Donnie, The Daily News (SoulThought Entertainment): Atlanta R&B singer Donnie Johnson, a cousin of the late Marvin Gaye and protégé of India.Arie, returns with his first new album since his 2002 debut, The Colored Section on Giant Step/Motown, solidly in the tradition of politicized soul icons like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Bob Marley and Sly Stone. "Impatient People" is a gurgling, wah-wah tale of self-empowerment that asks, "I'm just a citizen/Can I get some assistance" in what is an unmistakable allusion to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "911" is a "What's Going On?"-style plea that conjoins the personal and the political in the aftermath of that fateful day with lyrics like "I'd trade the World Trade to spend some time with you babe," while the first single, "If I Were You," is a lilting, horn and harmonica-laden rhythmic island ode to self-empowerment and pride. "Over-the-Counter Culture" takes on nothing less than the American pharmaceutical industry in a way that would make Michael Moore proud ("They got a pill for my erection/And another for my depression"), with a mid-song rap by Little Brother's Phonte, who notes: "Cause one kilo of cocaine can get you life/But one pack a day of Newports can take yours." Donnie criticizes the lack of meaningful minority employment in "Classified," the dehumanization of society in the techno beat of "Robot," the "modern-day lynching" of serial killing suspect Wayne Williams in the chilling "The Atlanta Child Murders," the hypocrisy of religion in the call-and-response of "For Christ Sake," the bittersweet promise of freedom from slavery in the funky, "Living in the City"-like "Mason Dixon Line," child molestation in the Far East exotica of "China Doll," media sensationalizing in the Wonder-ful title track and even his own depression in "Suicide," spiced with Louis Van Taylor's percolating flute, recalling Les McCann and Eddie Harris' anti-war classic "Compared to What." The album boasts a who's-who of classic session players, including Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay, Gap Band axe man Jimi Macon, Rufus bassist Bobby Watson and keyboardist Wayne Linsey, who has worked with Stevie Wonder and Anthony Hamilton, among others. The product of a gospel upbringing underlined by a dose of classic southern-fried soul, Donnie is the real deal, an old-school throwback whose sociopolitical consciousness is decidedly new-school. A shout-out to industry vet Craig Bowers for giving this talented singer-songwriter another well-deserved shot.