[2010-09-14] Chocolate Genius Incorporated (aka Marc Anthony Thompson) "Swansongs" (One Little Indian)

Tricky Kid · **Joined:** 23 Sep 2007 **Posts:** 8297

Marc Anthony Thompson is an eclectic singer/songwriter who released a pair of solo albums with Warner Bros. before the birth of his current project – Chocolate Genius Inc.

Thompson was born in Panama, raised in California, and later moved to New York where he became involved in the downtown avant-garde scene. Thompson originally conceived Chocolate Genius as an alter ego, but the conceit soon turned into a full-fledged recording project. The Chocolate Genius supporting band was a loose, free-floating collective of Thompson's downtown cronies, including Marc Ribot, cellist Jane Scarpantoni, Oren Bloedow, Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), keyboardist John Medeski and bassist Chris Wood (of Medeski, Martin & Wood), visionary guitarist Chris Whitley and Meshell Ndgeocello - amongst others.

Thompson's debut as Chocolate Genius was Black Music (produced with Craig Street and Abe Laboriel Jr.), released in 1998. Its eclectic fusion of genre-bending R&B, sonic experimentation, and a fearlessly unique slant on love and other four letter words drew many favorable reviews and earned the auteur behind Chocolate Genius a spot in the emerging neo-soul movement.

In 2001, he returned with a second Chocolate Genius album, the acclaimed Godmusic. The same year his version of The Beatles' "Julia" was included on the soundtrack to the film “I Am Sam” - earning Thompson his first gold record. His next album, Black Yankee Rock, followed four years later.

Marc Anthony Thompson has also worked extensively in scoring film and theatre productions. He won an Obie award in sound design for “A Huey P. Newton Story” in 1997 and has written music for “My Bloody Valentine” (2009), “Rikers High” (2005), “Brother to Brother” (2004), “Everyday People” (2004), “Colorvision” (2004) (which he hosted in the same year), “American Splendor” (2003), “Urbania” (2000), “Jackpot” (2000), “Twin Falls Idaho” (1999), and “Spark” (1998).

In 2006, Marc Anthony Thompson was enrolled in the line-up for the Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions Tour playing acoustic guitar, backing vocals and sharing the lead vocals with Mr. Springsteen on several songs - including "Eyes on the Prize" and "When The Saints Go Marching In". His contribution is captured for posterity on the Columbia released DVD – “Live In Dublin”.

Swansongs:

01. She Smiles
02. Enough For You
03. Like A Nurse
04. Kiss Me
05. Lump
06. Polanski
07. How I Write My Songs
08. Mr. Wonderful
09. Sit & Spin
10. When I Lay You Down
11. Ready Now

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UIRBEM/?tag=imwan-20

Tricky Kid · **Joined:** 23 Sep 2007 **Posts:** 8297

Bump: This release has been pushed back to August 31; final tracklist is also likely to change.

Tricky Kid · **Joined:** 23 Sep 2007 **Posts:** 8297

Bump: Added cover art and final tracklist.

FYI, initial advance copies featured an alternate tracklist:

Quote:

01. Intro (Without A Paddle)
02. She Smiles
03. Enough Of/For You
04. Get Out Of Here
05. Like A Nurse
06. Polanski
07. Ready Now
08. How I Write My Songs
09. Mr. Wonderful
10. Lump
11. Sit+Spin
12. Duded
13. When I Lay You Down

Also, this release has been pushed back an additional two weeks to September 14.

[2010-09-14] Chocolate Genius Incorporated (aka Marc Anthony Thompson) "Swansongs" (One Little Indian)

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