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Leave It All Behind | 
 enlarge | Artist: The Foreign Exchange
Label: Hard Boiled
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.92
You Save: $6.06 (36%)
New (27) Used (5) from $10.92
Avg. Customer Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 8038
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.5
MPN: 02
UPC: 616892981527
EAN: 0616892981527
ASIN: B001EICD8E
Release Date: October 14, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Daykeeper | | • | Take Off The Blues | | • | All Or Nothing/Coming Home To You | | • | I Wanna Know | | • | House Of Cards | | • | Sweeter Than You | | • | Valediction | | • | If She Breaks Your Heart | | • | If This Is Love | | • | Something To Behold | | • | Leave It All Behind |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Four years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut "Connected," The Foreign Exchange returns with their sophomore set, "Leave It All Behind." Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, "Connected," was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica. "Leave It All Behind" finds The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay has since become a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. The duo's second full-length is a dark, multilayered affair that features Phonte showcasing his abilities as an exceptional lead and harmony vocalist, while Nicolay extends his musical palette to include sprinklings of jazz, downtempo, and house. The lush, Darien Brockington-assisted "Take Off the Blues" picks up where Connected's sleeper hit "Come Around" left off, while the complex polyrhythms and dreamy synthesizers of "Sweeter Than You" are described by Phonte as "swing jazz for the next century." Marc Mac (of legendary UK production team 4hero), also contributes a string arrangement to the duo's glorious cover of Stevie Wonder's oft-forgotten 1991 gem, "If She Breaks Your Heart." In addition to appearances from longtime FE affiliates Darien Brockington and Yahzarah, the album also features guest shots from producer/keyboardist Zo! and vocalist Muhsinah.
Album Description
Explicit Version. Four years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Connected, The Foreign Exchange are back with the highly anticipated sophomore set IN 2008 with Leave It All Behind. Consisting of singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online Hip-Hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After collaborating and building a rapport online via instant messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before actually having met each other face to face.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
 Come A Little Closer November 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A fellow hip hop head told me about this album before I had a listen to it, his advice was to not bother because Phonte only raps on 2 songs. Well to say the least, I'm so glad I didn't listen and decided to make my own judgement. I didn't like the album at first with the exception of "Take off your Blues" but now that I've given it more ipod rotation, I can't stop listening to it. This album is so smooth and fresh- give it a chance and stop trying to make it live up to "Connected" after all, variety is the spice of life right?
Newly Discover/saw the concert yesterday in NY/Love the intentions... November 16, 2008
So, I was reading this blog [...] and decided to click the link of the song. Why not? It was free.
I instantly fell in love with "Daykeeper". It's a beautiful song. I couldn't help that I loved the change in sound towards the end.
I later learned that Phonte was a memeber of "Little Brother" (a cd that I have) and knew I had to do some research.
I love the cd "Leave It all Behind". It is the best cd that I have listened to in a long time.
From the research that I have done, I've read some comments from the fans complaining that this cd is too R&B and not enough rap. I am currently back tracking, to get the "Connected" cd so that I can form my own judgement. Either way, I don't think what they did was bad at all...
I was able to enjoy them in concert yesterday in NY. It was great/sexy/exciting.
Again, I love this cd. The only problem I had/have is that the cd was too short. I wanted more...
My favorite tracks are
1. Daykeeper -- I don't think anyone could argue that this song was just "crazy" and amazing.
2. Take Off the blues--a great r&b song
3. All or Nothing/Coming Home to You---I love how when you think the song is over, it continues into a different song that actually is the same song...lol
4. I Wanna Know--I love this song so much. This is a song for the lovers...real love.
5. House of Cards--wasn't too big on at first but I do like the song. If you are out there doing wrong, this song will definitely make you feel guilty...
6. Sweeter Than You-- So, have you ever had someone over and just didn't want them to go?? Or just have someone that you love so much and couldn't imagine anything better?? This is the song to play..lol.
7.Valediction-- This a great break up song...or if you simply realized that things aren't working out in your relationship.
8. If she Breaks Your Heart-- Stevie wonder remake (just found that out). Um, it's a good song...sometimes Yazarah voice annoys me but great effort.
9.If this is Love-- In love and can't explain it?? Play this song. Simple versus but the song means so much.
10. Something to Behold--a great love/happy/two-step song
11. Leave It all Behind--hmm, you know how the last songs are. I can't say that I would miss this song. It's a great song especially if you have a child.
 Leave this one behind November 12, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
Do not be fooled by the prerequisite melancholy cover art or the admittedly poignant lead single "Daykeeper". Leave it all behind is a one dimensional, standstillmatic release that sounds like an album from Dwele if he lost 50% of his vocal talent and let a rookie myspace cubase producer craft his tracks. To the contrary, I'm not one of these Little Brother aficionado's who refuses to have an open mind to their side projects. I know some fans met this album with apprehension because of the lack of emceeing but it was that reason why "Leave it all behind" intrigued me. That and the fact that their first album showed much promise.
Unfortunately, awkward beats, flimsy concepts, embarrassing songwriting and mundane singing are the cornerstone of this release. This is not a "dark, multilayered affair". Yahzarah sounds like the second coming of Michelle' for crying out loud. I don't think Stevie would appreciate the remake. I'll give this album 2.5 out of 5 and that's being generous. "I wanna know and the aforementioned "Daykeeper" are the only two cuts that really make this album worth listening to. The rest sounds like a college basement experiment gone terribly wrong.
 Barely Mediocre November 8, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
When you're as musically talented as The Foreign Exchange is, sometimes you get experimental(e.g. Common "Electric Circus"). Leave It All Behind is experimental. The duo, Nicolay and Phonte, now live much less than 300 miles apart, so mix downs and collabaoration should be the utmost. But they're not. The album is a musical journey, but definitely not a trip a burgeoning hip-hop duo is supposed to make. Although the album has some decent vocals, with Darien Brockinton and Yazarah putting in their best, Neither artist is the next breakout soul-singing sensation, and that is what makes the album lose it's power. With the given production, much stronger vocals were needed. Yet, when you experiment sometimes you fail. Had they moved in the direction of "Connected" they may have solidified more of a heavier fan base. A sophomore effort is not the time to be experimental. It's the time to give your fans a good body of work, so when your are experimental, they have something to fall back on. Early next year, no one will be talking about Leave It All Behind, conversations will instead go from "Connected" to what might have been. This experiment is not "The Formula."
I'm Really Feel'in It! Nu Soul Fans Will Too. October 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Man bro. I totally agree. I couldn't have said it better myself. This isn't what I expected from Nicolay and Phonte's second colab, but its just what I needed. I'm usually good at keeping my ear and attention to undaground music and artists, but some how this album slipped right past me. I had been waiting for the next Foreign Exchange album when I found out to days ago that one had dropped already. I was like Whoa! How'd I miss this? I hadn't heard a single song yet but I downloaded it directly from Amazon. I had to have it. Once I heard it No Regrets. It didn't take me any time for it to grow on me. I was feelin it right off da bat. It was smooth and soulful but with an abstract down tempo type feel. To me some of the songs like Daykeeper, House of Cards, and Valediction is like down tempo nu soul meets the Alan Parsons Project. Another thing. Who knew Phonte could actually hold a note? Not Me. I've heard him play around a little bit on different 9th wonder and Justus League projects but man dude can really hold his own. I still can't really believe that's him singing. Just goes to show never under estimate the full repor of any artists trying to break thru and create meaningful music. Leave It All Behind man did they. FE left behind all the stereotypes off what people thing R&B should sound like and create something for listeners to expand their minds and yet reminisce at the same time. Yo with out a doubt Buy This Album.
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