NEW Meshell NdeGeocello!
You know, the only reason why I have a MySpace-account is because it's a convenient way to keep up with some info from those very, very VERY underrated/not too popular musicians (=that aren't on the music news too obviously). However, I was quite pleased, if not to say enthralled by some news regarding Meshell NdeGeocello. Rumours and announcements being around for quite some months now, it seems that her new album will finally get released:
With the upcoming release of The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams, Meshell Ndegeocello releases her 7th album to the world.
Channelled through orchestral soundscapes and an unapologetic punk aesthetic, Meshell questions the inevitable, inconceivable brutality of the world with an arsenal of familiar themes: faith, rage, despair, fleeting joy and nagging doubt.
For those who jones for the devastating bass lines and aching lyrics of prior releases, "The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams" does not disappoint. With contributions from kindred musical souls Pat Metheny, saxophonist Oliver Lake, Doyle Bramhall II, vocalists Thandiswa Mazwai and Oumou Sangare, and keyboard heavyweights Jason Lindner and Robert Glasper, "The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams" is a continuation of the journey - a quest for truth, a plea for beauty, and an elegy for former selves.
That said, the truest hallmark of a Meshell Ndegeocello record is in its honest evolution from the last, from any before, and as another stop on the way to transcendence...
Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Meshell Ndegeocello has given up with the politics of explaining herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.
For the sake of setting the record straight, a few brass tacks remain: Meshell was born in Germany, raised in DC, signed at 23, and has been nominated for 9 Grammy awards.
The album will have 12 tracks:
Haditha
The Sloganeer: Paradise
Evolution
Virgo
Lovely Lovely
Elliptical
Shirk
Article 3
Michelle Johnson
Headline
Solomon
Relief: A Stripper Classic
* A Different Girl (Every Night) (JPN Only Bonus Track)
** Soul Spaceship (U.S. Ltd Ed Softpack Only Bonus Track)
---
Haditha, The Sloganeer, Shirk, Article 3 and Elliptical can also be found on the 2006 EP "The Article 3 EP".
Release dates:
US: September 25
France: September 10
Japan: September 4th
Germany: August 31st (seemingly)
(source)
You can listen to "The Sloganeer: Paradise" and other songs from her entire catalogue on her MySpace.
(check out the live videos, too!)
Official Website
I think this quote sums it up perfectly:
This woman is pretty much the epidemy of soul music now-a-days. She can literally take you anywhere, soul to funk to hip-hop, to rock, to jazz. you name it: she has the ability to bring you places. The passion she puts into her music is unsurpassed these days.
My favourite two albums of hers are "Bitter", which is bittersweet Singer-Songwriter-R'n'B and "Comfort Woman", which I'd describe as cosmic soul music ;). With the new album, I think she's well over the jazz phase ("Dance Of The Infidel") and will bring back some of her early albums' influences.
Too bad "Point Of No Return" isn't included.
With the upcoming release of The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams, Meshell Ndegeocello releases her 7th album to the world.
Channelled through orchestral soundscapes and an unapologetic punk aesthetic, Meshell questions the inevitable, inconceivable brutality of the world with an arsenal of familiar themes: faith, rage, despair, fleeting joy and nagging doubt.
For those who jones for the devastating bass lines and aching lyrics of prior releases, "The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams" does not disappoint. With contributions from kindred musical souls Pat Metheny, saxophonist Oliver Lake, Doyle Bramhall II, vocalists Thandiswa Mazwai and Oumou Sangare, and keyboard heavyweights Jason Lindner and Robert Glasper, "The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams" is a continuation of the journey - a quest for truth, a plea for beauty, and an elegy for former selves.
That said, the truest hallmark of a Meshell Ndegeocello record is in its honest evolution from the last, from any before, and as another stop on the way to transcendence...
Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Meshell Ndegeocello has given up with the politics of explaining herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.
For the sake of setting the record straight, a few brass tacks remain: Meshell was born in Germany, raised in DC, signed at 23, and has been nominated for 9 Grammy awards.
The album will have 12 tracks:
Haditha
The Sloganeer: Paradise
Evolution
Virgo
Lovely Lovely
Elliptical
Shirk
Article 3
Michelle Johnson
Headline
Solomon
Relief: A Stripper Classic
* A Different Girl (Every Night) (JPN Only Bonus Track)
** Soul Spaceship (U.S. Ltd Ed Softpack Only Bonus Track)
---
Haditha, The Sloganeer, Shirk, Article 3 and Elliptical can also be found on the 2006 EP "The Article 3 EP".
Release dates:
US: September 25
France: September 10
Japan: September 4th
Germany: August 31st (seemingly)
(source)
You can listen to "The Sloganeer: Paradise" and other songs from her entire catalogue on her MySpace.
(check out the live videos, too!)
Official Website
I think this quote sums it up perfectly:
This woman is pretty much the epidemy of soul music now-a-days. She can literally take you anywhere, soul to funk to hip-hop, to rock, to jazz. you name it: she has the ability to bring you places. The passion she puts into her music is unsurpassed these days.
My favourite two albums of hers are "Bitter", which is bittersweet Singer-Songwriter-R'n'B and "Comfort Woman", which I'd describe as cosmic soul music ;). With the new album, I think she's well over the jazz phase ("Dance Of The Infidel") and will bring back some of her early albums' influences.
Too bad "Point Of No Return" isn't included.