Jill Scott - The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
02 - The Real Thing - Okay, so I caught her "Soul Story" on VH1 Soul for promotion of this CD and I absolutely fell in love with this song at first listen. The version this song is far more tame and less adventurous than what she performed on VH1 Soul (I highly recommend scouring youtube for that performance). However, the song is absolute genius. Highly rock infused, but still somehow keeps the R&B and Soul pulsing it forward. Great job, Jill! Rating: 4/5 (VH1 Soul Version Rating: 5/5)
03 - Hate On Me - Jill gave a little commentary of this song on her site weeks before the song was released and it really helps flesh out why this song was recorded--essentially, she googled herself and found a site of people hating on her. Rather than letting her feelings get hurt, she read each message, noting those that made a good point and discarding those that were simply malicious just for hating's sake. She came to the conclusion: people are going to hate on you if you're in some way more talented than them in an area which they wish to be talented. Very true. The message of this song is awesomely poetic, the instrumentation is superb, and the vocals are raw, passionate and soulful. Rating: 5/5
04 - Come See Me - Now this is music! Passionate and sexy, this track is! The organ and the horns really take you back to the late 70's-early 80s when music actually was about mystery, message, and actually good. Jill truly interprets each and every lyrics she sings. Even if you've never felt like this about another person, you get the opportunity to feel the love, passion, and desire that she has for another person. It's an excellent track! No oversinging or big vocals, just a laid back reading from the soul. Rating: 4/5
05 - Crown Royal - Lyrically, this song is rated R. It's a short track, but just enough so that she describes a whole sexual encounter without describing it lewdly. The visuals are great without being hardcore or even softcore for that matter. Rating: 4/5
06 - Epiphany - This song goes a little further lyrically than the last song. "...Rode Mt. St. Scott until cream lava landed on my skin and neck...He plowed inside like he was making beats..." This is a song for lovers. Plain and simple. This song, spoken word only, is poetic in her delivery. It explores the passion of the moment in every sense. Wow. Rating: 4/5
07 - My Love - I can definitely hear she and Erykah Badu duetting on this track. Instrumentally and lyrically, this song is her answer to Erykah's "Green Eyes." This is just good, solid, soul music and you can tell that Jill actually has experienced what she's singing about in some way or another because she's excellent in interpreting and relating the message back to the listener. Furthermore, she doesn't suffer from the same plague affecting most "singers" today: she sings the melody, adlibs adequately, stays on key, and is not struggling to stay relevant by selling out her musical genuis for a #1 hit. Rating: 4/5
08 - Insomnia - This a half spoken word and half-sung track, and strangely enough, this is the song you kind of song you would be playing if you were up waiting on your significant other to get home from a night out; this is the kind of song I'd be listening to if I were waiting on my girl to get home. It's not too much instrumentally and vocally and evokes the kind of sleepiness you'd be feeling while waiting up. Another solid track lyrically, instrumentally, and vocally. Rating: 4.5/5
09 - How It Make You Feel - This is real music. Another nice solid track, instrumentally, lyrically, and vocally. Rating: 4/5
10 - Only You - This song samples some song, I just can't for the life of me figure out what the song is! Nevertheless, Jill is all about making real music and this is real music again. I mean, this song is solid while remaining relevant in today's musical climate in a quiet storm kinda way. Good job, Jill! Rating: 3.5/5
11 - Whenever You're Around - The last half of this song is where the song truly comes to life. She begins to push out this angry soul that the lyrical content demands but then she restrains it into a guiltly soul, making the listener actually feel if they are in the relationship with Jill and are being talked to--yelled out, chewed out--by Jill. We're now going through the phases of the relationship, I realize; we've gone from the lust and sexual attraction to the not-so-good days, to the wondering where they are, to letting them know that she feels lonely whenever you're around. If you're fresh out of a relationship, I don't advise getting this far into the album. Rating: 3.5/5
12 - Celibacy Blues - Definitely a blues song and we're now at the next part of the relationship: the imminent end of the relationship. A lot of people today try recording a bluesy song but it comes off as contrived and forced. This is natural and probably one of the most solid blues songs I've heard in a long time! Rating: 4.75/5
13 - All I - The sex kitten delivery she uses on this song is absolutely amazing. This song is very Mariah Carey of her. I can really hear Mariah on this. This is more than likely the next single if her record company is smart. It doesn't undercut her soul or musical vision, but it also would make it (not to number #1) on today's radio. It's the one of the most commercial songs on the album. Rating: 3.5/5
14 - Wanna Be Loved - Another spoken word and sung track, and it's pure genius. Reminds me of being in a poetry cafe. It has a very freestyle feeling to it, but then again, it's very structured and layered. It's an excellent song instrumentally, lyrically, and vocally. Superb! Rating: 5/5
15 - Breathe - It's very 80's meets mid-90's, but it still works, and it's a great way to end the album; she lets you know that after it's all said and done and all of the highs and lows are over, just breathe, find equlibrium, and you'll be fine. And truly--she's absolutely right. Rating: 4/5
Overall Album Review:
Okay, I can't say that any of these songs would be catchy enough to be stuck in your head save "Hate On Me" and "The Real Thing." That's not necessarily a bad thing or to say that the songs on this album aren't memorable. They are definitely memorable, just in a different way. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship will relate each song to an experience in the relationship. Definitely a strong album from start to finish; probably one of the most solid overall efforts I've heard since Tamia's "Between Friends."
Jill definitely has a style and soul all her own and she's not shy about sharing it. She will take you through your fondest memories through your most bitter regrets to your "what the heck was I thinking?!" moments and and you'll appreciate her all the more for saying things that you just couldn't find the words for. There's not a dull moment or track on this album, and if you don't buy this album, you're truly missing a treat. Jill Scott is the real thing.
Overall Album Rating: 4.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment