The term instant classic is usually associated with sports, not so much music (at least by people who respect the term classic). It takes a long to decompress a great album, and often years or even decades to understand it’s place within a genre. Understanding that, I feel little apprehension in deeming D’angelo’s Black Messiah an instant classic. Coming 15 years after the transcendent Voodoo, this album is loose and free-flowing, denying any sense of an over-thought, belabored studio presence. It’s also complex, penetrating, political, moving, and sonically astounding. There’s truly something holy about this man’s music.