The Rundown: D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah

A track-by-track look at singer's first album in 14 years.

D'Angelo and the Vanguard – Black Messiah - After a 14-year hiatus the veteran soul superstar formed a new band, the Vanguard, and scored one of the most anticipated LPs of the 2015, Black Messiah. Of course D’Angelo’s return gets a nod for Album of the Year.   (Photo by: RCA Records)

1 / 13

The Rundown: D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah - Singer D'Angelo's career is beginning to look a lot like funk pioneer Sly Stone's journey. Both ushered in brave new versions of R&B. Both were worshipped by fans. Both retreated inward from their phenomenal fame. And as Sly re-emerged with deeper and more cerebral music, D — after a 14-year wait— has resurfaced with a personal approach to soul music. Call Black Messiah D'Angelo's take on Sly's There's a Riot Going On, musically blending soul, funk, rock, jazz and psychedelia to speak to a new consciousness brewing. Check this breakdown of D's return.  (Photo: RCA Records)

"Ain't That Easy" - D'Angelo cracks opens his long-awaited return with a hazy funkadelic cut that melds Sly and the Family Stone's '70s introspective singing and musicality with the cross-over-to-me electricity of Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced."   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

2 / 13

"Ain't That Easy" - D'Angelo cracks opens his long-awaited return with a hazy funkadelic cut that melds Sly and the Family Stone's '70s introspective singing and musicality with the cross-over-to-me electricity of Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced."  (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

"1000 Deaths" - Armed with an other-worldly mix of off-putting bass drum pulses, a transformer scratched guitar and cosmic voices of activism, the neo-soul pioneer offers a cerebral soul music jazz journey that challenges listeners. (Photo: Rick Davis/Splash News)

3 / 13

"1000 Deaths" - Armed with an other-worldly mix of off-putting bass drum pulses, a transformer scratched guitar and cosmic voices of activism, the neo-soul pioneer offers a cerebral soul music jazz journey that challenges listeners. (Photo: Rick Davis/Splash News)

How Does It Feel... - ...for singer D'Angelo to be on stage during the 2012 BET Awards? Not sure, but he definitely delivered with this comeback performance.There could be some surprise performances during the BET Awards '13!(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

4 / 13

"The Charade" - Since Brown Sugar, D'Angelo's falsetto voice and sexy, attitudinal soul music has always mined Prince for inspiration. That is especially the case on this '60s backbeat-fueled track which finds the neo-soulster musing on faking it in love.  (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

D'Angelo - The sexy R&B crooner got more than he bargained for in 2008 when he offered a woman $40 for oral sex. Turns out the lady was a cop. The "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" singer denies the allegations of solicitation. Considering he's the last person we'd expect to have to pay for female attention, we're tempted to believe him.   (Photo: C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com)

5 / 13

"Sugah Daddy" - For this swaggalicious cut where D'Angelo plays rich suitor to a materialistic lady, the sound of big band jazz is stripped down to a rhythmic layering that is undeniably infectious. (Photo: C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com)

"Really Love" - A crisp accoustic guitar lays easily over D's signature bass/rim snaps as the song tilts between instrumental and the soul crooner's throaty thoughts on true love.    (Photo: Splash News)

6 / 13

"Really Love" - A crisp accoustic guitar lays easily over D's signature bass/rim snaps as the song tilts between instrumental and the soul crooner's throaty thoughts on true love.   (Photo: Splash News)

Photo: Splash News

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/07/Shows/BET-Awards-Show/070112-shows-beta-performer-dangelo-5.jpg

7 / 13

"Back to the Future (Part I)" - "Traveling at the speed of light, and then..." D'Angelo starts this track, "at the same I'm in the same spot too." Once again, the singer reaches into Sly's introspective lyricism and sparse funk instrumentation to push this jazz-tinged track to its artsy edge.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Singer D'Angelo performs onstage at day 3 of the 2012 BET Awards rehearsals held at The Shrine Auditorium on June 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

8 / 13

"Till It's Done (Tutu)" - As Sly quipped "if you want me to stay" to messiah-weary fans, D uses this heavenly track to ask "where do we go from here?" to listeners also going through a social awakening. The fuzzy funk instrumentation offers no answers but lets us float on the questions.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

D'Angelo: February 11 - The sexy singer, born Michael Eugene Archer, celebrates his 40th birthday.   (Photo: Nick Pickles/WireImage)

9 / 13

"Prayer" - D gives the Lord's Prayer a funky and booming update. A fluttering electric guitar and droning Moog anchors within a crisp drum break. It's all about the music. (Photo: Nick Pickles/WireImage)

"Betray My Heart" - D'Angelo declares he will never sell-out his creative or personal values over an infectious trotting rhythm and sliding horns. Once again, jazz meets the funk to push R&B's envelope. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

10 / 13

"Betray My Heart" - D'Angelo declares he will never sell-out his creative or personal values over an infectious trotting rhythm and sliding horns. Once again, jazz meets the funk to push R&B's envelope. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

"The Door" - Switching gears to a hip-hopped version of 1930's folk music, D gives a basic message to those who haven't treated him right: hit the door and hit the road.   (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

11 / 13

"The Door" - Switching gears to a hip-hopped version of 1930's folk music, D gives a basic message to those who haven't treated him right: hit the door and hit the road.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

Music Man - D'Angelo continues on his summer of live music at his one-night concert at E-Werk in Cologne, Germany. (Photo: WENN.com)

12 / 13

"Back to the Future (Part II)" - This part deux of "Back to the Future" continues the head-nodding funk factor, keeping things short and sweet with the instrumental.(Photo: WENN.com)

Singer D'Angelo performs onstage at day 3 of the 2012 BET Awards rehearsals held at The Shrine Auditorium on June 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

13 / 13

"Another Life" - D concludes his return with a celestrial trip to find a deep love. A wah wah guitar rests within a crowd swaying rhythm and soaring keyboard work. The perfect song to lift a crowd up or take them out. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET