age of 62 with the release of his debut album, No Time for Dreaming. On his sophomore release, Victim of Love, Bradley once again delivers a bucket of authenticity, passion and power. Bradley’s croon crackles over the invigorating, upbeat and catchy opener, “Strictly Reserved for You.” Cascading horns and rolling beats ignite raw energy on “Love Bug Blues.” Halfway through the album on tracks like “Confusion” and “Hurricane,” a slight shift takes place with added psychedelic fuzz, thundering basslines and echoey vocals. Victim of Love shows the true brilliance behind Bradley.