The Way I See It

The Way I See It marks a significant pivot for Raphael Saadiq, moving away from the hip-hop-inflected neo-soul of Tony! Toni! Toné! and his early solo work toward a rigorous recreation of 1960s soul. Recorded primarily at his Blakeslee Recording Company in North Hollywood, Saadiq and engineer Charles Brungardt utilized vintage equipment and historic recording techniques to capture the specific sonic signatures of Motown and Philadelphia soul. Saadiq famously played most of the instruments himself, layering tracks to create a full-band sound that remains remarkably cohesive. The album was a critical darling, earning three Grammy nominations and being hailed by critics like Andy Kellman and Robert Christgau for its startling accuracy and soulful execution. It stands as a landmark in the 'retro-soul' revival of the late 2000s, proving that traditional songwriting and analog production could still resonate in a digital age.